Helping DSLD Horses with Hoof Boots
DSLD stands for Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (I've also seen it called Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease). In its advanced stages it is easy to spot as the pasterns eventually have a severely dropped appearance.
Image from https://www.smartpakequine.com/learn-health/dsld-in-horses
These photos are from the article I've linked below, which has more info. These are of the same horse before DSLD was apparent, and in advanced stages.
These photos are from the article I've linked below, which has more info. These are of the same horse before DSLD was apparent, and in advanced stages.
I can't tell you how many posts I've seen of someone who either just bought a horse, or was about to buy a horse, and posted pictures of it, with pasterns clearly dropped but having no clue their horse is in an advanced stage of DSLD. Unless you are doing it purely because you want to help the horse, do not purchase a horse with this condition. it is a degenerative condition and the horse will eventually get the the point where it cannot be ridden. There is no cure.
You can help manage the horse's comfort however. Often special shoeing packages are used. Boots have been difficult in the past. Why? Looking at the advanced-stage photo you can see that with most boots, including traditional Scoots, the horse's pasterns would be dropping right onto the top of the heel strap (or back of the boot in enclosed boots) causing severe rubs. I have fit a few DSLD horses in traditional Scoots but not in such an advanced stage, with extra careful fitting, doubled up EVA gaiters, and all sorts of admonitions to the owners to keep an eye on things.
Enter Enduros.
The Enduro/Adjust model of Scoot Boots are an excellent choice for DSLD horses. The heel straps are extremely low profile and can sit lower on the heel than most boots. Therefore a DSLD horse is much less likely to experience rubs with these boots than in boots that fully cover the heel or have a higher heel strap. Padding can also be added to put the strap further below the "bump zone".
But if a horse needs a lot of padding, the Scoot Boot TheraRide, which is the same as the Adjust but with a "cup" to accomodate extra padding, is another option.
But if a horse needs a lot of padding, the Scoot Boot TheraRide, which is the same as the Adjust but with a "cup" to accomodate extra padding, is another option.
I have found boots to work in most of these cases. But if Adjusts or TheraRides are not working for some reason, then glue on boots (such as Scoot Skins) or composite shoes (EasyCare has many choices) may be the best option at that point for DSLD.
This article has more info: https://www.smartpakequine.com/learn-health/dsld-in-horses