Barefoot for navicular and low ring bone

[ponyrider2024]

Opinions (but nicely please, this is my best friend!!)- my little native pony has struggled with arthritis for years in several different joints. Started behind, then in front. He’s medicated annually where necessary but after having his coffin joints and hocks done before the spring grass came through we like to do, it sadly hasn’t worked this year. He’s pretty lame in front and behind. Hes currently shod all round with pads in front on vet recommendation due to- uneven side bone in all 4 feet (developed before I owned him), low ring bone and navicular lesions. I have a few more options to try down the veterinary route but looking now at taking him barefoot, but I’m terrified as he’s always been shod in my care as he’s evented and jumped whilst I’ve had him and due to the sidebone started to wear his feet very unevenly and I was worried about causing issues higher up the leg. Before he came to me he was fine barefoot but not in a lot of work at all. Any ideas appreciated, also open to ideas of what to try now as medicating hocks and coffin joints hasn’t helped the poor guy out so now thinking about moving on to navicular bursa steroid injections

 

[Exasperated]

Opinions (but nicely please, this is my best friend!!)- my little native pony has struggled with arthritis for years in several different joints. Started behind, then in front. He’s medicated annually where necessary but after having his coffin joints and hocks done before the spring grass came through we like to do, it sadly hasn’t worked this year. He’s pretty lame in front and behind. Hes currently shod all round with pads in front on vet recommendation due to- uneven side bone in all 4 feet (developed before I owned him), low ring bone and navicular lesions. I have a few more options to try down the veterinary route but looking now at taking him barefoot, but I’m terrified as he’s always been shod in my care as he’s evented and jumped whilst I’ve had him and due to the sidebone started to wear his feet very unevenly and I was worried about causing issues higher up the leg. Before he came to me he was fine barefoot but not in a lot of work at all. Any ideas appreciated, also open to ideas of what to try now as medicating hocks and coffin joints hasn’t helped the poor guy out so now thinking about moving on to navicular bursa steroid injections

Aaah, but he is now older, and guessing you no longer expect him to event and show jump? Definitely consider different pain treatments, and generally keeping his joints active is better for arthritis, whether you lead or hack him - see what vet recommends. He’s never had laminitis, has he? Any type of steroid and elderly native pony rather pauses me.
Barefoot - sounds like he will need a set of hoof boots at least to start off, possibly with comfort pad cushioning. It is also possible to buy angled and wedged hoof pad inserts to accommodate therapeutic needs. Rremoving shoes would reduce a lot of concussion / difficulty holding hooves to be shod, hopefully he would prove sound (as in, not footy or sensitive to surface) without boots while grazing, but you can always put shoes back on if absolutely necessary.
I think biggest problem might be identifying the boot model most suitable for your particular pony! Good luck.

 

[FitzyFitz]

It might not make him sound but my medically complicated pony with sidebone, bone spurs and navicular was certainly more comfortable barefoot than shod. Not fully sound, but his hooves being less rigid made a big difference when he was walking on rough or hard ground. I think in shoes if he stepped partially on a stone it twisted his joints further up, whereas barefoot there was more flexibility.
I did use hoof boots on him, flex boots with wool felt pads, to reduce concussion as much as possible.

I'd previously followed vets advice and kept him shod with pads but that didn't do any good, he was better without, although he never did come sound despite many many vet trips and all the joint medications we could do.

Fingers crossed for yours, hope he can stay comfortable for a while longer.

 

[SEL]

I keep my draft x with "complex" arthritis barefoot but she's retired now. I think barefoot they can grow a quirky hoof to support the body rather than trying to trim it for a shoe.