Barefoot or not? Also IRAP - Has anyone used?

HannahPatsy

HannahPatsy

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I just recently posted about my mare having changes in navicular bone, inflamed bursa - possible DDFT/ Collateral ligament damage (because of previous intermittent lameness). Anyway.. took her to vets today and she was fully sound.. even on a small circle on hard surface - sure the vet thinks I'm nuts!!! I have had her on box rest for a while and explained that when she has been turned out she goes lame. He's recommended to turn her out in small paddock for couple of hours a day and start gentle exercise as we need to test lameness - he took x-rays and said the foot angle is great at the mo.. she has quarter clip shoes with heel wedges, which I know are just a temporary measure! So what do I do next? I wanted to try barefoot, but am a little apprehensive?! Or my farrier has graduated bar shoes I could try?? Just can't decide what to do for the best?
Also vet said if she does go lame again they will do IRAP treatment. Has anyone had this done or know if it's any good?
In the meantime I am awaiting for my insurance to get back to me to say if they will pay for MRI (if not I WILL find a way to fund myself)
Thanks :) x
 
HannahPatsy said:
he took x-rays and said the foot angle is great at the mo.. she has quarter clip shoes with heel wedges
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That seems a very strange comment.... the foot angle can't be great if wedges are being used...

What have you got to lose by trying barefoot? There is loads of information and support available and it has to be the cheapest 'treatment' for navicular.
 
Iv tried both had to go barefoot because everytime my horse was shod went lame had five irap because collatral ligament damage but my horses feet are like rocks so i could go barefoot he now still sound i would give it a try nothing to lose
 
I am presently transitioning to barefoot with my tb/han (previous collateral lig. problems) and i don't regret a thing . Everything has improved -: foot shape - in fact i can't stop starring at them LOL!! He moves so much better - quite frankly its unbelievable the difference its made in him. He's happy and sound and in full work and that equals one happy owner !! :)
 
mine tb has navicular and had remedial shoeing which he has come sound with but due to his hocks being injected he is abit more extravagant moving now and has pulled a shoe off nearly every week! taring half his foot off with it, so as of next thursday he goes barefoot, im nervous about it as i know i will have to watch him hobble around for a while but im excited about giving it a go!
 
I strongly suggest that you consult an experienced trimmer before taking the shoes off.

It is not OK to leave any horse hobbling around.

As your farrier (whom I am sure is excellent) has not been able to solve your problems, it is unlikely he will be able to rehabilitate your horse barefoot.

Any decent trimmer will refuse to allow your horse to be hobbling around and will provide information and support to avoid this.

At least bring one onto the yard (who has a good reputation) to have a look and consult, even if you wish to continue with your farrier.

Alot of horses can be managed perfectly well by the farrier but a horse with underlying pathologies will often need more intensive help.
 
amandap said:
Those pics at the bottom of the page of the ridge of sole coming away when not needed (naturally) are really interesting. Great story.:)
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I think it highlights that what is necessary, is to interfere as little as possible and trust the foot to heal itself.

How many people would have removed that sole before it was done with.

Put the knife down and back away from the hoof.......
 
Remedial farriery at vet's advice.

Said farrier is very popular in the area and has been insensed by the intrusion of 'dodgy trimmers' in his area......

The whole time he was shod with those shoes he had the same shoes back on again but was still charged through the nose!

I have to say that Schoko was born with a boxy hoof. Every farrier since birth had tried to correct the blemish. You can see how successful they were by the pics and his story!

Again - another lesson of leave the hoof alone.

Another friend has a horse who had a knee injury as a colt. Now in his late teens (and shod all these years) he is having awful tendon issues and shoulder problems. Owner fears his snapping the tendon any day now. Makes me wonder how the horse would be if he had been left barefoot to grow the correct (deformed) foot to compensate for the injury.

It's too late now. Owner is just waiting for the catastrophic injury to happen and then PTS.
 
Well yesterday i was out hunting with the Exmoor Foxhounds on a horse that was going to be pts due to collateral ligament damage! go take a look at the Rockley farm blog and my boy has a big write up on his day out. He has been rehabbed barefoot by Nic Barker she is the most amazing person. It was his last chance. He had IRAP, Tildren, joint medicated soooooooooo many times he stopped loading onto box. He did have an MRI to be sure what the problem was. But he now sound on a small circle and can go into a normal size paddock. He had a total of 9 months boxrest which nearly drove him and me mental. Nic specialises in DDFT and soft tissue injuries as well as navicular. Give her a call or email, you won't regret it, or feel free to pm me as Bailey's story is long and complicated.
Good luck
L
 
When i say my horse will be hobling around i am refering to the fact that he will be extremely foot sore once the shoes are removed having typical tb feet and being shod since the age of 2 racing! and nothing but time will sort that........not even a barefoot trimmer can perform such a miracle!
 
china said:
When i say my horse will be hobling around i am refering to the fact that he will be extremely foot sore once the shoes are removed having typical tb feet and being shod since the age of 2 racing! and nothing but time will sort that........not even a barefoot trimmer can perform such a miracle!
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So was Bailey, although because he was at a rehab farm they had comfortable surfaces to walk on ie:pea gravel. But walking on concreet he was a cripple, now he strides along the road like a shod horse you wouldn't know the difference only that he is dead quiet...lol. only a quiet clip clop. Let us know how you get on.x
 
After a consultation with a barefoot farrier and a disagreement with my OH, my boy went barefoot, 3 months on, after being footsore for a week, I nearly relented and had him shod, he is fully sound, not tripping over his own feet anymore and his funny foot looks even funnier but balanced, I have no regrets about going barefoot and am working on my OH to let our mare go barefoot.
 
Lainey123 said:
So was Bailey, although because he was at a rehab farm they had comfortable surfaces to walk on ie:pea gravel. But walking on concreet he was a cripple, now he strides along the road like a shod horse you wouldn't know the difference only that he is dead quiet...lol. only a quiet clip clop. Let us know how you get on.x
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luckily we have pea gravel paddocks as our winter turnout out :D i have to facilities of sand, pea gravel, road and dirt tracks so hopefully im prety well set up. iv just had my cavallo boots through and they look huge!!
 
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