Retracted Soles

[RhythmNCruise]

I did a search but couldn’t find much that was recent.

Last Friday (24th) my horse was trimmed and my trimmer mentioned that his soles were somewhat retracted and that can happen with wet-to-dry conditions. He hadn’t been sore or anything and she didn’t seem overly concerned, but did mention I might want to put his boots on him for riding, etc. I was leaving for a week on vacation, so I didn’t worry too much. He walked away from the trim perfectly sound and showed no signs of soreness the next day before I left for vacay.

He lives in a pasture that stays dry even with rain (and we have had some). No mud, nice, level grass-covered ground for the most part (some dirt patches) and 24/7 access to dry, soft stalls that he definitely uses should it rain (horrors! he’s made of sugar!)

Anyhow, I came home Thursday and he’s been just fine in the pasture, though it’s not like he’s doing much but walking and stuffing his face. His pasture is only 1+ acre and he shares with another horse, so only enough grass to nibble, not a lot.

Got on this morning for a little ride and he started out fine but got progressively more tender-footed. Tripped some (usually a sign his footsies hurt). He trotted and cantered when asked, but was definitely ouchy (good sport for even doing it, ears up, bless his heart). I finally gave in and realized I needed to get off. He was visible tender even leading then when being turned on gravel or dirt. Poor bud.

I’m assuming this is the contracted soles that the farrier noticed. It was noticeable when I picked his feet. I picked them again really well and applied Durasole liberally and popped an Equioxx in a Beet Treat for him.

This barefoot horse has thin soles and can be tender-footed at times. He has Easy Boots that I wish I’d put on him this morning. He’s never had traditional shoes, just glue-ons for a few cycles, but honestly, I cannot afford those things. Yikes.

Is there anything else to do? It’s dusty dry at the barn, no mud anywhere, so that’s good. I do have the vet coming tomorrow for an unrelated reason.

[Sdel]

I have a mare that has this problem.

There is not much you can do besides help them be comfortable and give them time to grow out of it. Use supportive boots or shoes and pack with something like magic cushion. It can cause the same kinds of problems as laminitis, so be careful. I’ve been dealing with a flare and very slight rotation from my mares last occurrence a year ago.

[RhythmNCruise]

Thanks for the warning. I was reading everything I could get my hands on about retracted soles and saw the mention of laminitis, so I will definitely be careful. I’m thinking about DIY glue-ons since his boots can’t be left on 24/7.

I’ll pick my vet’s brain tomorrow as well.

Thanks again!

[Demerara_Stables]

I’d do boots during the day and off at night (assuming he spends more time in his stall/laying down at night) and look into DIY glue ons as you mentioned. I have one that got foot sore this year for the first time, certainly because of the grass, and this routine has helped her a lot.

Fwiw, Garrett Ford (owner/founder of Easy Care) is trying to get double sided tape(!!!) to work for the glue on versas. He said someone reached out and told him they finally got it to work. I’ve ordered some glue on versas and I’m going to try this myself. I could learn to glue but the glue is pricey and there’s so much prep involved (plus the horse has to stand really still while it sets), I’d rather try the tape and see what happens. 🤷

[OzarksRider]

The time of year the first thing I think of with sore feet is laminitis, and assume it is until proven otherwise. Have you checked digital pulses? Does the coronary band look at all puffy? Is he sore in more than one foot? For sure have your vet take a look when he/she comes out.

[RhythmNCruise]

Oh, that’s interesting about the double-sided tape! I can totally believe it because I’m a teacher and have some in my classroom that I’ve used to put stuff up on the wall and it is nearly impossible to pull it back off once it’s up there for a while! Huh!

I’ve been looking at the EB Versa Octos. But I’m just not sure yet.

[RhythmNCruise]

I haven’t really investigated much further. He’s not really got a lot of grass, barely enough to nibble and has always been on much (MUCH) more grass at previous barns than he is at this one. He’s never been one to get laminitis, but I guess anything is possible. The last time he was having soundness issues I made my vet take x-rays because COTH convinced me it was likely laminitis. It wasn’t, LOL. He does have thin soles though, and with them then retracted (it’s obvious, you can see it), I think he’s tender.

But I will definitely do whatever the vet thinks is wise tomorrow.

Coronary band is normal. Sore in front left (though both fronts have retracted sole).

And to the other poster, he’s out 24/7 with access to a stall. I don’t close him up at night and he wouldn’t tolerate it if I did.

And seriously, there’s not much grass. Barely enough to nibble. I feed hay year round.

[Sdel]

@RhythmNCruise

But I will definitely do whatever the vet thinks is wise tomorrow.

Do be prepared for them to look at you sideways if you use the term retracted soles. I’m not sure how widely acknowledged the term/condition is in the vet circles.

My vet would look at me crazy. I gingerly brought the idea up to my farrier and he said “bingo”. He’s got the same type of ground I have and so he knows my struggles.

Here is a picture of the bruising we uncovered from my mare’s last occurrence. She was 3/5 lame and we bought her like this. The picture was in December after she had grown out the cleft (it took 4 months). You can see how much bruising there was.

