Posted by Joe Walker on January 05, 2002 at 12:59:18:
In Reply to: alternate shoes posted by JL Duncan on April 10, 2001 at 12:51:06:
: I have a new client with "navicular". I have not seen the radiographs and the vet says he has done a 'neurectomy(if my spelling is correct)'. The vet recommended to the owner to change farriers. This is where I came in. I called the vet to get a shoeing perscription, but he said just shoe at the pastern angle with a eggbar and pad with a caulk filler. There is not enough heel toget a good angle so I used acrylic to build heels. this worked fine......until the horse was turned out into the 'pasture', a three acre mud hole. I can't seem to keep the shoes on over three weeks. This I might add... is the first horse I have shod with navicular in the Front feet ! Does anyone have advice with previous navicular experience. I would like to get away from the shovel effect of the eggbar in mud. thanks for your help.
As a farrier of 45 years, I have dealt with navicular and egg bar shoes for years! Your problem is not a new one. A wedged pad works to a certain extent, but you still have a problem with shoes that come off, and trash build-up. To eliminate this problem, I build a wedged shoe instead of a wedged pad...no bars! This helps keep the heal higher. I also take more off the toe. This will help the horse grow a heel. Shoes should be re-set every 4 to 5 weeks, in order to ensure proper hoof-set.
In my opinion, it is important to keep the frog uncovered so that it continues to pump blood as it should naturally. Some people say that a raised heal takes the frog too far away from the ground. In my experience, I have found that without a heal, the frog is sitting right on top of the ground, which is not natural. A perfect hoof is one that has a short toe, a raised heel, and a frog that is about 1/4" to 1/2" off the ground.
I hope this helps!