emfen1305
Well-Known Member
I know this a very overdone topic on the forum but could do with being pointed in the right direction of some useful threads or good advice groups for all things to do with barefoot rehab for a horse with navicular. I am already on barefoot horses uk and barefoot for navicular on FB. Apologies in advance for the length but i know context is useful.
I have decided to take my cob barefoot, he went lame last September as was diagnosed with "navicular" in his RF but after reading a lot about it on here I pushed further for an actual reason for lameness to treat and was given strained ddft and synovitis in coffin joints (again not a cause for the lameness from my understanding) so going with ddft as a cause - had shockwave therapy for the ddft, tildren and steroid injections in coffin joints. Shod in remedial shoes with a horizontal plate across the middle and had a long lay off over winter due to weather and personal reasons. He came back sound in Jan and then lockdown hit so two more months off and then since June has been in full work and competing at novice. Got his legs in a bit of a jumble at the end of my lesson on Tuesday when he was tired and pulled the shoe off the RF - he has never pulled a shoe in the 2.5 years i've owned him so i was surprised, visiting farrier put the shoe back on yesterday and told me to be careful as the foot wasn't the best so put him in overreach boots and then came down this morning to the shoe half off the foot so had to pull it off. Got another visiting farrier to take the other shoe off as no way he could put the shoe back on the dodgy foot and now he needs to grow some hoof before they can go back on, if they go back on.
I've messaged my farrier to discuss barefoot with him. We did try two winters ago and he just didn't cope at all, to the point where he wouldn't come out of his stable so I am keen to make sure I do the best for him so could really do with being pointed in the direction of some threads or really good advice. I know all horses are different but i do believe long term that barefoot would be better for him so trying it now. He is fed a token feed of TB chaff, vits and mins (won't eat powdered so went for spillers lite and lean because no added iron), boswelia and a calming powder, out in the day and in at night and has ad lib hay when in - This is exactly the same as two years ago so feed wasn't the issue back then. I ride 4-5 days a week, mostly schooling but we do try and hack (not our favourite thing!)
I can't put him on a track as I am on a livery yard and I can't add biotin to the feed as it sets his mallenders off really badly but other than that I am totally open to suggestions. Do i boot him now or see how he goes? Does he need special boots and pads given the navicular? Any help really needed as we've been doing so well and so scared I will break him! Thank you!
I have decided to take my cob barefoot, he went lame last September as was diagnosed with "navicular" in his RF but after reading a lot about it on here I pushed further for an actual reason for lameness to treat and was given strained ddft and synovitis in coffin joints (again not a cause for the lameness from my understanding) so going with ddft as a cause - had shockwave therapy for the ddft, tildren and steroid injections in coffin joints. Shod in remedial shoes with a horizontal plate across the middle and had a long lay off over winter due to weather and personal reasons. He came back sound in Jan and then lockdown hit so two more months off and then since June has been in full work and competing at novice. Got his legs in a bit of a jumble at the end of my lesson on Tuesday when he was tired and pulled the shoe off the RF - he has never pulled a shoe in the 2.5 years i've owned him so i was surprised, visiting farrier put the shoe back on yesterday and told me to be careful as the foot wasn't the best so put him in overreach boots and then came down this morning to the shoe half off the foot so had to pull it off. Got another visiting farrier to take the other shoe off as no way he could put the shoe back on the dodgy foot and now he needs to grow some hoof before they can go back on, if they go back on.
I've messaged my farrier to discuss barefoot with him. We did try two winters ago and he just didn't cope at all, to the point where he wouldn't come out of his stable so I am keen to make sure I do the best for him so could really do with being pointed in the direction of some threads or really good advice. I know all horses are different but i do believe long term that barefoot would be better for him so trying it now. He is fed a token feed of TB chaff, vits and mins (won't eat powdered so went for spillers lite and lean because no added iron), boswelia and a calming powder, out in the day and in at night and has ad lib hay when in - This is exactly the same as two years ago so feed wasn't the issue back then. I ride 4-5 days a week, mostly schooling but we do try and hack (not our favourite thing!)
I can't put him on a track as I am on a livery yard and I can't add biotin to the feed as it sets his mallenders off really badly but other than that I am totally open to suggestions. Do i boot him now or see how he goes? Does he need special boots and pads given the navicular? Any help really needed as we've been doing so well and so scared I will break him! Thank you!