[Demerara_Stables]

Very short grass is stressed and contains more sugar than longer grass. Horses can founder from obesity from too much grass or from too much sugar in the grass.

My mare that got foot sore this year likely had laminitic pain but not full blown laminitis with rotation. Even just a little foot soreness can be the result of too much sugar.

[MsM]

What are retracted soles? What does it look like?

[RemarkableOwl21]

My boy had something like this going on last autumn. The best I could figure was that he was hanging out in the wet area of his paddock where his water trough was dumped out routinely for cleaning, causing him to be foot sore in both front feet. After diagnosis, we changed up where his trough was dumped. I also had him in boots at first, but then had him shod for a couple of cycles when the soreness persisted. Stalled him when super wet out. I also used keratex. A few months later he was able to go barefoot again and has been fine since. Sole has grown a lot.

[Sdel]

I took my mare’s shoes off last cycle. Then we got a ton of rain and had a slight regression. It’s not as bad this time around. I will have to discuss the issue with my farrier and decide to try another cycle without shoes or put them back on. Fortunately we should be drying out. I feel the shoes had their own problems because they packed so much mud and then it hardened to concrete inside the shoe. It was putting a lot of torque on the legs to get it loose and then it was taking chucks of sole off with it. Plus all the walking around on a ball of clay sticking out past the bottoms of the shoes.

[Inimitable]

A couple of mine can get retracted soles this time of year. It’s awful watching them go from perfectly comfy to super sore. I’ve recently gone the way of DIY glue ons and it has helped their comfort level tremendously. I am verrrrrry early in the process and the learning curve is rough, but sticking with it seems worth it. I booted last year and, honestly, I just hate boots in general. I find them to be a giant PITA.

[RhythmNCruise]

Yeah, I know this, and I do think about it, but he’s always been an outside horse with grass growing under his feet from the moment spring starts to arrive and he’s never had issues. This plus the fact that my farrier specifically pointed out the retracted soles just a week ago and mentioned that he might be a little sore makes me think that’s what’s going on. But on the other hand, he IS fat. Too fat. I am starting to cut him back a bit. He really doesn’t eat much, a ration balancer with a little Unbeetable Forage Only (which I’m starting to reduce) and a smattering of supplements plus orchard/tim hay (which I’m also starting to reduce).

I just got back from evening feed and he’s fine walking around the pasture.

@Sdel bless your mare’s heart. That had to be painful. I hear you about the vets. Luckily my trimmer works closely with my vet on a lot of hoof issues, so if need be, I’ll have the vet talk to the trimmer. I can show her the deal, you can see the shelf. My trimmer said it’s not 90-degrees, so it’s not too terribly bad. Still, I don’t like issues with the feet at this time of year.

The more I think about double-sided taping some glue-ons on…the more I like the idea. So what if they come off now and then? Just tape them back on! Kind of semi-permanent…moreso than boots but less so than glue or nails.

ETA: Reading back over this post, maybe there’s more grass than I think out there given the fact that I’ve been cutting back a little and he continues to look fatter each day. Hmmm…! Here’s a picture from this evening:

[Sdel]

@RhythmNCruise

I just got back from evening feed and he’s fine walking around the pasture.

For the retracted soles, firmer ground is better. Were you riding in a soft arena?

[RhythmNCruise]

No, I avoid soft arenas. We were on various terrains, a dirt path, a grassy field, the hard-packed driveway. He definitely felt best on the driveway, which makes sense. The grassy field is a little lumpy and softer, slightly more lush grass than in his pasture too.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

[Sdel]

You can see the sharp drop at the toe just inside the white line. That is the retracted sole. It’s more steep than in normal concavity.

[reefy]

Thank you for posting pictures! I learned something new. I appreciate it as I have a horse that is barefoot now (she’s never had a shoe on in her whole life, 9 y/o) - haven’t had a barefoot horse in 20+ years so I like to understand things to look for as I’m barefoot stupid and worry over every little thing.

[Inimitable]

Mine get a divot right at the tip of their frogs. I’ll see if I can get a photo later today; they all conveniently tossed shoes this morning running for their lives from the no-see-ums. Sigh.

[RhythmNCruise]

Well, as is often the case with horses, mine was sound when the vet came, lol. She looked at me like I was silly when I tried to explain what was going on, but with the horse walking and turning and being completely fine, she saw no reason to worry. I didn’t either, honestly, and since the the other reason she was looking at him was better left alone (lingering lump from vaccination, but it’s gotten significantly smaller and isn’t bothering him so we’re leaving it alone), I escaped without a vet bill! Others in the barn were getting work done.

I lunged chunky butt (I was told not to let him gain more weight) and he started out fine, got a tiny bit off after working, but not consistently. Definitely an improvement from yesterday. I’ll continue putting Durasole on and keephing his feet as clean and dry as possible. It’s about all I can do, I suppose.

I’ll try to take pictures this evening when I pick and before I put Durasole on. It’s interesting to see others that are dealing with this. I read that a lot of horses get misdiagnosed as laminitic or having abscesses when it’s actually retracted soles.