Barefoot as treatment for navicular, experiences please?

Bikerchickone

Bikerchickone

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As title really. My cob may well have navicular, is going for an MRI Scan in a fortnight to confirm. We've had pointing toe issues and wedges on the fronts have made a 70% improvement but he's only 12 so I'd like to look for a more natural solution and having read the Rockley blog and spoken to Lucy Priory (who luckily covers my area) I'm thinking barefoot might be it so I'd like to hear from anybody else who has gone this route. I understand that it's about more than just taking the shoes off and I'm in it for the long haul so I'd welcome any information anyone has please.

Thanks in advance for your help. :)
 
Thanks Oberon, that was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. My lad has been nothing like as bad as Shoko but I think a lot of that has to do with his laid back attitude more than me helping him particularly! Although he does seem to have become more and more stroppy over the last few months so think he's suffering more now. We haven't really had much in the way of unexplained lameness, just a couple of small bouts where other incidents were likely to have been the cause but talking to Lucy really helped and it's given me a bit of hope for a long ridden future with him. :)

Can't wait to get the shoes off, scan done and start letting him get himself better. :)
 
No probs.

You will find most navicular cases that go with the traditional route will say, "sound so far/we take it easy/we don't go on hard ground/no jumping...etc"

But the sound BF naviculars are off doing whatever the hell they want!

I will say you need to be prepared to do what Lucy advises regarding diet and environmental changes. Owner compliance is often what will make or break a BF rehab.

Schoko's owners also had to get a new saddle! And it seems to be theme with horses taken BF - they often 'fill out' and need a new saddle....so factor that in your budget;)
 
That's absolutely fine with me. We've spent probably close to £1000 so far what with vet bills (although insurance is supposed to be paying us back) osteopath treatment and the remedial shoes. Lucy did warn me that it was going to be a lot of effort on my part to make the barefoot work, and although he's on full livery the YO is a friend and she loves him almost as much as I do so we will work together to do whatever needs doing to get him right. Luckily vet is very openminded too!

I have saddler booked for the end of the month anyway as it's the only thing that hasn't been thoroughly checked out since the toe pointing began so if we need a new saddle somehow will get a new saddle! He's the best you could possibly ever want a horse to be, a pleasure to handle, a delight to ride and an all round good trier. I've had him since a yearling and he's given me so much in the last 11 years that I'll do whatever it takes to get him happy, comfortable and enjoying his life.

Thank you so much for the link to the other page, I'm having a good read through! Really appreciate your posts. :)
 
Charlie is a tb with typical tb feet. 3 years ago he was diagnosed with both bilateral navicular and collasped heels. One vet advised remedial shoeing and the other vet advised the barefoot route. (both vets work at the same practice.) At the time his feet were in a shocking state and could not have taken any remedial shoes. I choose the barefoot route thinking that he would prefer to be as natural as possible. I carefully researched how to go about the barefoot route, limited the sugar in his diet. Then when his shoes came off, i gradually walked him slowly on all different surfaces. The only drawback we had in the transitioning process was an abcess, this did slow us down. When ridden I used hoof boots and found that after 6 months he could be ridden out on all surfaces with no issues or problems. Now 3 years later his feet are strong and solid, with no further signs of navicular or collapsed heels. He is now competeing in both dressage and showjumping as a barefoot tb. It is the best thing that I have done for him, taking his shoes off, now a much happier horse!
 
helencharlie said:
Charlie is a tb with typical tb feet. 3 years ago he was diagnosed with both bilateral navicular and collasped heels. One vet advised remedial shoeing and the other vet advised the barefoot route. (both vets work at the same practice.) At the time his feet were in a shocking state and could not have taken any remedial shoes. I choose the barefoot route thinking that he would prefer to be as natural as possible. I carefully researched how to go about the barefoot route, limited the sugar in his diet. Then when his shoes came off, i gradually walked him slowly on all different surfaces. The only drawback we had in the transitioning process was an abcess, this did slow us down. When ridden I used hoof boots and found that after 6 months he could be ridden out on all surfaces with no issues or problems. Now 3 years later his feet are strong and solid, with no further signs of navicular or collapsed heels. He is now competeing in both dressage and showjumping as a barefoot tb. It is the best thing that I have done for him, taking his shoes off, now a much happier horse!
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That's great Helen! So pleased for you and Charlie, with TB feet I can imagine the problems too! My boy is a heavyweight cob who's always had pretty solid feet so I'm trying to think positive about the whole transitional stage!

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, great to find people who have come out the other side with their horses better. :)
 
This was a navicular horse... first photo in a stony stubble field 10months barefoot... second was 12 months bf... he also had a history of lami.

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oh and he can take us to parties!!! :D
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P.s. when we first started I turned away for 4 months and started walking in hand but he didn't mind. We did have one setback when he got lami in Nov after a wormer but was back riding three weeks later and we only boxrested for a week! Used boots for a while until about May.

He was muzzled in the day and fed on hi-fi lite n speedibeet. Had mineral lick in field.

Take it slow but you have a very good guide in Lucy. I have every confidence you will be just fine! :) xx
 
Thanks Tally, he's gorgeous! So good to hear lots of positive stuff about the whole Barefoot thing as I'm sure I'll have to face lots of criticism in the early days!

Scary to think just how much a horse can fix for itself with the right support! Even my non horsey hubby agreed that it would make sense for BF to work! Thanks for all the comments, I will definitely keep you posted. :)
 
Thanks bikerchick, he is a sweetie.

I don't think you will face criticism... well, maybe at first, but then they will see what a marvellous thing the hoof is and probably follow suit... I have three converts :D and one of them is my vet! Lots of online resources if you feel a bit worried. I'm sure Lucy will tell you what is what. Look forward to the updates xx
 
My navicular welsh d x was never quite 100% on hard ground without shoes (although OK in hoof boots). In the end we found he went best with remedials on the front only.
He was a big lad, though, so lots of weight on those poor feet!
 
My boy is quite heavy too, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes. In his favour though he does have rock solid (white) hooves, so I'm hoping this will help with the transition.

Really grateful to everyone who's posted their experiences, it helps to talk to people who have been there and done it! :)
 
pennyturner said:
My navicular welsh d x was never quite 100% on hard ground without shoes (although OK in hoof boots). In the end we found he went best with remedials on the front only.
He was a big lad, though, so lots of weight on those poor feet!
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I have heard the theory that big horses struggle but thanks to Pollitt's research - we believe that sugar and starch in the diet will make a horse sore, as damage and inflammation to the laminae has been found present even before the test horses showed any symptoms of laminitis.

This isn't news to countless barefooters who made that link themselves - but it's noce to have it vindicated.

My Tank is 16.1hh, Ardennes x ID and has never been shod. He's a big lad (I'm 5ft 9) ;)
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He's gorgeous Oberon, exactly my kind of horse! I'm in this 100% so going to give it every opportunity to work, doing whatever Lucy suggests is right. Hopefully all the effort will be rewarded!
 
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