Early Navicular Supplements and Feed

[Ali000]

Hi my 11 year old gelding has just been diagnosed with early navicular.
He’s had natural balance shoes put on this week but I need some advice on what to feed him and any helpful supplements?
I’m absolutely gutted as I have only had him 8 weeks but I want to do my best for him so any advice on how to deal with this is very welcome. Thank you ?

 

[Regandal]

There’s no feed or supplements that can alleviate navicular. The best thing that you can do is take the shoes off and do a barefoot rehab. Loads of info out there, you could start with the Rockley farm blogs.

 

[tallyho!]

Don't panic! Do what Regandal just said and all will be fine.

Firstly, did the person who diagnosed him with "early navicular" leave you with an x-ray? It's a very odd diagnosis if you ask me. Is it the bone? Is it the tendons under the navicular bone? I suspect that perhaps the heels are contracted?

If it helps, navicular can be an umbrella term for a number of things but using "early navicular' seems to suggest that it will get worse - which it will if you continue to shoe. Generally, it is caused by the inner-structures of the foot being weakened or impinged because of a lack of space/strength at the back of the foot - the heel bulbs. It WILL get better and stronger but only if you let the structures function as they ought to first. That cannot be done in shoes.

If your farrier cannot help you with the barefoot transition, some good barefoot rehab professionals are out there.

 

[Red-1]

I would love to see some photos of his feet, have a look at what sort of angles would be most helpful. Usually one from the side, with the camera on the floor, same of the front, same from the back, one of the sole and if possible one angled from behind, with the foot held up.

So many people here can help you to see what improvements can be made.

 

[sbloom]

Read up on the Rockley site for sure, navicular as already said is often a catch all term and can mean very little. If your horse was lame then it probably has heel pain and that is what needs addressing. I used to be a fan of NB shoes but they have major limitations, and I realised my horse had them fairly badly applied for 3 years, and by the people who bring the shoes into the country so supposedly the experts!

Most heel pain is fixable, even bony changes are thought by many to be reversible. Look to your bodyworker and hoofcare professionals to work together to ensure your horse is moving as well as possible with the best possible hoof function (digital cushion etc) and you may do much better than you fear.

 

[Ali000]

Don't panic! Do what Regandal just said and all will be fine.

Firstly, did the person who diagnosed him with "early navicular" leave you with an x-ray? It's a very odd diagnosis if you ask me. Is it the bone? Is it the tendons under the navicular bone? I suspect that perhaps the heels are contracted?

If it helps, navicular can be an umbrella term for a number of things but using "early navicular' seems to suggest that it will get worse - which it will if you continue to shoe. Generally, it is caused by the inner-structures of the foot being weakened or impinged because of a lack of space/strength at the back of the foot - the heel bulbs. It WILL get better and stronger but only if you let the structures function as they ought to first. That cannot be done in shoes.

If your farrier cannot help you with the barefoot transition, some good barefoot rehab professionals are out there.

She actually said “a touch of navicular”. Because I’ve never come across it I didn’t take in all she was saying. One foot had a lollipop lesion but the other foot was not as bad. Does that make any sense. She said the first step was the Natural Balance shoes. I will get copies of the x-rays and ask for a report. Many thanks for your help

 

[Ali000]

I would love to see some photos of his feet, have a look at what sort of angles would be most helpful. Usually one from the side, with the camera on the floor, same of the front, same from the back, one of the sole and if possible one angled from behind, with the foot held up.

So many people here can help you to see what improvements can be made.

I will get some photos. Many thanks for your help and advice.

 

[tallyho!]

She actually said “a touch of navicular”. Because I’ve never come across it I didn’t take in all she was saying. One foot had a lollipop lesion but the other foot was not as bad. Does that make any sense. She said the first step was the Natural Balance shoes. I will get copies of the x-rays and ask for a report. Many thanks for your help

Be very wary of vets who say this. A touch of navicular… what exactly is that??
That’s how my boy got diagnosed and that phrase means absolutely nothing. This is what started me on a journey of hoof geekdom. See, equine vets are the GP’s of horses and ponies really and whilst most things are brilliant, the whole hoof thing really does not float any boats. They just refer to farriers with a love of iron and fire.