would you buy a horse with navicular disease

No way. I wouldnt do it even if they paid me! I had my boy put down in Sept because of this horrible disease and I would never want to go through it again. Remember that if he's been diagnosed for a year then he will be out of his insurance claim time and as its a degenerative disease he will only go downhill.. it may takes years but it may take months. IMO they are taking the easy way out by selling and are shrugging their responsibility, I would PTS if they were mine instead of palming the issue onto someone else.
 
I have a horse with navicular. I knew he had it when I bought him.

I, too, have gone down the barefoot route, he's totally sound, on no painkillers at all, we hack, and do RC stuff with no problem at all. I've had him for three years now and there's been no deterioration in his condition.
 
If he just as a companion than maybe, although like others don't think its right shes passing over responsability and especially wanting money too!!!

My boy was diagnosed with navicular in June, hes had corrective shoeing and is on bute. *Touch wood* he is sound and has been dressageing and hoping to do abit of jumping with him next year, but i have to be really careful on the ground - he can only jump on a surface or on soft grass.

Hes only 8 and i know he will eventually go downhill but whilst hes happy and painfree i will carry on doing what hes comfortable with. He will never be sold though, hes with me for the rest of his life.
 
Yep. If you are getting £100 worth of rugs then you are getting a free companion. You shouldn't get any further vet bills due to the navic (there is no cure so basically he's either field sound so stays in the field, or he's not and the only thing for him is a bullet). If you can give him a good home then go for it. Navicular is usually only a problem if you want to ride. :)
 
A few years ago I would have said no.

Now I know about barefoot, I wouldn't have a problem if I had enough finances to look after him.

Navicular is often diagnosed purely on heel pain - taking the shoes off and rehabbing barefoot can often sort that out. Even real naviculars with bony changes can come sound with barefoot - I've seen it happen myself and other barefooters here will say the same thing.

Unfortunately, not many vets or farriers are at liberty to support this route. Perhaps Project Dexter will go a little way to open doors.......

So yes - I would take on a navicular. But I certainly wouldn't be paying for him - bit cheeky, that!
 
No. No question. I've never owned one with it and hopefully never will.

But. You're choice and there's a heck of a lot more alternatives for horses with navicular now than there ever was.
If you've got the money to throw into a horse and are quite willing to do so then by all means go for it.
But there's a lot of sound horses without navi looking for homes too :)
 
I've paid more than that for known NS horses, but I enjoy rehabilitating them, we have one atm who is hacking out sound BF, but jumping is not comfortable for her.

Depends what you want, but get the shoes off and a good trimmer and you might be surprised at what you've got in a year!
 
My old horse was diagnosed with Navicular at the age of 10. Did all the special shoeing, navilox, bute etc but as it degenerative I retired him and handed him over to our local blood bank. Now barefoot he finds his own natural balance and is totally sound. I wouldn't buy a horse and along time ago actually had a horse vetted in view to buy but the vet suspected he had navicular so I walked away. If it's just a companion I would prob risk it but go barefoot and make sure I had a good farrier.
 
Well you know what you'd be getting , you say you can afford the treatment and only want him as a companion so I don't see that you have a lot to loose. Giving him a loving home where he will be cared for loved for the rest of his days is just about as good as us humans can offer.

When the time come's that he has to be PTS (which is a decision most responsible horse owners have to take at some point) It will be sad for you but you will also know that he enjoyed the rest of his days with you.
 
I would have a long talk with the vet - or your vet to talk to him/her. Navicular can really vary in how "bad" it is - I did have a horse years ago who had it but he actually came good enough to go back to jumping and competing, just not on hard ground. Equally I have seen a friend lose a stunning 5 year within a matter of months with the same condition.

I would also talk to your friend so that she understands exactly what you would do if you did him on and suddenly he did go down hill badly.

but would I choose to go through that? possibly not, but then neither I nor anyone else on the board, know this horse and it does sound as if you have already gone some way to bonding with it.

Another off centre suggestion could also be - if you just want a companion/light hack have you thought about contacting an organisation like WHW or similiar?
 
Short answer - no. I wouldn't knowingly buy a horse with navicular.

However, if I had the space and the money and the time etc to look after another horse I would find it very hard not to take a friends horse if it had an uncertain future if I didn't take it. That's because I'm a soft touch!!

I wouldn't pay for it (or rugs etc) as in the long term it's probably going to cost you a fortune in shoeing / vets fees / drugs etc. You might get lucky and it won't deteriotate but you've got to prepare for the worst.

If you need a companion and have the space / time etc then perhaps let her give him to you. With the scenario you've given it does come across as her passing the buck but then I don't know the full story.
 
not unless special circumstances. my own mare has navicular and its been devastating. i dont think i could put myself through that again.
as a companion i would, and im hoping i can loan her as one, but its been so hard, i wouldnt wish it on anyone.

my share pony has navicular, and i love her to bits. but it is a constant worry unfortunatly, i am very careful with her and her legs. i dont know if i could handle the responsibility full time.
 
