Posted by Patty Stiller on May 29, 2001 at 18:40:15:
In Reply to: Ouchy feet! posted by M.C on May 29, 2001 at 16:10:43:
: I have a horse that i shoe with Navicular & he's in his 20's & has autheritis he wears Eggbars on the front only, with 2 reg. shoes in the back.My question is that everytime he's shod he shows signs of pain from blows of the hammer & then comes up lame he's had Radiograhps done in the past & the vet said that his Nav. bone had mountain peaks on them (which is bad i know) but he's still sore what can i do to comfort him? would wedge pads & packing be the thing to do for him? any suggestions?
It is common for horses with severe navicular, and especially those with arthritis to be temporarily more sore from the process of shoeing. It is the twisting of the joints in the foot and the pounding that are the likely culprits. Most of these horses get much better by the next morning.
If that is thwhat you are experiencing, ask the owner if they cn give the horse some bute about three to four hours before the shoeing, and a little more bute that evening. They can check with their vet to be sure it is OK. I find a little medicine helps these old sore horses get through the shoeing a lot easirer.
Now, if the horse is staying pressy sore for morethan overnight. then you may need to look ath e tshoeing itself...check the breakover point of the new shoe especially.
A common reason many of these type horses get sore from new shoes is just that...the shoes are new.
Navicular and arthritic horses need the breakover exactly in the correct place to be comfortable . They will determine that point and wear it into the old shoe. Look and see where it is on the old shoe and mark it on the sides of the hoof with a felt pen. Be sure to put the breakover point of the new shoe in the same place. That may mean you have to forge,grind or rasp it into the new shoe, or broaden the new shoe and set it back some. . .Patty