Posted by Kimberly on February 27, 2003 at 09:44:56:
Two years ago my then 7 year old Paint mare was diagnosed with early radiographic changes (Navicular) after off and on lameness for a few years. He rated her 2/5. At the time it was worse in the right then the left. He told me to put bar shoes on her with a rolled toe and that I would be lucky to even trail ride her. The bar shoes did nothing for her. We then proceeded to put 3 degree shoes on her and had her on MSM and she became sound (as sound as a navicular horse can). I rode and trail rode her every once in a while. She was only on bute for 3 weeks last year as I rode her a little too hard in the field. I also had a regular shoe with a slightly squared toe and set back off the toe on her. I haven't had shoes on her all winter as last year she had 4 inches of snow and ice packed in them and wasn't doing her legs any good. She is moving ok. If she became sore they would have been put back on.
I would like to start riding her in the spring (slowly) and try showing her western pleasure again. I would like to know if it is going to hurt her any, make her worse (I know eventually it will get worse)or speed things up? Should I even be thinking of trying to show her again? I won't if she is sore. Any comments!