Navicular-what do you think?

[xxJessxx1990]

I haven't really had any experience with with, and don't know a great deal about helping the horse other than remedial shoeing etc.
However today i was riding a pony, that is due to being put up for sale, that felt slightly unsound behind, so questioned the owner about this. She replied that the pony had navicular and that the vet said it needed to be ridden through the lameness inorder to become sound. (I didn't do this as felt rather unsure about riding it whilst unsound)
What is your opinion on this? As i thought surely egg-bar/balance shoes would be more producive in helping improve soundness?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Sounds a load of rubbish to me! Ridden through the lameness???????? The whole issue with navicular is that it's changes inside the hoof capsule caused BY riding through lower level problems such as conformation, poor feet, work levels, shoeing, age, etc etc etc. All your friend will do is make her horse worse until it's irreversible and the horse can hardly walk. I thought navicular syndrome was more prevalent in the front feet, so I wonder if she's misunderstood the diagnosis from the vet?

 

[Nailed]

Hove to agree Box, it is more common in the front feet, And I too was a little confused by this. Although it does sometimes occur in the hind legs.

I wonder it she was comfused it with another diagnosis.. Either way.. nothing should be ridden through lameness, unless the lameness is compensatory for stiffness..

Lou x

 

[xxJessxx1990]

hi, thank you for the replies,
I also thought this, as even though he seemed pretty content, he was still in some pain surely, as otherwise he wouldn't be unsound!
Interesting to hear that it is more common in the front though, he does have boxy upright feet especially behind.

 

[Nailed]

Navicular is more common is flat feet.

Back int hte 1970's when the european horses were being imported, alot of them ended up with navicular. Our farriers were used to trimming horses with flat feet (shires and TB's) and tried to lower the angle of the european horses hooves, this cause them to get navicular, but in a man made for.

Im sure she may have mishead the diagnosis, jsut doesnt sound quite right.

Lou x

 

[xxJessxx1990]

To be totally honest, I think you are probably right that they have mishead the diagnosis.
I wouldn't put it passed them/the people at that yard.