Barefoot For Navicular Syndrome (fairly severe & chronic case)

viola

viola

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Some time ago I remember reading on here about someone who had their NS horse brought to soudness by transitioning it to barefoot but I can't find any details any more :(

Could someone recommend a very knowledgeable person in the South east (or one willing to travel to Berkshire) who could explain the pros and cons of going barefoot to help NS horse and who could advise if its suitable for particular horse/case?

Also, out of curiosity - does any body know of a barefoot horse (never shod) with a case of navicular syndrome/caudal heel pain?

Thank you!
 
You could try contacting the holistic equitation centre in Preston Capes Northnts. Iknow they have a NS horse who transitioned to barefoot very successfully.
 
Have you had a proper diagnosis? Are there visible changes on xrays? Or does the horse just have pain in the heel? If there are no xray changes get an MRI scan. My mare damaged her DDFT behind the navicular bone and I was told without an MRI she would have been blanket diagnosed with navicular 'syndrome'.
 
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cm2581 said:
Have you had a proper diagnosis? Are there visible changes on xrays? Or does the horse just have pain in the heel? If there are no xray changes get an MRI scan. My mare damaged her DDFT behind the navicular bone and I was told without an MRI she would have been blanket diagnosed with navicular 'syndrome'.
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Whatever the results of an MRI scan barefoot will help the horse. It really does work! I would also recommend Caroline of UK Hoof Trimmers and Rockley Farm have had some amazing results - see their published research.
 
cm2581 said:
Have you had a proper diagnosis? Are there visible changes on xrays? Or does the horse just have pain in the heel? If there are no xray changes get an MRI scan. My mare damaged her DDFT behind the navicular bone and I was told without an MRI she would have been blanket diagnosed with navicular 'syndrome'.
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That is so true, seen it happen. Horse had caudal heel pain from persistent thrush and long toe from badly managed LGL, misused foot as a result.
 
Mine went down to Rockley to be rehabbed - even if you don't want to send yours away it might be worth contacting them for a chat if you want to speak to someone with experience in these cases.
Of the horses going through the study, some like mine had soft tissue damage diagnosed by MRI, others had been diagnosed with 'navicular'.
 
cm2581 said:
Have you had a proper diagnosis? Are there visible changes on xrays? Or does the horse just have pain in the heel? If there are no xray changes get an MRI scan. My mare damaged her DDFT behind the navicular bone and I was told without an MRI she would have been blanket diagnosed with navicular 'syndrome'.
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Unfortunately yes. He had Tildren, bursea injections, Navilox you name it and yet his x-rays show further deterioration between April and July :(
We didn't have him MRId but of course there is a possibility of further soft tissue damage.
 
criso said:
Mine went down to Rockley to be rehabbed - even if you don't want to send yours away it might be worth contacting them for a chat if you want to speak to someone with experience in these cases.
Of the horses going through the study, some like mine had soft tissue damage diagnosed by MRI, others had been diagnosed with 'navicular'.
Click to expand...

Well, we are at a point where there aren't many more treatment options. X-rays aren't good, show progressive deterioration (he was X-rayed twice). He can't trot without losing sequence on the left rein, and is unable to trot on the right rein (hops himself into canter). he is on danillon daily, had Tildren, 2 bursea injections (April and July) and been off work since August 2009 (apart from on/off walking under the saddle up to 30min, 2-3 times a week as told to do by the vet).

Options given now are: more Tildren (£££), more bute/Danillion, different shoes (pads) - he currently has egg bars.
Or perhaps kindest of all - put him to sleep.
He is only 6 though and as I had a horse with NS before and battled through all sorts of padding etc etc I don't think it's a long term solution at all.
Hence looking into barefoot...
 
Well I did months of box rest, remedial shoeing etc but Frankie never coped when I tried to bring him back into work and at Christmas was coming in from the field on three legs.
I was never prepared to keep him for 23 hours so I could hack him lightly for 1, so was close to making a really tough decision. Even more heartbreaking as he was only 7 (rising 6 when he was first diagosed).

I am quite traditional in my approach to horses and wouldn't have considered barefoot rehab if it hadn't been his last chance but the way I looked at it was as long as he wasn't put under any undue discomfort, there was no harm in trying. I was also lucky that the sums worked out and rehab livery cost me less than to keep him on part livery in Herts.

Judging by the way we cantered up the field yesterday so far so good.

If you go to the blog for Rockley farm there are photos and footage of Frankie and others.

Drop Nic Barker at Rockley an email ( her address is on the site) and she'll be happy to discuss whether barefoot would help in your case.
 
In answer to a few points:-
No, i haven't heard of a barefoot horse (lifetime barefoot) having navicular.

You describe changes on x-ray, but talk about Navicular Syndrome. If there are changes on x-ray the condition is then usually referred to as Navicular Disease (disease having visible changes, syndrome having none)

At 6 years old I'd definintely be trying to help this horse by going barefoot, its too young to give up just yet.
 
My rehab had also had changes on xray, tildren, adequan and HLA bursa injection and bar shoes and was still lame and about to be put to sleep. I did him myslf at home (I'm an experienced barefooter with performance horses) and he was sound within three months to do a farm ride with a few small jumps and is going from strength to strength with the people I have given him to.

Yes I know of one barefoot horse with "navicular syndrome", actually a severe lesion to the DDFT. He has been at Rockley and is now hacking out and progressing brilliantly. His key was that even barefoot his frog was way off the floor and as soon as that was put right he began to land heel first and the damage is repairing itself. You can see his pictures on Rockleyfarm.blogspot.com

If your horse is only 6 you have nothing whatsoever to lose. Get him on a high fibre low sugar diet straight away to give him the best possible chance. Late autumn/winter is a good time to start, you won't have to worry about the sweet grass.
 
Andalucian said:
In answer to a few points:-
No, i haven't heard of a barefoot horse (lifetime barefoot) having navicular.

You describe changes on x-ray, but talk about Navicular Syndrome. If there are changes on x-ray the condition is then usually referred to as Navicular Disease (disease having visible changes, syndrome having none)

At 6 years old I'd definintely be trying to help this horse by going barefoot, its too young to give up just yet.
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Ah I wasn't aware that if there are bone changes then the condition is called only navicular disease. I guess I just automatically went with how the vet calls it when we discuss it.
In our case, as the lameness is pretty bad there is a possibility of additional soft tissues damage.

We are looking into shoes/barefoot and/or turning away but I don't want to sound like we haven't tried :( His treatment so far cost more than I earn in over half a year and yet not only that he hasn't improved but he got worse. He also has SI strain (was injected) and a lot of crookedness issues.
 
cptrayes said:
My rehab had also had changes on xray, tildren, adequan and HLA bursa injection and bar shoes and was still lame and about to be put to sleep. I did him myslf at home (I'm an experienced barefooter with performance horses) and he was sound within three months to do a farm ride with a few small jumps and is going from strength to strength with the people I have given him to.

Yes I know of one barefoot horse with "navicular syndrome", actually a severe lesion to the DDFT. He has been at Rockley and is now hacking out and progressing brilliantly. His key was that even barefoot his frog was way off the floor and as soon as that was put right he began to land heel first and the damage is repairing itself. You can see his pictures on Rockleyfarm.blogspot.com

If your horse is only 6 you have nothing whatsoever to lose. Get him on a high fibre low sugar diet straight away to give him the best possible chance. Late autumn/winter is a good time to start, you won't have to worry about the sweet grass.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's reassuring! He does have other problems but who knows...he is rising 7 and indeed still has plenty of time to potentially come right.
 
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