My horse has navicular she was diagnosed as a 7 yo and i was advised to pts - i decided not to and she is now 16 yo and is in full ridden work - she is sound thanks to corrective shoeing (no bute), competing, doing long distance rides, dressage all but xc which I do now and again on her for fun but wouldnt push my luck.

She is a fabulous horse and remedial shoeing costs me £15 extra every 6 weeks which is barely anything in the scheme of things and if I went back in time and had the chance to buy her again I would.

All horses cope differently but I know of many many navicular horses that lead full, happy, sound lives.
 
In this case as its just a companion and the condition seems to be managed then I dont see why not.

For a riding horse the general answer would have to be no unless there was a good reason to say yes, like if you were buying a 15year old advanced dressage schoolmaster and the condition was managed and stable. Part of the problem is that "navicular syndrome" isnt just one disease, so it does not always present and treat the same way. I am very lucky in that my horse was diagnosed with navicular syndrome/issues with his coffin joints 10 years ago - at that time no obvious bone degeneration but hot spots showed up on scintigraphy. Since then he has had bouts of intermittent lameness and is generally about half a tenth lame for a couple of minutes when being warmed up which eases through but in general is kept sound with egg bar shoes, regular work, no jumping, and have also had some steroid injections into the feet. He is now 20 and still going strong:)
 
Tricky one. My boy was diagnosed 12 years ago and given 2 years to live. But I only stopped riding him last year as with corrective shoeing and the right management he came sound. He is now a pet and will be with me until he tells me he is ready to go. Some navicular cases progress quicker than others though, so you must be ready to make the right decision when the time comes. Good luck with your decision.
 
Yes, because I would want to rehab them barefoot. A lot of horses recover once the cause (their shoes) are removed.

If I had the time and the money it would be the exact type of horse I'd be looking to 'buy': an otherwise very valuable horse with a problem that can be fixed with some knowledge, facilities and time. And the treatment isn't expensive.
 
Maybe. Navicular disease can be such a 'catch- all' description that I would want to know more about what exactly is affecting the horse and the likely outcomes. Some make surprising recoveries either with remedial shoes or barefoot and proper attention to diet and conditions.
 
Nope sorry i wouldnt especially if hes on painkillers! My boy had a chipped navicular bone, after an injection into the foot he came sound without any additional painkillers etc we had owned him for 2 years and would have done anything for him so thats the only reason the nav didnt bother us and never caused a problem .. except when it came to hard ground! But would defo never buy one which already has it.
 
i would take on a navicular case but only after having discussions with the vet, my vet and also my farrier as to the actual horse i was going to take on.

i know a couple of horses with navicular and they are out riding doing lots of things, my horse was also suspected as having navicular but after x-rays it showed there was no change to his navicular bone at all.

i'm curious though as to why he is for companion only? does he have any other issues going on which prevents him from being ridden? if it is just navicular then with the right care there is a good chance he can be used for light hacking and things, going by what others have said above and also the horses i personally know.
 
he is field sound (spoke to vet this morning) and the painkillers that he is on is because he has a abscess in his hoof due to poor shoeing (just found that out ) which is causing him added pain to the foot. he told me that it is not very bad and he might get better with correct treatment (turns out my friend has not been doing EVERYTHING she can do to put things right with him) he also talked me through treatments that he will need and might need in the future and worst case situations.
i have told my friend i will have him on loan for a month BUT only to actually see for myself how bad/good he is and to get my vet to do a FULL check on him. which will be a cost to me but oh well i would rather know honestly than not.
if she says he is ok then i will maybe think about offering permanent loan or something or if not i will turn him down and say no.
i can afford treatments ext but im not willing to take him on as even a companion if he is too badly in pain and have to pts or whatever a few months down the line (worst case situation)
so not saying will have him yet or i will not have him just see what my vets opinion is and go from there.

thank you all for your comments and views i really appreciate it xx and i will keep you posted
 
Yorkshire dumpling said:
he is field sound (spoke to vet this morning) and the painkillers that he is on is because he has a abscess in his hoof due to poor shoeing (just found that out ) which is causing him added pain to the foot. he told me that it is not very bad and he might get better with correct treatment (turns out my friend has not been doing EVERYTHING she can do to put things right with him) he also talked me through treatments that he will need and might need in the future and worst case situations.
i have told my friend i will have him on loan for a month BUT only to actually see for myself how bad/good he is and to get my vet to do a FULL check on him. which will be a cost to me but oh well i would rather know honestly than not.
if she says he is ok then i will maybe think about offering permanent loan or something or if not i will turn him down and say no.
i can afford treatments ext but im not willing to take him on as even a companion if he is too badly in pain and have to pts or whatever a few months down the line (worst case situation)
so not saying will have him yet or i will not have him just see what my vets opinion is and go from there.

