Navicular syndrom/soft tissue damage

[erwina]

Hoping some of the barefoot rehab experts can answer my question's. My mare was diagnoised as having navicular syndrom by X-ray just over 3 months ago, recommended natural balance shoes, no improvement, so decided to go down the bare foot route. Have posted before but that is just a quick summery. Half way through the barefoot rehab mare was still lame so I said would stay going for another six weeks, haven't gotten as much hacking/road work as I would have liked (bringing on another young pony) but brought her in to indoor school Monday and let her have a trot around and she looks fairly good, definate improvement. She is landing flat at the moment , was landing toe first to begin with so I have two questions, should I just keep working her in walk to try her her to walk heel first or start her back into work, she has a freisin type of confirmation where her chest sticks out over her front feet, and i wondered if she will ever be able to land heel first,
and second question is what likely would have caused this navicular syndrome, would it have been some sort of soft tissue damage or shoeing causing incorrect balance? I understand an MRI would answer this but after spending a fortune on this uninsured mare I just couldn't afford the expense. Also what are her chances of going back into full work including jumping? Thanks if u managed to get to the end of my essay and any answers are greatly appreciated.

 

[erwina]

Bump

 

[fairyclare]

I can't answer any of the questions but, I am in a similar position and would be interested to read any replies.
I have not yet gone barefoot, she is currently shod with pads and on a months field rest.
My next step is barefoot!

 

[LucyPriory]

Half way through the barefoot rehab mare was still lame so I said would stay going for another six weeks, haven't gotten as much hacking/road work as I would have liked (bringing on another young pony) but brought her in to indoor school Monday and let her have a trot around and she looks fairly good, definate improvement. She is landing flat at the moment , was landing toe first to begin with so I have two questions, should I just keep working her in walk to try her her to walk heel first or start her back into work, she has a freisin type of confirmation where her chest sticks out over her front feet, and i wondered if she will ever be able to land heel first,
and second question is what likely would have caused this navicular syndrome, would it have been some sort of soft tissue damage or shoeing causing incorrect balance? I understand an MRI would answer this but after spending a fortune on this uninsured mare I just couldn't afford the expense. Also what are her chances of going back into full work including jumping? Thanks if u managed to get to the end of my essay and any answers are greatly appreciated.

'Half way through rehab' suggests you are on some sort of programme? Who has put this programme together, are they monitoring progress and what feedback are you getting?

What does the programme involve?

Not really possible to accurately assess landing when on a soft surface. You need a level, hard surface such as smooth concrete or tarmac.

Friesens with good feet are perfectly capable of landing heel first. I've worked on lots of them.

As to what caused the navicular? It depends. I frequently find 'navicular' horses are suffering from poor shoeing/trimming and the toes have got long and the heels underrun. Can you post photos?

'Navicular' diagnosis can also arise from very contracted heels, heels that are thrushy and in more than one instance a horse which is a chronic laminitic and is generally sore all over.

Depending on the extent of soft tissue damage and the quality of the rehab your horse may be able to return to a normal working life. I have personally worked on several including those with a PTS over their head.

 

[erwina]

Hi Lucy p, her programme has come from on here, unfortunately I don't have much support from farrier or vet being from ireland things are so far behind the uk, her diet consists of bad quality grass pro balance magnesium micronised linseed and speedie beet and a cup full pasture mix.
I've just being walking her in hand approx 3 times a week. That's basically all I've done in the 14 weeks her shoes have been off. She has been footie on stony lanes but perfect on surfaces grass and Tarmac.
Had a barefoot trimmer from the north take the shoes off initially and he said her feet were contracted. Would it take 3 months for them to contract?
When she had the X-rays for diagnosis at vets they said her foot balance wasn't right, there were no navicular changes on X-rays.
I have been so close to having an MRI on her done ( trying to stump up cash) do you think that I should do this before going ahead?
Sorry for the interrogation.

Lucy above are before and after of front view of the two front feet, she was bilaterally lame. Sorry not great pics and so sorry not very good at putting my thoughts and questions on paper

Above is a pic of her hooves which show how they were shod, they were very boxy but now looked like they have dropped down a good bit. Will take more photos ASAP.

 

[LucyPriory]

Solar view would be very helpful and back of foot if you can manage

Before you shell out large sums, consider what benefit you will get and what you can usefully do with the information.

 

[pines of rome]

Your diet is good except for the cupful of pasture mix, give her some herbs instead!

 

[erwina]

Will get some new photos of all angles tomorrow. Pines of Rome, she's very fussy and am still in disbelief that she's eating any sups as she is very fussy, she point blank refused without the sugary mix.
So hard to know what's for best, only for hho I'd still be in natural balance shoes.

 

[Oberon]

Will get some new photos of all angles tomorrow. Pines of Rome, she's very fussy and am still in disbelief that she's eating any sups as she is very fussy, she point blank refused without the sugary mix.
So hard to know what's for best, only for hho I'd still be in natural balance shoes.

Try Spiller's High Fibre Cubes. They are 'naughty' but still seem well tolerated by barefooters. Don't ask me why because I have no idea .

 

[cptrayes]

I have been so close to having an MRI on her done ( trying to stump up cash) do you think that I should do this before going ahead?

Highest chance of return to work after MRI = barefoot rehab 80%

Highest chance of return to work without MRI = barefoot rehab 80%

Point of spending 1000 pounds on MRI = 0

 

[erwina]

Thanks Oberon, will try get my hands on some of that, cpytayes was hoping that would be a reply, only have the mare 18 months, she had the splint fracture after 6/7 months of ownership so all in she has cost me a fortune including how much I paid for her, for very little riding enjoyment. vets wanted me to do another round of nerve blocks first before MRI so would have cost 1k plus !!
Think ill plug on with the walking on multi surfaces, step it up a bit and hope the heel landing will come about soon. Thanks for all the replies.