Posted by Jeff K on July 12, 1999 at 23:09:18:
Hi all, I have a question regarding a QH I shoe. I have only been shoeing for a short time, and a new client with this Qh calls. Says she cannot get a farrier to help her horse. He has been diagnosed with navicular by the vet, was shod with eggbars when I got there. I have no idea what tests the vet did, but the owner was told the horse would have to live in barshoes. Now when I examined the horse, I noticed he had a shorter front leg from the other.I figure if the barshoes aren't working, lets start with the basics and work from there. I shod him with plain wide web shoes and padded the short side to match the other. Horse was fine at a walk and trot but could't do any other gates with lameness.(Horse is shown in western pleasure). Next shoeing I put on a heeled shoe with a rolled toe, still padding the short leg to match. The horse has gone fine since, no lameness, and has taken 1st, and 2nd in the last 4 shows. Now the problem I have, was this a navicular problem or did the vet give wrong diagnostics? also I attended a clinic recently and the person lecturing told me you should never put heels on the front of a horse. How could this be wrong if it helped him?
thanks,
jeff