Navicular-any nice positive stories?

pistolpete

pistolpete

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I read on here all the time about barefoot being the answer to navicular changes in horses feet. How long is the longest anyone has kept a horse sound post-diagnosis? Barefoot or shod? Mine is sound for now but wonder for how long! Thanks everyone, look forward to reading some happy posts.
 
I have a barefoot rehab sound for three years without a break. Hunts, jumps, wins elementary dressage, the lot.

He was booked for being pts when I took him on. All other options, medical and shoeing had failed.
 
If your horse is currently sound in shoes then it is very likely indeed that even if he becomes unsound in future a barefoot rehab will still work.

Rockley now has so many of them that they hire Milton Keynes equestrian centre for a reunion every year.
 
My horse has had navicular pain since 5 years old. Then nothing after having egg bar shoes on for 10 years, then it started again ...its been off and on now for another 4 years or so...with MRI etc...and heart bar shoes and one course of cortisone injections. Now after another 9 months barefoot...and very comfortable barefoot he has become very lame...so much so I think I may have to put him down as not sound enough to retire.
So is that that good to say his had nearly 20 years ...Whatever you get you want more .
 
Yep! A girl who has same trimmer as me who I knew when she was much younger. Horse was also written off as unrideable but she tried him barefoot and now is slowly starting to ride him again.
 
So sorry GMR, that's sad after a great period of time. Oberon that horse is seriously gorgeous! Who does'nt love a dapple grey?
 
My old mare was diagnosed age 12. Managed brilliantly with remedial shoeing until aged 25. Then went barefoot and on bute whilst being retired for 2 years. Pts aged 27 when it got the better of her. Had 13 happy ridden years after diagnosis!
 
Hi pistolpete no she did everything - a bit of showing, dressage, a few hunter trials etc. just treated her as usual, but being aware of ground conditions. Didn't jump or gallop on hard ground but then I don't do that on any horse!
 
For the benefit of other people with lame horses reading this I think maybe it needs repeating that navicular syndrome is no longer regarded as a progressive disease, but, as disclosed by MRI, almost always a soft tissue injury. The condition of the navicular bone on xray bears no relationship, generally, to whether a horse is even lame. (Unless it's broken, chipped or outwardly spurred)

Soft tissue injuries can normally be cured, just not as easily with shoeing.

Horses that did not have MRI diagnosis which are resolved by a change of shoeing seem only to have been suffering from poor foot balance, not any disease of the navicular bone.

There is, therefore, no reason why a normally shod or barefoot horse which is brought sound should regress over time, unless it is one of the frequently found horses whose feet simply don't seem to tolerate shoes at all.
 
Last edited:
cptrayes said:
There is, therefore, no reason why a normally shod or barefoot horse which is brought sound should regress over time, unless it is one of the frequently found horses whose feet simply don't seem to tolerate shoes at all.
Click to expand...

It is a very alien concept to many, that the shoes themselves can be the problem, as bunging a set on when the horse starts ridden work is still very much the norm and widely accepted as the correct thing to do.
 
Yes we have one here!! This time last year we had a very lame pony, after a certain 'Top' Newmarket vet failed to pick her navicular up and told us to continue working her. Eventually our own vet picked it up. Initially our vet was optimistic of her recovery but After 6 weeks box rest, a course of Tildren and lots of bute and no marked improvement we discussed options with vet who basically said they've done all they can.

We threw her away for 3 months over winter barefoot, had a good chat with the farrier who did a remarkable job on remedial without the use of bar shoes - she now has nearly a matching pair, as poorly foot was starting to contract - and jelly like pads in her feet, she is back to normal work; showing on grass, light hacking with absolute minimum of road work, jumping/schooling on a surface etc. She'll never event again but she has another job and enjoys her work. We are extremely careful what surface she goes on, is never trotted on roads and never shown on grass with an undulating surface/too hard and will never be jumped on grass again either.

Management is more important than treatment We've found, she gets a bute when she needs it - which isn't too often these days And as above, we just tailor what she does to her needs. We were extremely worried about bringing her back into work after her rest, as she had nearly had 9 months off in total. We religiously walk usually for a good few weeks when bringing back into work, vet was straight to the point, said she can't do it, crack on slowly in the school and stop being soft with her. She also pointed out that after watching the FEI horses trot up, she'd pass her trotting on the lunge on concrete!

Sorry about the essay but I truly feel for you, we were in exactly the same situation last year and had even discussed Downing her if things didn't Improve. I remember speaking to the vet and telling her there was no improvement after the Tildren and box rest and bute and her saying she can't do anymore for her other than turn her away and forget about her. It's heartbreaking. Good luck to you :) sending good vibes!
 
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