Coffin joint arthritic changes and NPA (Fronts)

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Zoeypxo

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Quick question for any hoof experts.

my horse has arthritic changes to the RF coffin joint and NPA diagnosed by x rays and joint block to the coffin joint.
Steroid into coffin joint , sound within 24hrs. A month later lameness returns RF.
She has now had arthramid injected into the right fore coffin joint after trotting up 100% sound after joint block into coffin joint, arthramid has not taken effect yet (4 weeks post injection)
On vets advice she is now in a 3 degree wedge and dental impression pads.

i am considering barefoot , she has always been shod (10+yrs).
Would you barefoot rehab in this situation?
Horse is not insured anymore due to lots of exclusions and ive already spend almost 2K on this lameness?
She is 2/10ths lame right fore which blocks to the coffin joint.
 
I will be discussing barefoot the next time i see my farrier & vet if no improvement from the arthramid by 6-8weeks
Just wondering if anyone else went barefoot under the same or similar situation .
 
I [resume the NPA wasn't addressed in that first month, only subsequently? I think in so many cases injections should be simply a break for the pain in order to improve the underlying cause. Is she still lame now in the wedges? I used to be 100% against wedges and very pro barefoot but the work of The Equine Documentalist and Progressive Equine Services (websites and FB) have changed my mind. If your farrier could work to that protocol then I'd consider that route, otherwise a really good trimmer and hoof boots.

However, it's interesting that my favourite groundwork rehab trainer, Celeste Leilani Lazaris, says she's yet to see a case of DDFT damage (I think just in the foot, P3/navicular issues) in a horse with a good thoracic sling. I would now 100% say whatever you do with the feet you need to look at the posture and especially the thoracic sling otherwise you're not addressing the cause.
 
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NPA was diagnosed same time as the arthritic changes. She is still lame in pads and wedges after steroid wore off. Sound whilst steroid working. Farrier is working with the vet off the x ray images, shod currently every 5 weeks.

i do a lot of groundwork including backing up, raised poles, belly lifts, carrot stretches etc. when she is sound i hack alot on hills, ride over poles on the ground and raised, lateral work etc, long and low work.
I try really hard to keep a good topline and she has regular body work.
She is sound in walk so i have been just doing in hand work 5-6 days a week so she does not lose muscle tone whilst out of work.
 
The sort of work I'm talking about can differ to the more physio led approach, worth a look, as are the farriers I mentioned. Something's not working and you don't know what, so you can't really tick any boxes that anything is definitely working/has worked, from your groundwork, through the vet to the farrier.
 
I would absolutely take the shoes off yes.

Our story
Lame left fore
NPA in both,
blocked to back of foot, then coffin joint - dx DJD as nothing seen arthritis wise on xrays.
Coffin joint injected with steroids, bar shoes, aim to improve heels.
2x shoeing cycles = on the outside hooves looked much better, as soon as work increased to more 'normal hacking' ie 1.5h ish inc some trotting horse not right, so presumably the internals no better.

Decided if he was retiring he wouldnt' have shoes on anyway so we might as well do it properly - 19 at this point so shod for a long time.

Shoes off and additional steroid given at that point (given it had made an improvement I kind of felt this would help things start off well). 6 months careful rehab.

Result pony now 29, not been lame in front ever since, was still hunting at 25.
 
ester said:
I would absolutely take the shoes off yes.

Our story
Lame left fore
NPA in both,
blocked to back of foot, then coffin joint - dx DJD as nothing seen arthritis wise on xrays.
Coffin joint injected with steroids, bar shoes, aim to improve heels.
2x shoeing cycles = on the outside hooves looked much better, as soon as work increased to more 'normal hacking' ie 1.5h ish inc some trotting horse not right, so presumably the internals no better.

Decided if he was retiring he wouldnt' have shoes on anyway so we might as well do it properly - 19 at this point so shod for a long time.

Shoes off and additional steroid given at that point (given it had made an improvement I kind of felt this would help things start off well). 6 months careful rehab.

Result pony now 29, not been lame in front ever since, was still hunting at 25.
Click to expand...

Thankyou, did you use boots at all?
The hacking is mainly off road where i am but so stoney everywhere so cant imagine her enjoying the hacking without some fork of protection, but maybe i am wrong?
 
Yes, we mostly have road he was ok for the first 6 weeks (5 min the first week, 10 the second etc) he then went sore at the 6 weeks part and was booted with easyboot gloves for roadwork (we have one stretch of grass about 1/3 mile and I would take them off to do that bit). He then went bootless until we moved area and it got stonier so booted again until he was more comfortable (and he did get more comfortable and went naked again, he did move a bit better without them).

It is definitely trickier if it is stoney everywhere it did make a difference re. the yard I went to.

Fwiw Im not against wedges, not as much as I used to be anyway people do seem to be having better results with them and it seems that sometimes they do need that immediate change in alignment with the right package. But I do think for some the development of the internal supportive structures is best achieved barefoot.
 
Have a Google for hoof rehab articles - Jamie Jackson, Pete Ramey, Rockley Farm have all documented their journeys with medical rehabilitation. Finding a good farrier who will help you through this is vital - any farrier can fit wedges or eggbars, but being willing to help a bare foot achieve soundness is often a big ask. Check out some of the American or Australian farrier sites too. They are streets ahead of us in terms of research and rehab. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.
 
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