Many horse owners are familiar with the old adage ‘no foot no horse’ and with the warmer and drier weather meaning that the ground in our pastures is getting harder; issues like bruised soles are more prevalent. Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at the issue of bruised soles for our horses and ponies in our latest blog.
So what is a bruised sole? Simply put; a bruised sole is caused by trauma to the sole of the equine foot affecting the sensitive tissue underneath the sole causing damage to the blood vessels and creating a bleed. This inflammation can result from injury such as treading on a stone or hard, rutted ground, as well as poor fitting shoes or prolonged exercise on hard ground. Horses with thin soles such as thoroughbreds or horses and ponies which have suffered with laminitis are particularly susceptible to bruised soles.
In terms of spotting a bruised sole typically the horse or pony will display a lameness and when examined often a red or brown mark is visible on the sole. Sometimes there can be heat within the foot and an increased digital pulse. If you are not sure if your horse or pony is suffering with bruised soles you can consult your farrier or your veterinarian who can identify the problem and apply hoof testers to the site to gage the degree of discomfort.
If your horse or pony is experiencing a lot of pain with a bruised sole a period of box rest and pain killers may be necessary as well as suspending ridden exercise.
When considering preventing bruised soles identifying the cause is helpful. Sometimes there may be an obvious cause such as a stone in the foot or a poorly fitting shoe. In general cases Scientific Nutritional Products recommends the following;
Scientific Nutritional Products’ Five Top Tips for Bruised Soles
• Always pick out your horse or pony’s feet before and after exercise to prevent the risk of stones or any sharp object being lodged.
• Avoid excessive ridden work on hard ground.
• Manage your horse’s fields carefully and ensure rolling and harrowing of the pasture takes place at the correct time to flatten the ground preventing hardened ruts and divots which can result in bruised soles.
• Consult your farrier in regard to foot balance and any remedial farriery such as the application of hoof pads, which could be helpful to your horse or pony. If you suspect laminitis always contact your veterinarian.
• Health comes from the inside out and for good hoof growth and strong hooves including a supplement in the diet can be highly beneficial. Robust Hoof from Scientific Nutritional Products provides an advanced formulation of Biotin for Horses, Methionine, Calcium, Lysine, MSM and Bioplex minerals.
For more information on the supplement range available from Scientific Nutritional Products including Robust Hoof Supplement visit our website at www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or contact a member of the team on 0800 032 7774.
