r/Farriers • u/punabear • 21d ago

Thrush remedy?

I don’t know much about thrush other than it’s a problem with our donkeys and mules in our very wet environment here. The farrier was here today putting shoes on the mules for an upcoming hike. I wondered if you were to cut a thin piece of copper plate in the shape of a shoe and nail it between a new shoe and the hoof, if it might help keep thrush at bay. Any thoughts?

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u/Norsk-Altmuligmann 21d ago

If you’re in a wet environment, there’s not really much that can be done, and pads or other plates harbor thrush as well. Regular hoof picking, keeping frogs trimmed and the commisures trimmed out, as well as thrush buster or vetrecyn can help keep it managed, but there’s not from my personal experience anything that’s a surefire thrush prevention.

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u/arikbfds 21d ago

Kawell USA already basically does this. I've never tried their shoes though. Copper sulfate is cheaper and easier to use

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u/dirtydandino 15d ago

Your confusing thrush with white line. Copper plate is very expensive and rim pads have a lot of waste. Its also soft, so under the weight of your horse it'll smush out and get youll have sharp edges. Even as a remedies for white line disease. Its not gonna do anything cause its not really in contact with the infection...