Foot imbalance

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Hollylee1989

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So in January my horse was diagnosed with 'Navicular' via xray. Requested the xrays end of January because I love looking at stuff like that. Noticed his left was unbalanced and called the vet to talk me through them. Completely brushed this under the carpet (not impressed), vet binned off and now under a much better vet. Farrier didn't breathe a word either, again binned off. In the left he had thrush and a sheared heel, his saddle also needed adjusting. Getting better with everything I try to fix, no lameness on hard ground or soft surface just not landing quite equal on that left. Hopefully in 3-5 farrier sessions I'll see a difference. Next session is on the 31st, Below images of both feet :) IMG-20210212-WA0003.jpg20210212_162516.jpg
 
I personally would want the shoes off. I have been through a BF rehab before and it was the best thing I ever did for that horse so I am possibly biased. Look at the Rockley Farm Blog to see photos of the horses that they are rehabbing, it's very interesting if you haven't looked at it before.
 
Meowy Catkin said:
I personally would want the shoes off. I have been through a BF rehab before and it was the best thing I ever did for that horse so I am possibly biased. Look at the Rockley Farm Blog to see photos of the horses that they are rehabbing, it's very interesting if you haven't looked at it before.
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I've tried barefoot before, almost a year and he wasn't coping well. Put shoes back on and he made a big improvement
 
I think a lot of vets want to look at more medical issues than a simple hoof issue cause that’s not something they can fix. If I have issues now I see my farrier and vet at the same time and make up my own plan of action!

eta taking my boy barefoot is what cost him a near 6 months of his life. Never again. Some horses just can’t cope and at 20 there isn’t time to spend two years rehabbing the hoof. Barefoot doesn’t fix everything!
 
ycbm said:
Well done for sacking that first vet!
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They were only interested in putting him under the mri machine, got me to trot up one short side and graded him 'maybe 1/10th lame, new vet got me to work him on hard ground and soft surface, followed by a lunge. No lameness just not quite right on that left, hopefully sorting this imbalance will be the only thing!
 
Equi said:
I think a lot of vets want to look at more medical issues than a simple hoof issue cause that’s not something they can fix. If I have issues now I see my farrier and vet at the same time and make up my own plan of action!

eta taking my boy barefoot is what cost him a near 6 months of his life. Never again. Some horses just can’t cope and at 20 there isn’t time to spend two years rehabbing the hoof. Barefoot doesn’t fix everything!
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Fynnley has turned 20 this year, I don't expect his bones to looks how they used to be. Just hoping this imbalance can be fixed
 
Pinkvboots said:
Natural balance shoes really helped mine when the original farrier couldn't get his feet right, I changed farrier and first set of natural balance and he was then sound.
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That's great news, I'd imagine a good few sessions before I see some difference. Just hope I'm not too late and any damage has been done. I'd feel so guilty
 
Hollylee1989 said:
That's great news, I'd imagine a good few sessions before I see some difference. Just hope I'm not too late and any damage has been done. I'd feel so guilty
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My horse had balance issues 12 years ago his 17 now and he just has light aluminium shoes nailed on cold now, so I think it can definitely improve and stay that way, we did nearly 2 years barefoot but he wasn't coping on stony tracks this summer so shoes are back on.
 
wow! As others have said, well done for sorting out the professionals! And thank you for sharing :)

I am fascinated these x-rays- I really know diddly squat about x-rays, but it appears to me like the spaces between the joints seems quite balanced m-l.....so is the wonky hoof allowing the boney column to be staight????

Do you have any other views?


ETA - proving I know diddly squat...are those vertical lines in the frog caused by thrush? or something else?
 
Cragrat said:
wow! As others have said, well done for sorting out the professionals! And thank you for sharing :)

I am fascinated these x-rays- I really know diddly squat about x-rays, but it appears to me like the spaces between the joints seems quite balanced m-l.....so is the wonky hoof allowing the boney column to be staight????

Do you have any other views?


ETA - proving I know diddly squat...are those vertical lines in the frog caused by thrush? or something else?
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It's all very interesting isn't it! Yes sure I'll attach some other views. He had thrush which has caused his heel bulbs to split, they're healing over nicely now thanks to red horse products.
 

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Thank you !

Yes, Red Horse type products are grreat aren't they :)

Very interesting side views - it will nice to see how his feet develop with a new farrier - there is definitley some room for change :eek:
 
Cragrat said:
Thank you !

Yes, Red Horse type products are grreat aren't they :)

Very interesting side views - it will nice to see how his feet develop with a new farrier - there is definitley some room for change :eek:
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Next farrier visit is on Wednesday, will keep this thread updated. Really disappointed with my previous farrier, I've been a customer since he was a young apprentice.
 
So the new farrier came out Wednesday. His conformation is very against him (slight pidgeon toed and one side of his pastern bone longer than the other side in that left leg). He said with this he'll always want to land not flat, which I understand you can't change the way their bones are. Managed to get him landing more flat after the session, and touch wood he seems very comfy.
 
I went through the trials and tribulations of a horse with a foot imbalance and saw how easy it was for it to be made worse through the incompetence of a so called professional. Thankfully I didn’t retire him at 5 as I was advised to do and found one of if not the best barefoot Farrier in the country. Now 11 he is still as sound as the day he was born. Glad you have your boy back.
 
Lindylouanne said:
I went through the trials and tribulations of a horse with a foot imbalance and saw how easy it was for it to be made worse through the incompetence of a so called professional. Thankfully I didn’t retire him at 5 as I was advised to do and found one of if not the best barefoot Farrier in the country. Now 11 he is still as sound as the day he was born. Glad you have your boy back.
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That's great news for your boy! Such a worry isn't it, you start the long winded process of elimination and the slightest of change makes all the difference.
 
Hi I'm Birker2020 as explained previously. Stuck with HB username on my phone as I can't remember my password!

This is the issue with my horse hence the Avanti PLR shoes which were recommended to me by the vet to balance the shoe around the coffin joint. She's pigeon toed on the worse foot and the shoe stops the foot striking off wrong. In other words prevents the over pronation. You might want to ask your farrier about them. Think they are around £15 a pair direct.
 
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