I'm scared my horse may have navicular...

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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.... i posted previously with pics regarding my horse not wanting to go forwards even in walk and really really doesn't want to canter. She had front shoes on and backs were barefoot.

Shoes were taken off about 5 weeks ago and yes when walked her up and down for barefoot specialist she was hobbling without her shoes. We borrowed a pair of boots for her for 5 mins and she was better, not perfect. She now has magnesium powder in her feed and feet scrubbed with milton. Barefoot lady suggested we put a bit of old carpet down for her from field - stable to help her which we did. She is better than she was but when turning around in her stable, i can see her stumbling in her front legs/feet.

For the first time in months, i got on her last weekend to see if she 'feels' any different, it was in a nice soft field. I lunged her for 5 mins first to which she was still reluctant especially when i suggested a canter, i didnt push it. I then hopped on to see how she responded/felt, she was a lot more forward in both walk and trot then she had previously felt however this may have just been as hadnt been ridden for a while. One thing i do notice is she will canter in from the field to the gate at tea time - would she do this if in pain?

I am worried she may have navicular which cropped up in conversation with my barefoot specialist last time she came.

Is it still early days on the going barefoot programme to say? i'm really worried. :-(
 
*hugs*

It's so horrible watching your horse struggle. As she was happier in boots have you thought about getting some for her? If she's cantering (and trotting soundly) in the field then it sounds like she is coping with that surface. She might find frozen ground difficult though, so boots with pads might be helpful here too.
 
My horse was diagnosed with navicular amongst other things and he went to Rockley for his transitional period to going barefoot. He's now sound and in full work.

I would check your horse's diet six ways to Sunday to make sure you've taken all the sugar you can out, get her onto pro hoof or pro balance + or similar right away, make sure you're feeding a good amount of magnesium (my lad has a 50ml scoop between his two feeds daily, soak all your hay for at least 12 hours and try to keep her as comfortable as possible whilst she grows a better hoof.

In hand walks on tarmac should help once she's comfortable, but build it up slowly and steadily. If she needs boots to help then get some, my lad didn't but he had all the supportive surfaces at Rockley to help him.

Finally, good luck, there's a wealth of information on here, without the likes of Oberon, TallyHo Faracat and CpTrayes I wouldn't have a sound horse now, so they're well worth listening to, along with the many others who have helped lots of us who are in a panic when we know there's something seriously wrong.

Keep us posted. :) x
 
As navicular is a disease of shod horses, you are doing the right thing going down the barefoot route.

Keeping up exercise in boots and pads will strengthen the digital cushion, which will give support whilst the navicular bone recovers.:)
 
Buy some boots with pads, she will be much more comfy. There is no need for her to hobble about when she could have support and cushioning.
 
Pale Rider said:
As navicular is a disease of shod horses, you are doing the right thing going down the barefoot route.

Keeping up exercise in boots and pads will strengthen the digital cushion, which will give support whilst the navicular bone recovers.:)
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this - you might not need boots for ever but it will make your horse comfy. Whatever you do, if horse may have navicular, dont even think of going back to shoes, as navvi horses really only come long term sound without them. Shoes force the navicular into an unnatural role in the weight bearing mechanisms of the hoof which they are not designed for - hence navicular changes.
 
You are on the right track. With navi your enemy is shoes and your friends are Mr. Time & Mr & Mrs Boots & Pads. Mrs Nature will do everything else for you but diet and sympathetic trimming will help a LOT!

Mine old boy was diagnosed navi via x-ray and tbh I just stuck him in a massive field over the winter months with a few mates.. boots and pads when ground was really hard frosted. We started hacking on New Years Day... just up to village and back. By this time he'd had 4 months off just chilling out. Trimmer came and sorted out his balance bit by bit and by the following Oct, we did 3ft HT. Twice and came 3rd in the pairs.

If you suspect navi, get it diagnosed properly and then give your horse a break. Soft tissue damage takes time. You wouldn't ride or lunge if your horse had bust a tendon would you? So, think of it that way. Yes stimulation is more important in navi cases but don't make the horse do what it finds hard at the moment. The x-rays then can be given to trimmer to work with as well.
 
Has the vet done a lameness workup? I agree that you are being very thorough in getting the barefoot part right but is it not also possible that there could be something else going on elsewhere in the leg? Or have you already got a navicular diagnosis that I have missed? Sorry if I am stating the obvious. Good luck getting your horse right - I know how horrible it is to be worried about them xxx
 
unbalanced said:
Has the vet done a lameness workup? I agree that you are being very thorough in getting the barefoot part right but is it not also possible that there could be something else going on elsewhere in the leg? Or have you already got a navicular diagnosis that I have missed? Sorry if I am stating the obvious. Good luck getting your horse right - I know how horrible it is to be worried about them xxx
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I agree with this. Horses can and do stumble for a number of reasons, not least low grade laminitis. I would get a diagnosis from a vet before treating as for navicular syndrome or disease. That means X-rays/scans. Treating for navicular when it could be laminitis will be a waste of time, if she simply needs a low sugar, restricted grass diet.
 
