Dylan's 3 week update

Dylan with the wedges (who is not to be confused with "Dillon with the wedges") has now, like Isla, been here for 3 weeks. He arrived with very long, weak feet and in remedial shoes. When the shoes came off I was concerned that he might be uncomfortable but in fact he surprised me by being perfectly happy despite his thrushy frogs and distorted hooves. 

He has not been trimmed. The difference between his inital photos and his feet 3 weeks on have been achieved by allowing him to move on the tracks and while turned out and by giving him additional in-hand exercise on good surfaces, including the arena. 

Of course his feet are still collapsed but his base of support is in fact no worse out of shoes than it was in the wedges and it is giving him an infinitely better chance of strengthening and developing his hoof again. 

Dylan had thrushy, stinking frogs due to the pads but they have rapidly started to improve, though we have a long way to go. 

After 10 days the thrush was disappearing and his long hoof wall was wearing away, also allowing his toe to shorten. 

By 3 weeks most of the dead sole has gone and his heels are beginning to load, though they are still severely contracted. Over the next few weeks I would want to see his heels and frog improve significantly. 

Again, though his heels are under-run his base of support is no worse out of shoes than it was in the wedges and if anything his hairline and hoof/pastern axis are better. 

The same sequence for his LF - day one, immediately out of shoes above...

10 days later...

and 3 weeks later. Lots to do, but a foot which is beginning to function again. His footage is below and again its slow progress but no backwards steps so far, and a better medio-lateral balance.

Here are the stills from his circle footage - he was ok in his shoes (above) but is stepping under much better without them (below). His stride length should improve further once he has a stronger palmar hoof.