Mud, mud and more mud

["milpay@blg.log.army.defence.gov.au" <milpay@blg.log.army.defence.gov.au>]

I'm hoping someone can offer me some advice for my little just qualified
endurance mare.   We're having a very wet winter over here in Australia
and my paddocks are in a very muddy state.   The last time my farrier
(who hot shoes) reshod her, he pointed out underneath the shoe had
started to get a little eaten away or rotting on her off fore and just a
touch on her offhind - caused by being constantly in mud.   He
recommended scrubbing out the feet with strong salty water and then
rubbing dry salt into them to help dry and disinfect.   I have been
doing so  but when  I rode her on Wednesday after a two week rest she
felt tentative and was not interested in stretching out in her gaits at
all - but not lame.   I got her home and scrubbed her hooves out
thoroughly and really tried to clean under the shoe and it  looked as if
it was worse with the rot spreading.   Someone suggested that the hot
shoeing may be causing it by weakening the hooves.   I would appreciate
any advice on treating her hooves and also on the hot shoeing.

Thanks very much

Nony Storer and
Quartz (I may be only little but I'm all heart!)