Navicular questions?

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mtj

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Have vet coming to do lameness x rays etc on my 17 yr old later this week.

He has not been tripping, but is slightly unlevel (less than 1/10) trotting in a straight line and feels lame on a bend.

He saw the vet a few weeks ago when he had a puffy coronet band and trotted slightly unlevel. Vet suspected bruised sole - only tenderness was heel.

He does have a pulse on the affected leg, but not throbbing according to my remedial farrier.
I'm having palpitations thinking navicular. Do they usually trip, or is that more advanced cases?

How realistic is barefoot for a warmblood with crumbly feet, in an area with heavy clay for grazing and hacking?

He is already on molasses free chaff and has not been fed coarse mixes etc, for at least 9 years.

He is already in natural balance type shoes with side clips, as this is what my farrier thinks is best for horses.

Thanks
 
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My mare was diagnosed with navicular last year & I'm pleased to say she's doing well & being ridden. Her symptoms were what what I'd describe as pottery. It can be managed
 
Thanks for the replies.

Have to say he is marching out in walk and only appears unlevel in trot when sent forward.

Beginning to wonder if this might be mild laminitis. Though the sole has been checked for soreness by both a very experienced remedial farrier who specialises in laminitis and a highly qualified surgeon (this vet is rarely on the road - usual visiting vets at Olympics).

Just to add, he has no history of lameness, apart from 2 abcesses ( on the affected leg) over the last 9 years.
 
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Obviously, the hooves you describe are poor. In my view there are two roads you can travel with this, that of remedial shoeing or barefoot.
I would urge you to study a paper called The Unfettered Foot, by Tomas G Teskey, who addresses many of the questions raised by situations like that of your horse.
 
Vet has done initial xrays and now wants him to visit hospital for nerve blocks etc.

So far there is no sign of laminitis (I was also suspecting this), but he does have a degree of high articular ringbone.

She wasn't convinced either way if this is the problem, and he was non responsive to a flexion test.

Not sure what to think.
 
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