Improvement in Frogs

This is a simple case study that shows how the condition of the frog can improve with regular foot care and a better environment.

The feet pictured are from a six year old Tennessee Walking Horse Mare. The sequence below shows how the frog changes over a four month period with a final picture taken five months later.  In the photo on 4/20, the frog is in poor condition from thrush caused by a wet muddy environment.  This first photo was taken just after the horse was moved to a new boarding stable with a better environment.  The next photo on 5/19 shows that the surface infection has cleared up, but the heels are contracted and the frog is underdeveloped.  The photo from 6/9 is similar.  Moving to the next row, in a five week period, there is a big improvement.  The frog has filled in and grown wider, and the hoof capsule is less contracted.  Next, on 8/2 the frog has continued to improve.  Finally, there is a photo on 1/11 showing the foot is still in good condition.

The other thing to notice in this series is how the sole improves along with the frog. In the first five pictures, there is a ridge of sole around the apex of the frog.  In the final picture you can see this ridge has gone away and the sole has become more concave.  The extra concavity of the sole is hard to see in a photo.

4/20/05	5/19/05	6/09/05
7/14/05	8/02/05	1/11/06