If your horse has become reluctant to move forward and you can see no visible cause, he could be suffering from thrush. This is an infection found in the grooves on either side of the frog in the hoof. The frog is a soft, cartilage-like, spear-shaped organ. Sometimes the frog itself is infected and occasionally the infection spreads to the white lines between the wall and bottom of the hoof. condition is characterised by an accumulation of black, foul-smelling, moist gunk between the grooves of the frog and the bottom of the hoof. Thrush can cause a horse to become lame if the sensitive tissue in the depths of the grooves is infected.
The causes of thrush are simple:
A lack of attention to daily cleaning – the hooves should be cleaned out at least once a day and in wet conditions even more frequently. This not only prevents thrush, but has the added benefit of improving a horse’s balance.
Excess frog – when your farrier is trimming your horse’s hooves, he always should trim away the excess frog.
Dirty, damp stable conditions – bedding soaked in urine and manure is the ideal breeding ground for infections and fungus.
Too much standing – if your horse is forced to stand for long periods in wet conditions, he could contract thrush. If your horse has to stay outside, it is a good idea to give him a dry shelter.
Treatment:
Clean out the stable and supply fresh, dry bedding. Dry sand, straw or shavings are the best options.
Apply eucalyptus oil on the infection once a day after the hooves have been cleaned out. Eucalyptus oil is both antiseptic and anti-fungal and will help prevent the thrush from progressing deeper into the tissues and developing into further infection. However, you should never apply eucalyptus oil directly onto the skin as it will burn and cause your horse great discomfort.
If you suspect that the thrush has progressed and is not responding, you can apply a thin layer of 10% formalin instead of eucalyptus oil on the infection. But the same applies – be very careful not to get it on the skin!
If your horse has become lame because of thrush, it would be wise to contact the vet, who can advise if antibiotics or a tetanus shot are necessary. In the meantime you could feed your horse 30g of fresh crushed garlic three times a day until the hoof is healthy again.
Horses prone to thrush tend to be deficient in copper. Feeding 30g of rose hips twice daily will do the trick. In this case, prevention is definitely much better than cure.
Remember that thrush is contagious, so you will need to disinfect all the stables. Also make sure that when you are travelling with your horse or stabling him in new stables, that you practise good hygiene. It is advisable to use eucalyptus oil as a preventative measure. – Kim Dyson (082 888 6511)