thank you all for your comments and views i really appreciate it xx and i will keep you posted
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i think you are contradicting yourself a little? if he has an abscess and is on bute/painkillers then he is obviously in alot of pain, the key word in the vets convo was MIGHT, he MIGHT get better he MIGHT get worse, if he is not that bad the vet would have said he will PROBABLY recover fine. not might. do you honestly think that if you have him on loan for a month and spend vet bills on him ext and then you decide you dont want him thatit was money well spent (on vet bills ext) for the money you will be paying for all that you could get yourself a little pony that is sound and vice free. i know you wold like to give him a better life but at what cost to you? sometimes i think you have to be cruel to be kind. and it sound to me like you will end up taking on a big problem and in my honest opinion after everything i have read that you have posted i would say dont buy him/loan him i think it would be a mistake and you would regret it xxx just tell your friend no in a nice way and leave her to find someone else with it, maybe suggest a horses home where he will get the treatment he needs and they then can find him a new home where he can live out his days xx
 
i had a horse with nav at four years old, not broken in, the vet said he was cat meat so must have been bad, followed his advice, gave isoxuprine, had no special shoes only wide web which helped, gave loads of seaweed to strengthen hooves, he was only lame on circle, but x rays showed it was in both feet, after one year broke him in, started to compete and win in dressage, could have sold him loads of times, he was with me till 13 years ridden alll the time, went as schoolmaster in high class riding school with highly qualified care and four maneges and riding surfaces next to beach, all cases are different, he sounds a lovely boy your horse, maybe if you are brave enough you can give him a chance at least?
 
Just found this thread.

I have a navi boy, he was diagnosed at 8 and has bones like areos there are so many holes in them! Both front feet. He's now 19. He's been barefoot for years and is so much better without shoes on. It was his decision, the blacksmith would shoe him and he'd take them straight back off overnight without causing any hoof damage!

I give him bute when he needs it, a box of bute lasts a year including being given for other problems that might need it.

Would I knowingly by a horse with navicular? It would depend on the type of navicular. Boney changes probably not as I live in fear of the day a bone snaps. Heal pain then possibly if barefoot would help.
 
Hi,

I have no experience of navicular, only laminitis. Have a look at the Rockley Farm website in North Devon. Look at the navicular rehab cases and perhaps contact Nic Barker.

Should give you a better understanding.
xx
 
In case its helpful..

My chap has had a flareup and so from my vet and my vet sis I have had the papers on the latest thinking on navicular done by Sue Dyson and Michael Schramme. Will summarise briefly in case its helpful to YD and anyone else:

Correct name for this is now Palmar Foot Pain Syndrome. Vets now do not believe this is a single disease or condition, but a range of different problems affecting the same areas in the feet which causes heel pain. Originally vets realised there was a correlation between horses with this pain and radiologically detectable degradation of the navicular bone. This is the classic "navicular disease" and there is no doubt that bone degradation of the navicular can cause foot pain and lameness. However, vets had noted lameness in horses with very few or no radiologically detectable changes and also that lameness varied from the classic chronic lameness associated with a degrading navicular bone to acute onset lameness and started to suspect there may be other causes of pain. With MRI they have had the ability to see the soft tissues in the feet, which has led to discovery that some horses have damage to the soft tissue apparatus around the navicular - like adhesions of the bottom of the DDFT to to navicular bone, splits in the bottom of the tendon, ligament damage. This can be associated with radiologically detectable changes, or may not be, but is equally capable of causing foot pain.


I guess that eventually this will mean vets can give a better indication of prognosis and treatment depending on what the cause of the foot pain is but we will have to wait for that bit.
 
definitely not.

I have horses to compete and wouldn't have anything with navicular.

Even if I only wanted a companion there are plenty out there with good health which you can pick up very cheap/free.
 
I'm going to be completely honest here and you may not like what I say

Reading between the lines i.e 'vet now says friend hasn't done all she could have' 'friend is losing grazing' offering you a month loan

ok so my take on this is that

Friends horse went lame vet said navic she thinks Oh my god (normal reaction) she tries a few things (but not everything vet thinks she should have)

She starts thinking what she can do brain wave if I tell my friend (you) I have lost my grazing she is such a nice person and can afford it (I can't)

I can even let her have him for a month (by which time really nice friend will love him and won't be able to let him go) That is my problem solved

Then in a few months or even a year (I can save up) if I want to I can magically find some more grazing and get a new pony to ride.

I'm sorry but I think your so called friend is taking the mickey here and also taking advantage of your lovely nature.
 
After seeing what my friend has been through with her horse then it would be a no for me, sorry. She has spent over a year now of vets, remedial shoeing, jabs, x-rays, then she had her shoes taken off and went to a barefoot rehab place for 6 weeks (at £350 per week) more vets and x-rays. It's killing her money wise and she won't know still if all this is going to help or not. :(
 
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