Ponycole
New User
Hi there,
I have a 9 year old OTT who was diagnosed with minor navicular syndrome in November last year. He was barefoot at that point, I had him shod with corrective shoes (raised at the back, straight at the top, kind of square shaped shoes not sure what they are called) and he was on pentosan injections once a week for 4 weeks, then once a month for 3 months and then 1 every 3 months. He came sound immediately after shoeing and has been sound ever since. He was meant to go back for another consult at the 3 month mark if he was lame and get cortisone injections into the joint but he didn't need them since he was sound.
The vet said I could push him and see what he is going to be capable of on his hoof since he has only mild navicular and if he reaches his limit he will just start limping slightly again. He has been 100% fine, I have even been taking him to event days and doing the 50/60cm class and not even a hint of lameness.
Yesterday we went for a trail ride and had an accident. It had been raining so it was a bit muddy, he spooked and jumped to one side and slipped. I fell off and he started to canter off down the road on the bitumen, he probably trotted on the road for about 600m before I managed to catch him again (luckily a car was driving past that I could flag down).
He seemed fine at the time, I checked him over and he was frightened but physically ok. When I went I put his hay in his container that afternoon he trotted up to me and he is very lame. He was trotting in a straight line (so far the only time he has been lame in on the circle with the bad hoof on the outside) and his head was dipping very noticeably. Head up when the navicular hoof touches the ground and head down when the 'good' foot touches the ground. There is no heat in either of his front hooves, no swelling and no noticeable stone bruises. He just has a small thumbnail sized sore on the back of the problem leg which looks like an overreach injury.
I cold hosed his hooves on and off for 20 minutes at a time over night, just in case. I locked him in his stable last night so he can't move around too much and I'm going to leave him in there until I have a better idea of whats going on. I also gave him another pentosan injection this morning (1 month early).
The problem is his vet is away until Tuesday, I would really rather him stick to that vet since he is the one who has all of his records and knows the horse. I am extremely sore today, I was hoping that he is just in the same boat as me and is just 'day after sore' if that makes sense.
The vet has always said that the worst possible thing for the horse is working on hard ground so I am extremely concerned that his run along the road has caused some significant damage.
He's still bright eyed and eating and happy to walk about, these are signs it is not an immediate emergency.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Would you wait until Tuesday? would you wait to see if he feels better over the next few nights until you call the vet anyway? Should I get someone out as soon as I can? Any clue as to what could be wrong?
I have a 9 year old OTT who was diagnosed with minor navicular syndrome in November last year. He was barefoot at that point, I had him shod with corrective shoes (raised at the back, straight at the top, kind of square shaped shoes not sure what they are called) and he was on pentosan injections once a week for 4 weeks, then once a month for 3 months and then 1 every 3 months. He came sound immediately after shoeing and has been sound ever since. He was meant to go back for another consult at the 3 month mark if he was lame and get cortisone injections into the joint but he didn't need them since he was sound.
The vet said I could push him and see what he is going to be capable of on his hoof since he has only mild navicular and if he reaches his limit he will just start limping slightly again. He has been 100% fine, I have even been taking him to event days and doing the 50/60cm class and not even a hint of lameness.
Yesterday we went for a trail ride and had an accident. It had been raining so it was a bit muddy, he spooked and jumped to one side and slipped. I fell off and he started to canter off down the road on the bitumen, he probably trotted on the road for about 600m before I managed to catch him again (luckily a car was driving past that I could flag down).
He seemed fine at the time, I checked him over and he was frightened but physically ok. When I went I put his hay in his container that afternoon he trotted up to me and he is very lame. He was trotting in a straight line (so far the only time he has been lame in on the circle with the bad hoof on the outside) and his head was dipping very noticeably. Head up when the navicular hoof touches the ground and head down when the 'good' foot touches the ground. There is no heat in either of his front hooves, no swelling and no noticeable stone bruises. He just has a small thumbnail sized sore on the back of the problem leg which looks like an overreach injury.
I cold hosed his hooves on and off for 20 minutes at a time over night, just in case. I locked him in his stable last night so he can't move around too much and I'm going to leave him in there until I have a better idea of whats going on. I also gave him another pentosan injection this morning (1 month early).
The problem is his vet is away until Tuesday, I would really rather him stick to that vet since he is the one who has all of his records and knows the horse. I am extremely sore today, I was hoping that he is just in the same boat as me and is just 'day after sore' if that makes sense.
The vet has always said that the worst possible thing for the horse is working on hard ground so I am extremely concerned that his run along the road has caused some significant damage.
He's still bright eyed and eating and happy to walk about, these are signs it is not an immediate emergency.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Would you wait until Tuesday? would you wait to see if he feels better over the next few nights until you call the vet anyway? Should I get someone out as soon as I can? Any clue as to what could be wrong?