Posted by Ray Miller on July 13, 1999 at 15:09:59:
In Reply to: correct shoes for navicular? 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
Jeff,
The horse may well have navicular. By putting the heels on the foot, you may have raised the angle just enough to help the horse for the time being. You may of also help by rolling the toe, takeing some more of the pressure off in the stance phase of movement.
Navicular is very hard to call, and what works on some horse may not work on others.
As for heels. I never shoe with heels unless looking for traction, I might suggest a wedge shoe next time at the same angles the horse is now set at. In time you may also need a bar of some type for additonal support.
You may also want to give the vet a call and talk about this horse. You may also want to take a look at the raidographs if any were taken.
Ray Miller