lameness

Question
I have a 12 year old Thoroughbred mare and have had a lot of problems with lameness.  She seems to have hooves that crack and can't hold shoes on.  I have had several different blacksmiths and while one suggests keeping her front with shoes on at all times,  another suggests just keeping her trimmed on a regular basis.  Right now she is barefoot and I am giving her biotin every other day and also using Hooflex on her hooves every other day.  She did seem to be improving of late but today I noticed that she is leaning off to the side just in the back of her body and it is making her walk slightly sideways.  The best way to describe it to you is she looks like she is slightly drunk.  I have never seen her do this in all the time I have had her which is about 8 years.  What does this suggest to you if anything?  I only have noticed it today.  

Answer
Hi Debby.
  Sorry to take so long to reply...things are crazy around here lately!!!
  With your description of the mare looking as if she is slightly drunk, I really think you have more than a hoof problem. Are you in an area that has opposums? It sounds to me like she might have a slight case of Equine Protozoal Myelitis, or EPM. You really need to have a vet look at her. I'm sorry--I know vets aren't cheap but EPM can be very serious, even fatal. Here's some information on the subject:  
http://www.equinestudies.umd.edu/extension/martinfurr.pdf
http://horses.about.com/od/diseasesandillness/p/epmhoirse.htm
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=16

 Now--your mare's feet! I like Hooflex or Mollimentum for a healthy hoof, not so much for a horse having hoof problems. Are you painting the entire foot and the sole? I've seen many people do this, but it isn't the best thing for the horse. The hoof needs to breath. For a horse with problem hoofs, I recommend painting the coronet band with a good stiff brush and Reducine. This will promote good hoof growth, which should alleviate the problem of her hooves cracking. May I ask what you are using for bedding? If you are using straw, I'd probably start using the Reducine on a daily basis around the coronet band, and packing the feet with a good hoof packing product or poultice. For problem feet, I like Forshner's.
  Many people like to keep their horses barefoot. (We do occasionally race horses barefoot, but have a shoe on the foot during the week for protection.) There are a few things that enter into the decision to keep a horse barefoot, mainly how heavily the horse is used and the type of terrain the horse will be traveling over. Under ideal circumstances, it takes about 6 months to get the hoof walls healthy enough that the horse can be barefoot on a permanent basis. In the meantime, the hoof needs some protection. Most people use a hoof bootie made of leather or neoprene. Another option for you if you want to use a shoe (since the mare's hooves tend to have trouble holding a nail) is to use glue on shoes.  Here's some info on glue-on shoes:
http://www.soundhorse.com/

http://www.anvilmag.com/farrier/glueon.htm

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0102glue.shtml

  For more info on getting and keeping a horse barefoot, check out www.thenakedhoof.com/au.
They have a lot of info, including a list of blacksmiths throughout the country that are experienced with horses that are kept barefoot--or are on the way to getting there.

  Sorry if I rambled...I tend to forget things if I don't :(   If you have other questions or if anything needs to be clarified, just ask. And please let me know how your mare makes out----I DO care!
  Best wishes to you both.
Anne Stepien