Gem is OFFICIALLY sound..!

Geminismum

Geminismum

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To recap my girls story, Gem was diagnosed by MRI with moderate navicular disease and collateral ligament damage as a 3 year old in sept/ oct 2013. Vets and Leahurst strongly recommended shoeing in eggbars with wedges and gave a pretty poor outlook for Gems future advising that she'd be a light hack at best and will likely have intermittent lameness.

We made the decision that shoes weren't right for us and I got down to Rockley Farm mid February this year. Gems landing and hoof confirmation improved significantly while she was there and by the time she came on on the 4th May was sound and landing heel first. Since she came home we've continued to follow a similar regime to what she had at Rockley (minerals, consistent hacking, exercise on various surfaces) We had the vet out on Monday to re asses her post rehab and that vet was really taken back with he progress she'd made in a relatively short period of time. The vet said Gem looked completely sound, her back felt brilliant, she was comfortable stretching down on the lunge. Gems as close to being self trimming as she can be. She is pigeon toed so wears her feet unevenly and they do look odd so I thought the vet would advise trimming (knowing that previously they've not been the most open minded when it comes to barefoot) she did comment but when I said that her wonky feet are balanced to her wonky legs, she agreed and advised we carry on as we are as it is clearly working for us! My vet even apologised for not being able to provide more information and guidance to support us with barefoot rehabilitation.

The vet and myself are keen both keen get Gem re MRI'd to see what has changed and suggested that she thought Leahurst would be interested in Gems case. She did comment on the lack of funding for any barefoot research or studies which is disappointing and again helps explain why more vets don't recognise it as treatment I.e there's no money in it! We just need to get past the Petplan now who the vet said may question why she wants to MRI a sound horse...! I'm trying not to get my hopes up though seeing as they haven't contributed at all to her treatment - yet another hurdle for barefoot to overcome!

I'd forgotten what it's like to have a sound horse!! Happy happy :)
 
Fantastic news!! My girl is going to Rockley next week. Have to say I'm totally terrified but hoping I can post a similar happy report at the end of the year.
 
MrsD123 said:
Are we to take from this that Petplan won't pay for anyone's re-hab at Rockley in the future, or that they might if supported by vet recommendations?
Is Gem covered now or is she leg excluded?
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=+Gem
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Gem was fully supported by a veterinary referral but Petplan don't recognise barefoot rehab under either their "complementary treatment" or "veterinary treatment" definitions so we got nothing!

Gem has exclusions, however with the follow up MRIs I'm wondering where we stand with insurance. Obviously, I'm trying to get her MRI'd in the next couple of months to see what's changed but I'd also like to have one done in, say 18 months, as horses rehabbed barefoot with Navicular Disease Diagnosis have shown improvements and new growth to the bone.. So I guess a Navicular Disease diagnosis may not be for life.. We will see! :)
 
it is great news that Gem is sound and rockley has worked for her, I fully support barefoot my mare has never had shoes on, but I fail to see why either you or your vet expect an insurance company to pay out for an MRI on a sound horse.
 
twiggy2 said:
it is great news that Gem is sound and rockley has worked for her, I fully support barefoot my mare has never had shoes on, but I fail to see why either you or your vet expect an insurance company to pay out for an MRI on a sound horse.
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I don't EXPECT Petplan to pay out on anything! I have lost all faith bearing in mind iGems treatment has been completely self funded despite paying a significant monthly premium and a vet referral! I think with Gems original prognosis the vet would like to see exactly what we are now dealing with. I.e has something genuinely improved or is it a blip and likely to cause us problems again. I know plenty of horses, sound, that have been MRI'd following rehab.
 
It is so frustrating, if you are happy to put her through and the vet is forward thinking enough to request the information why the heck not! Loads of sound horses are examined and x rayed all the time for small niggles that turn out to be little or nothing wrong. What's the difference! It's brilliant though that she is doing so well :-)
 
MrsD123 said:
Brilliant ......... photos please ;)
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I have no idea whether this will work so bear with me !

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And here's our youtube clips :)

http://youtu.be/_p92Z3ZiqX8

http://youtu.be/uMUKzAzfVTo

And her wacky feet :)

http://youtu.be/oCyLhV9xMNo

http://youtu.be/7i9L4bduXu8
 
pistolpete said:
It is so frustrating, if you are happy to put her through and the vet is forward thinking enough to request the information why the heck not! Loads of sound horses are examined and x rayed all the time for small niggles that turn out to be little or nothing wrong. What's the difference! It's brilliant though that she is doing so well :-)
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Exactly PP! If I have to save up and pay for one myself I will. I'm determined that she's going to have one at some point in the next couple of years!! Im really interested and I almost feel like we owe it to Nic with all the hardwork she puts in to trying to get the vets to understand!
 
Geminismum said:
Gem was fully supported by a veterinary referral but Petplan don't recognise barefoot rehab under either their "complementary treatment" or "veterinary treatment" definitions so we got nothing
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Can you point them to the court case that was won against NFU by another of Rockley's clients? They were forced to pay up.
 
cptrayes said:
Can you point them to the court case that was won against NFU by another of Rockley's clients? They were forced to pay up.
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I tried that. I sent them the FOS decision and then followed up with the FOS. The issue is that Petplan have clearly defined in their T&Cs what they mean by complementary treatment (whereas I think NFU were more vague) and Rockley doesn't fit into any one of the definitions. I had to say which treatment best described Rockley between either Physiotherapy or remedial farriery. Obviously neither really. Also because Nic isn't a qualified physio or farrier they wouldn't have it! If she held a farriers qualification and did what she does now they'd have paid out...?!

The ombudsman did say that he was appalled and that Petplan have obviously been very clever with their T&Cs. The only other option I have is to open a case to claim that the policy terms are unfair, I looked into it but it looks fairly complicated and doesn't seem to fit into any of the regular unfair policy definitions.

IMO Petplan need to make clear in their T&Cs, in the exclusions, that barefoot rehab isn't covered as I know plenty of barefooters insured with Petplan that probably wouldn't be if they'd have known.
 
Well I think youwould be just ified in openinG a new post with a suitable headline
"BEWARE BAREFOOTERS: PETPLAN DO NOT PAY FOR BAREFOOT REHAB"
yes, something subtle :)
 
OP if your horse goes to a university for the MRI it may well be possible to a deal with them on the cost of the MRI since it's being done for interest .
I did this with my horses jaw and got one half price and another at no cost .
 
I wonder with NFU if they paid under the Alternative Husbandry clause of their terms. This is what pays out for the usual rehab livery which people sometimes need due to circumstances. It used to be worth the same chunk of the total payout as alternative therapy.

As for MRIs on a sound horse, the principle is not out of line with usual procedure. I'm sure many of us have had follow up ultrasounds and xrays on sound horses after they've come sound so the vet can check the healing that has taken place. It's just the reality of how much an MRI costs that stops it bring routine.
 
criso said:
I wonder with NFU if they paid under the Alternative Husbandry clause of their terms. This is what pays out for the usual rehab livery which people sometimes need due to circumstances. It used to be worth the same chunk of the total payout as alternative therapy.

As for MRIs on a sound horse, the principle is not out of line with usual procedure. I'm sure many of us have had follow up ultrasounds and xrays on sound horses after they've come sound so the vet can check the healing that has taken place. It's just the reality of how much an MRI costs that stops it bring routine.
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Interesting point
 
Bless you wanting to pay for it yourself! I know what you mean about paying Nic back though. The work she does is so worthwhile, life-changing and bizarrely straight forward. I often wonder why there aren't more 'Rockley' type rehab places popping up. The horses that need them are there for sure!
 
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