Pale Rider said:
As navicular is a disease of shod horses
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I think care should be taken when making statements such as this. Imo navicular is a disease of weak, unhealthy feet, and these can occur shod or barefoot. It's not the case that simply taking shoes off will heal or prevent navicular - you need to develop a strong foot with a robust caudal hoof, a good wall connection and adequate sole depth. Removing shoes is a good start, but it's often a long process, and you shouldn't expect to see results over night.

I agree with the suggestion of boots and pads - these can be used to keep the horse comfortable whilst you do the all important work to stimulate the feet.

Fwiw, I agree with wagtail that if you x-rayed the feet you would likely see some 'rotation' - indicating that your problem may be laminitic rather than navicular. Either way, the course of action is the same - address diet and keep the horse moving within it's comfort levels.
 
I'd agree that navicular is a disease of weak unhealthy feet, predominantly caused by shoeing.
Of course it's a long process and no one would expect an overnight success.

In my experience navicular and lamanitic degeneration go hand in hand. If your shoeing, you diet will be crap in most cases.

It's all about the whole horse. I don't believe you can cherry pick with horse care, and be successful.
 
I think it's very dangerous to say navicular is a disease of shod horses , it's like saying lung cancer is a disease of smokers more smokers get lung cancer than non smokers but a percentage of non smokers will develop it.

I don't think we can say what is wrong with OP's horse it could a lot of things OP needs someone who is trained to diagnose that's a vet that's my advice OP call a sensible equine vet and oh get some boots and pads.
My vet tells me that she is unconcerned if horses show discomfort without shoes for some months after the shoes are removed particularily if it's been shod for a long time and this discomfort can be managed in various way.
 
Iv known 2 horses who had navicular and never been shod. Iv got shod and bare horses but I do think people get to hung up on barefoot being the cure for everything and shoes being the devil. One pony was a top show pony never shod but x rays confirmed, it's not always shoes
 
Pale Rider said:
I'd agree that navicular is a disease of weak unhealthy feet, predominantly caused by shoeing.
Of course it's a long process and no one would expect an overnight success.

In my experience navicular and lamanitic degeneration go hand in hand. If your shoeing, you diet will be crap in most cases.

It's all about the whole horse. I don't believe you can cherry pick with horse care, and be successful.
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There is no known cause for navicular. Just predisposing factors - some of which may be a history of poor shoeing.

Navicular disease is the not a disease of just the shod horse.
 
amymay said:
There is no known cause for navicular. Just predisposing factors - some of which may be a history of poor shoeing.

Navicular disease is the not a disease of just the shod horse.
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Check out the research of Dr Bowker, amymay. It shows that a toe first landing is a primary cause of navicular.
 
Pale Rider said:
I don't think its dangerous to say that, it's just true.

I'm sure no one has tried diagnosing this horse, I'm just interested in navicular.

Your vet sounds ok Goldenstar.:)
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My vet was so anti BF when I started it was scary for my even to try with my first however I had researched a lot and stood my ground and got through the horse turned away with out shoes and then started route we had some dicey times over flares, she wanted them chopped off trimmer would not I sided with trimmer difficult for a while , but as the flares resolved themselves exactly following the path and time scale the trimmer said they would and I started with number two the feet falling apart TB things where getting easier and now we have her ringing the trimmer and colraborating on no three the cob with no good foreleg straightness and it's obvious now from what she says she been doing some reading .
How the cob will do long term I am not sure he's not easy to keep sound but she told me last time she came to watch him walk the foot was not balanced and needed trimming trimmer had done him just two weeks before , trimmer arrived and said damn she's right and trimmed accordingly so it's good to know shes open minded enough to new stuff to take the time to think it through.
I respect her for it , vets are trained to intervene it seems to be that trimming is a lot about not intervening so it's a different mindset .
I have worked on this and can afford to say to vet call and watch this horse walking every month it's my investment in helping there be one more more BF friendly vet.
 
I would get the vet if I was you. You need to understand the root cause of the issue and deal with it from there.

I have a navicular horse and I have decided to to take him barefoot as standard methods of treatment (injections, remedial shoes) have not worked for us. However this wasn't undertaken lightly and I have worked with my vet, farrier and barefoot professionals to manage the process in the right way.

Barefoot is not an easy option and means that you are wholly responsible for the health of your horse's feet. However, I am, so far, a convert!
 
Most in work horses are shod so most navicular horses will be shod .
Predisposing environmental factors also include Barned living when young working on limited types of different surfaces receiving no turnout.
Toe first landing is a symptom IMO its the canary that tells you do something fast.
 
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