Barefoot flat hooves

Question
Hello Joepaul,
I have a Quarter Horse Mare who is 10 yrs old weighs about 1050lbs. Let me give you a small history and take it from there. My girl has never been shoed and until just recently has had no problems, now she is limping or lumbering I call it and at first it was every few days now all the time, I don't want to be giving her bute all the time so we need help. She was in the field one day and this creep who likes to shoot his bebe gun at anything shot her in the butt and she launched over the fence but instead of clearing the fence she wound up taking a very hard straddle across the fence and got stuck in that position for some time, this information was  given to me by someone who witnessed this I was not there at the time.she was sore for a few days but then it was gone. Well a few weeks later she would limp up to the fence when I got there I gave her bute and it went away, then maybe a week would go by and she would be limping again, more bute,it went away........well we have since moved to greener pastures and now my poor girl is limping all the time, we can't find a single thing wrong with her but she sure is flat footed, never noticed that before now. The farrier said her hooves looked fine but flat, no recommendations, the vet checked her legs, looks good, don't see anything, it breaks my heart to think she is in pain and they say they don't see anything. What else can I look for and check, could she be foundering? she has been dry lotted for awhile and is now in a lush pasture, but I introduced slowly and took her to low starch diet with probiotics and cut feed by 3/4, what could we be missing, I asked about her armpits did she tare muscles when hitting the fence was told nah...... Would appreciate some insight.
Thanks

Answer
HELLO BONNIE...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

FIRST OFF...Everything you have done, I'm sure was recommended.

I could write a FULL page on what has been missed !!

IF YOU ARE HAPPY with your Vet...THEN push him/her to do a "proper exam" !!
IF NOT...then find an equine vet to help you and the horse. I just hate when individuals
DON'T do "through" exams and people and horses "suffer" for a period of time without
proper help!!

FACT...80% of lameness is below the knees(carpus)...90% of that is in the hoof capsule!!
At least 2 views should be taken of both front hooves. A lateral view and a 65dg AP.
Radiographs REMOVE ALL DOUBTS!! IF A PERSON CAN afford it, MRI's and ultrasound can be
greatly helpful in finding the problems. Manually the farrier and vet can use hoof testers,
nerve blocks and such to find or eliminate the guess work.

Bute" is an anti-inflammatory & painkilling agent. THEY DON'T GET WELL WITH USING IT !!
TOO MANY vets dispense it over-the-counter and NEVER check the horse!! Many just go by what
the clients tell them...which is technically WRONG.

YOU DON'T PUT A BAND-AID ON A BROKEN BONE !!
Your mare has been in discomfort for too long. Without seeing her, I could "speculate" to as many things as a cracked coffin bone,navicular bone, a possible hair line fracture of
the phalanx P-1,P-2 ?? Torn ligaments? On & On...

For you and your mare's sake...Start with radiographs, they are not expensive and IF THERE IS
a serious problem, PLEASE look for a farrier that can assist the veterinarian with knowledge
of anatomy, therapeutic shoeing IF NECESSARY. NOT just a "good guy" who can trim or nail shoes on !! Horses Never Lie" and she deserves a good job.

Trust me...You'll have "peace of mind" knowing you were helped properly!!

Get back with me if I can assist you in anyway.
Best to You!!

Joepaul  Meyers,C.J.F.