Posted by Anne Tree Coley on May 11, 2003 at 09:55:02:
In Reply to: my new horse has navicular posted by Julie on May 10, 2003 at 23:12:27:
: I'm leasing a QH X Andlusian cross. He is beautiful and has lots of training he was going 1st level dressage. Unfortunately at 6 years old he has navicular. My first question is what is my best course of treatment for this guy. Right now his toe is very short and he is very upright and he is starting to show lameness at the trot. I have been told to just put regular shoes on him and keep him very balanced and he is sound and that it works for him but my vet insists to keep him the way he is. Also I would like to purchase him and the owner has told me to make her an offer and I don't know what to offer any suggestions? It would be really appreciated . Thank you Julie
Julie,
Since your horse has short toes and steep toe angles this is what's causing the navicular problems. Xrays would likely show the coffin bones (P3's) in a tilted angle with the tips being the lowest point. When this happens (due to improper hoof balance), the navicular bone is shifted from its normal position due to the position of the P3.
In order to remedy this situation, leaving the hooves in a steepened angle with or without shoes will not help. There is likely heel contraction present too. Depending on how long this horse's feet have been maintained in the steepened fashion and the amount of damage to the boney structures of the foot will determine the length of time needed to rehab this horse. If the causes for his problems are not removed/changed, then he'll just be a ticking time bomb for future lameness.
I mention this because some farriery treatments for navicular horses include the use of heel wedges and eggbar shoes. The horse may respond well to this as it could provide TEMPORARY relief. If you only wish to keep this horse a few years it may serve your purpose. However, if you want to use this horse for many years to come, giving him time off enough to rehab is what you're facing. You may have to consider by-passing this horse and finding another without the navicular problems.
Tree