Candy's 8 week update

Candy comes next and again we have a clear sign of new growth in the hoof capsule, with her original photo at the top and the current photo below.  

Its good to see her frog improving and her toe shortening as the new hoof grows down. Overall the proportions of her foot are already better, with more depth to the palmar hoof. 

She was landing reasonably on this foot when she arrived but is more confident now and the improvement is clear in her digital cushion. 

Her foot looks pretty funky currently with a big difference between the new and old growth but that will normalise as her foot grows in. 

The landing on this foot has changed more than the left foot and there is consequently a bigger change in the frog and heels. 

Candy's footage is here: https://vimeo.com/601845054
 

James' 8 week update

Yet again the time has shot past and here we are with an 8 week update due for James. Overall I am pleased with the progress he has made, although as you can see he has a lot of new hoof capsule still to grow in. 

As usual, the most recent photos are below with the original ones at the top. You can see the new growth quite clearly and it is accompanied by a better landing which is the most important thing. 

A better frog and as the new growth comes down his toe will shorten as well. 

A nice improvement in frog and digital cushion with more to come over the next few weeks. 

Again, a better angle of new growth and his foot will be much more supportive once it has fully grown in. 

As with the left foot, a stronger frog and the beginnings of a more concave sole. 

Clear improvement from this angle as well, which is great to see. James' footage is now up here: https://vimeo.com/601784450

Candy's 4 week update

 Candy's is the last of our 4 week updates - delayed from last week with apologies. As usual, the current photos are at the bottom of each pair, with the original photos at the top. 

The most obvious change is the new growth, which you can see in the top band of hoof capsule. As this grows down it will shorten her toe and allow the whole hoof to be more supportive of the limb. 

Lots of improvement still required but a better frog is developing and the foot is becoming less under-run. 

We want to see her foot getting stronger at the back, primarily, and a more robust frog is the first step.

Again, the new growth can be seen at the top - this will be more obvious as the hoof capsule grows down. 

Her foot is beginning to look less contracted at the heels and from this angle as well her frog is improving. 

Candy's footage is here: https://vimeo.com/588347896

Tadpole's 4 week update

 Next up is Tadpole, also with a 4 week update and again with apologies for the picture quality. 

Quite a lot of change going on already, with a new band of growth visible in the top section of the hoof capsule and, as with the other horses, nail holes nearly grown out.

This is a messy frog still but I like the fact that his heels are less under-run and that the foot is beginning to rebalance.

Sorry - not the best comparison photos, I will try for clearer shots next time. 

Again the new growth is obvious and should result in a stronger hoof capsule once it has fully grown in.

There is more to do on this foot, and the frog is not as well developed partly because he has a central sulcus split and partly because his landing is less competent - chicken and egg.

There is a hint of a heel first landing in the footage, although it is better on the right foot, but a beginning is all we are looking for at this stage: https://vimeo.com/588842203

James' 4 week update

James' update comes today, again with apologies for the delay and the photo quality - I am using a substitute camera which is not as good as my normal one. 

However, you can clearly see the new hoof growth - the ridge is most likely when his shoes came off and his nail holes have now completely grown out. 

James' landing was flat/toe first and has only just started to improve so his frogs are still looking quite weak but his comfort levels are building and he is becoming more confident on hard surfaces which is good to see. 

This is still a somewhat crushed digital cushion but it is starting to look less pinched as his landing improves. 

Again, a clear new angle of growth and a better stance. 

His heels are also a little less under-run and both frog strength and concavity should continue to develop now his landing is heel first. 

James' footage is here - his stride is still shorter than it will be eventually but his landing is more confident: https://vimeo.com/588347444