Managing Ringbone...?

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Saints_fan88

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Hi
I don't post often here but I thought it might be worth picking a few knowledgable HHO brains!

My 7 year old KWPN x ISH has had most of winter on/off due to Ringbone (high, non-articular) in his off hind pastern. We tried resting it to settle down but vet decided best to proceed with 2 sets of Cortisone injections, which *touches wood frantically!!!* appear to have settled it down & he's happy in his work again. He's a big boy, & rather immature (in more ways than one!!) so it was put down to one of those growing issues.

Just wondering if anybody had any long term maintenance tips going forward to offer? Obviously I know about not running on hard ground (he will hopefully grown into an event horse!), and he is currently wearing a rubber sausage style boot in the field & when ridden, to prevent him giving it a bang.

I'd like to avoid more steroids if at all possible, so if there is anything else anybody recommends that I should be doing I'd be interested to hear :-)

Many thanks!
 
I've had some success with Adequan and Tildren for my horse's ringbone but neither lasts forever, or for long particularly. Mine was on/off sound for about 2 years, now it has fused he's fine though struggles a bit on hard ground still.

Best advice I can offer... get yourself a bl00dy good remedial farrier. That was the turning point for mine, about 14 months ago. He has (touch wood) been sound since changing to a fantastic remedial farrier who gradually, and completely, changed the way he was shod.

I only jump him on good/soft ground, and then only very occasionally (hunting if the ground is good). He can't SJ, can't cope with the tight turns and he prefers to jump off the right rein which obviously isn't possible SJ. My horse has articular RB though (I think he might have non-articular too.. but could be wrong on that) which I believe is more aggressive and has a worse prognosis than the other.
 
Thank you for your reply :-) pleased to hear your horse is sound! yes articular is more severe I think, we don't believe it's developed in his joint with any luck, more around it with the ligament.

That's interesting what you say about the farrier, as that's how we initially realised he was lame after a few farrier visits. We are now having the hoof & clenches finished off with the foot left on the floor, which he is a LOT more comfortable with. Do you know what in particular it is that your remedial farrier does?
 
He initially put him into Natural Balance shoes, then similar but non-branded ones and is now in standard shoes with toe clips though farrier says he still rolls the toes a lot. He also said previous farrier had been trying to make both front feet identical which wasn't helping things - now he is allowed to have different sized/shaped feet and he's sound. They might not look pretty but they work for him.
 
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