Barefoot people *pic overload* - navicular/lami?

[JackDaniels1]

I posted this thread last October - photo's with shoes on :

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=567967

This is her yesterday:

Backs:

Fronts:

She doesn't want to go forwards when ridden, she seems to stride out more in walk than she did in shoes but it could just be my imagination. Even when on the lunge, when asked to trot or especially canter the ears go back the head goes down and you have to get after her for her to go. I sat on her quickly today and again once asked for a little trot the ears go back and very reluctant and tries to stretch out her neck downwards.

She is a lot better (not perfect) walking on hard ground than she was when the shoes had only just come off, she just stumbles a bit in her stable.

I also noticed both front feet her hot to touch around her coronet band whereas her field buddy's were cold ?

I am scared she has navicular or mild lami ! Help!

 

[JackDaniels1]

*bump*

 

[Farma]

I really think you should ask a vet. Without further investigation nobody can answer you questions.

 

[Dora5]

Her fronts don't look that great and a few suspect bits, looks like there is a touch of seedy toe. Is there an elevated radial pulse? I suggest it may be abscess, might be worth poulticing and seeing if anything comes out ?

 

[TwoStroke]

Could just be the photos but they look a bit thrushy? Also looks like you may have some seedy toe on the fronts.

If you're having problems when riding on a surface, though, I'd consider that it may not be the feet - possibly a back issue? Either way, I agree it's best to get a vet to have a look.

 

[tallyho!]

Backs look fine to me but the fronts don't look we'll balanced and the toe is either stretching or flaring due to seedy toe or imbalance of the foot. Have you considered a brewing abscess? It may be she has one brewing in both fronts? Consider booting for now and call vet or your hoof care professional to test and see if there is something brewing.

 

[wellsat]

You can see the better change in hoof angle about half way down her hoof so she's obv growing a better hoof but it'll take her some time. Are her hooves hotter than normal? Some horses have hotter hooves than others, the important thing is whats normal. If you suspect a problem it can't hurt to look at her diet and see if that helps but if you've got any doubt call the vet and talk it through.

 

[pinklilly]

I would get the vet to investigate... Mine had mild lameness, one tenth in one hind ( seen by more than one vet trotting up in a straight line ). He was diagnosed with PSD in all 4 legs ( was actually lame in all 4 on a circle at vets ) and negative pedal bone angle ( too low at the back ) causing caudal foot pain. Vets say down to poor conformation but possibly degenerative and prognosis not too good. He also had mild lami twice and this was predominantly in his hinds, he's a now 6 yo tb.

Feel free to have a look at pics if you wish.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150319185685159.388498.786005158&type=3

 

[cptrayes]

and negative pedal bone angle ( too low at the back ) causing caudal foot pain. Vets say down to poor conformation

You may not have meant this the way it read, but negative pedal bone angle is not, in my opinion, ever due to poor conformation and in my experience of having done several horses with it, and seen others, is always correctable with a barefoot rehab to rebuild the height at the back of the foot, which corrects the pedal bone angle.

I'm sorry about your horse's other problems, but that one is probably fixable.

 

[cptrayes]

jackdaniels your horse has a huge change of balance going on in her front feet. If you suspect lami, treat her as if she has it and if she improves you'll know you were right. Meanwhile, treat for thrush as well, and then I think you need to be patient for another couple of months. That foot is folding in the middle and the toe could be putting considerable pressure on the fold line. It happened with one that I did and he went outright lame for a couple of weeks until it grew down enough to reduce the leverage.

 

[amandap]

I'd get the vet to check her.
There could be some laminitis (?low grade)... the ripples on the wall, the very steep new hoof angle, curved dorsal (front) wall and what looks like an abscess exit split on the third from last pic of a front hoof along with the footyness/reluctant to go forward are possible indicators.
Just something to rule out, don't mean to scare you. x

Low sugar diet (inc. soaked hay/low sugar and starch hay or haylage), good level of minerals including salt and magnesium are the basics.

Here's link you might find useful. http://www.ecirhorse.com/index.php/laminitis
I would consider one of the Forage Plus balancers as they have a very good level of minerals. Email/phone them for advice

 

[maccachic]

The heels and bars don't look right to me, bit hard to tell with the darkness of the photos.

 

[pinklilly]

Thanks cptrayes, I did look into it and take advice but my initial thoughts were to get the horse as comfortable as possible and give him the winter and see what happened. Lack of facilities on livery yard, he'd initially gone lame when he'd never had hind shoes on and he was miserable and sore due to the caudal foot pain.

I'm hesitating over bringing him into work as I don't feel I have all the answers to my questions, I don't believe his suspensories issues are purely conformational. He's alleged to have broken down on both front suspensories 3 years ago in training but a scan I had done only showed a minor mid suspensory injury on the off fore.

I'm happy for him to be fully retired but my vet wants me to start walking but I'm not sure.

 

[LucyPriory]

I'd question your vet and/or HCP whether the front heels have sheered. The growth at the top of the foot does look better than the bottom, but sheered heels and/or thrush can make a horse very footy. There could be a touch of lami too - depending where you are - in my area the grass is behaving like its spring.