Navicular - confused what to do

[TPO]

and yes I do realised I have to stop using quotation marks in every senstence!

Also realise that I have to learn to spell!

Just catching up with this thread, thank you for everyone's kind words.

Stan, I hope this has given you some food for thought and hopefully given you some options. Take CPTrayes up on her offer; she's very friendly and helpful even when you argue with her

It is really hard not to have farriers and vets onside. I've also massively struggled with trimmers; Oberon expect a PM asking about your guy

I really wish you and your horse all the very best.

 

[Holly Hocks]

OP - you have my sympathy and understanding. My mare was diagnosed in October with Navicular as well as bilateral spavin and PSLD in one hind limb (basically lame on every leg). She is a PTS case waiting to happen. Every day I wait for the ligament to break down completely or her to be completely crippled and incurable. She was diagnosed on 14th October 2011, at Glasgow Vet Hospital, the same day that I had my beloved gelding was PTS suddenly and it felt like my world had collapsed around me as potentially I could have lost both horses on the same day as having three quite serious conditions there isn't much future for her. So she was sent home wearing natural balance shoes as I decided that I wasn't going to give up on her. On 11th November I had her shoes taken off by a barefoot trimmer and she has been out in the field for a few hours per day and in at night. When she was shod, she had one very upright foot. Already, this foot is starting not to look so upright. She is footsore (probably because I can't do any work with her yet) but generally looking ok. The leg which has the PSLD used to swell up every night quite badly. But I'm getting more days when this isn't happening.
Barefoot isn't an easy option - I've altered the diet completely - and the rehab will be a slow, long road. But I will get there, no matter how long it takes. I've gone completely against the vets advice as their advice was remedial shoes and denerving etc etc and if it fails it is down to me. My aim is to be in the saddle at the end of summer - I don't know whether I will get there or not.
If I were you, I would try going barefoot - you can always go back to shoes if it fails. But don't expect miracles overnight.
If it hadn't been for this forum, I would have had her in remedial shoes and medicated to the eyeballs. Oberon and Cptrayes advice has been invaluable (but I hold them responsible if it all goes wrong ) and sometimes when you're faced with something like this you have to stand back and see the bigger picture. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.