Navicular syndrome

[tallyho!]

On it. 👍

The journey can be rocky but you’re by no means alone, many barefoot friends here so just ask and whoever you choose to hold your hand through this, make sure they have performing barefoot horses in their books. If you do choose a trimmer then epauk has a list of LANTRA approved qualification podiatrists/farriers

 

[Zuzzie]

I would have no problem riding a 21 year old on a Bute a day as long as they were comfortable. I wouldn’t go doing 20 mile rides every weekend or expect them to jump regularly etc BUT I feel some light work is beneficial to many horses both health wise and psychologically. I find in the arthritic horse it helps keep them supple, and it also helps keep their weight in check. Keeping the joints mobile has also been proven to keep the synovial fluid healthy.

I find horses let you know when they are ready to stop. So if he was mine and my vet was happy I would kick on, enjoy him and have a lovely time hacking!

Agree entirely with this post. My horse is 25 and has coffin join arthritis in right foot. He is on one bute per day and is hacked out 5 times per week - quietly. He enjoys his work and can get quite silly at times even at his age! I also give him Equimins Flexijoint and find that to be very good but the bute is the thing that helps the most. I tried just using the joint supplement without the bute but this resulted in some tripping and stiffness so now on the bute he is brilliant. The secret is to keep the horse moving for best results. By the way, you will find that eventually the effects of the steroid injection will wear off so don't be surprised.

 

[StaffofZig]

Agree entirely with this post. My horse is 25 and has coffin join arthritis in right foot. He is on one bute per day and is hacked out 5 times per week - quietly. He enjoys his work and can get quite silly at times even at his age! I also give him Equimins Flexijoint and find that to be very good but the bute is the thing that helps the most. I tried just using the joint supplement without the bute but this resulted in some tripping and stiffness so now on the bute he is brilliant. The secret is to keep the horse moving for best results. By the way, you will find that eventually the effects of the steroid injection will wear off so don't be surprised.

Thanks xx

I’m looking into boswellia as a natural alternative for Bute, since Zig has had colic issues too - 🙄 - good thing I love him! He’s also on turmeric, glucosamine and apple cider.

The vet has asked me to ride my poor old arthritic at walk for a week for an hour, I think he’s trying to rule out soft tissue still. It goes against all my instincts to ride a lame horse, but hey ho.

 

[StaffofZig]

The journey can be rocky but you’re by no means alone, many barefoot friends here so just ask and whoever you choose to hold your hand through this, make sure they have performing barefoot horses in their books. If you do choose a trimmer then epauk has a list of LANTRA approved qualification podiatrists/farriers

The guy I’m in contact with comes recommended., he’s asked for xrays and knows my vet., I’m just going to meet and talk first and let him appraise Zig. I still have reservations but I’m determined

The journey can be rocky but you’re by no means alone, many barefoot friends here so just ask and whoever you choose to hold your hand through this, make sure they have performing barefoot horses in their books. If you do choose a trimmer then epauk has a list of LANTRA approved qualification podiatrists/farriers

Ok, thanks for that I’ll check the guy out. He came recommended by a podiatrist I approached first but lived too far away.

I’ll do that now x

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I’ve had zig 19 years, I bought him with flat feet. He doesn’t tolerate sugar so he’s been on low sugar/starch feeds, good grass, teeth feet everything regularly done.
As with humans feet are inherited more than created I think., 😊

Good grass can do more harm than good and make all the difference with barefoot, as can regular trimming. Leaving the feet well alone and achieving the holy grail of self trimming is best but you do need to be doing plenty of exercise, preferably on tarmac and various terrains to achieve this.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I am riding an Arab gelding atm who is unshod, and he has fairly decent feet and will go over rough surfaces happily, bit you can tell he feels them a bit. I keep wondering what he would be like if he had half the amount of grass (he's very fat!) and the right balancer!

It would almost certainly make a big difference.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I'd encourage anyone with an ounce of interest in hooves to go out there and find these people and make your own mind up. Don't take it from me, as I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination.

For anyone with limited time, just read the Rockley blogs. So much fantastic info on there, as well as inspiring examples.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

My Arab had fantastic beautiful feet but could not walk on gravel at all., does make me wonder how flat footed heavy weight Zig will manage 🥴

Define beautiful feet? One of my current horses feet would make you widen your eyes but she could gallop over any terrain and not take a single sore step. She's trimmed by my trimmer once a year. Regular 6 weekly trims just aren't necessary and often do more harm than good.