Barefoot for Navicular syndrome.

[Daisychain]

I have a horse which has suffered soft tissue trauma, and is currently in bar shoes, his one heel is fairly contracted and has a deep cleft to the frog, his back shoes have been removed and i have noticed the deep cleft he had in these is opening more as its getting more ground contact.

I cant help thinking my horse may be better off without shoes, for his recovery time i dont mind how long it takes, he doesnt nod at all now, but is still a little shorter in his stride.

So who has had real success, i have been reading a fair bit on the net, and the methods in this madness actually seem to make scence. Thanks.

 

[Patches]

I'd pm maggiesmum.

I know her personally. She has had a few horses come to her with problems. Written off effectively. One was crippled in the spring, with navicular, and we went and did a hunt meet together last weekend....barefoot!

She may well find the thread herself later on and reply to you anyway.

 

[brightmount]

My horse was written off and I tried this route as a last resort. My horse was a textbook case of genuine success and she came back to full work and competition. I would recommend you look for the DAEP qualification. There's a list of UK DAEPs here:

http://www.aepsupplies.co.uk/index.cfm?sid=21583&pid=330568

 

[maggiesmum]

Hi! It can be a highly successful way of bringing them back to soundness, its not always the easiest option and I would recommend you do plenty of research, the EP's are very good as are the UKNHCP, this lady is currently doing a study along with a vet onto the benefits of barefoot for navicular.

http://www.barefoothorses.co.uk/index.html


Good luck & keep us posted.

 

[Daisychain]

Thanks everyone, i have just been watching the clips of the horses being rehabilitated, very interesting seeing the slo mo of the toe first, then after rehab the ability to put the heel first.

 

[vicky_sut]

Iam currently trying my mare barefoot she was diagnosed with navicular in april. She is now sound in walk but not quite right in trot yet. Her feet have changed so much and she is only a little sensitive on stones. Hopefully by xmas she will have grown a whole new foot so fingers crossed she will just keep improving.
I defo think it is worth a go I have learnt so much.