Posted by Kimberly on March 04, 2003 at 15:23:16:
In Reply to: Re: Navicular posted by Edith on March 03, 2003 at 18:03:24:
: : : 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!
: : Kimberly,
: : You might consider having your farrier apply one of the shoes specifically made for navicular horses.. I have had good success with the GE-N shoe but there are others.
: : Good Luck ~~~~~~~~~~~ Derin
: Kimberly~
: One thing I noticed is you do not seem to be keeping up on her shoeing. Putting a horse in 3 degree wedges and then pulling them is not going to help her stay sound. Sit down with your Vet and Farrier to formulate a plan and then stick with it.
: Edith
She through a shoe that spring and a week later she lost another. When she pulled the 3 degree shoe off she took some wall with it. If I put another shoe on and she threw it, there would be nothing left. So we left her bare for approx a month to let the hoof grow and she remained sound. I rode her some without the shoes and she was fine. A flat shoe, squared and set off the toe was what went back on and she remained sound with them. I kept her on this type of shoe and she remained sound. She has no shoes on now and remains fine with the reason that it is winter and last year she had 4" of snow and ice built up in them and was doing her feet and legs no good.
I know that she needs her shoes but I didn't want her to go through that again. They will be put back on as soon as the weather turns.
Kimberly