swollen coronet band

Question
Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of our questions.  We have a new pony, have had him about 3 months.  He will be 2 this month.  He was a research pony for the local vet college.  My issue is, we have had him trimmed now twice, his feet were pretty long and out of balance, his front feet were worse than his back feet.  After his first trim he was sore for a couple of days, and the farrier said he didn't want to trim him any shorter than he had because what he did was already a big change.  About a month or so after his first trim, his coronet band has swollen, he is NOT lame at all but seems to be tender if you touch his foot on the coronet.  My wonderful farrier retired last year and this farrier is new to my horses.  I like him, he seems to be knowledgeable, but then I really don't much about horses feet, I tend to just trust my farrier.  The new farrier said he is "slightly" swollen and he thinks that due to better nutrition at my house, that he is growing a bigger foot all the way around and not to worry about it unless he becomes lame.  Does this sound right to you?  Or do I need to get the vet out and find a new farrier?  He gets grass hay and a vitamin mineral supplement and is basically on a dry lot. Thank you so much again for your answer and time.  Michelle

Answer
HEY MICHELLE...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Changes in nutrition will cause differences in the hoof capsule.
It all depends how good or badly the feeding was before you got him.

What you are feeding sounds good. Since he is dry lotted, you could introduce some grain(dry no sweet feed) to him as a booster to his nutrition.
I would definitely call your vet and have him/her check the coronary band. Since he had "not so good hooves" he could be "graveled" or have some foreign material in his wall and is on the verge of abscessing or "blowing-out" at the coronet. It is NOT normal for him to be swollen or tender there!! Feed won't cause that...unless he is trying to be laminitic and then he would show something within 12-24 hrs. and be progressively lame.

Again...just to be safe, call your vet and have "peace of mind" !!

Hope I've help you relax :) :)
Best to You !!
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.