HELP, looking at buying horse, vet spotted 'bone spur' on navicular

[foxgrove1]

the horse is almost 4, no lameness, can anyone please tell me if they feel this is something that would prevent them from buying this horse? Vet said may need corrective shoeing down the road, but didnt give much information, this was during pre purchase exam.

I have attached the photo with arrow next to 'spur'....does anyone think this would be a good reason not to buy? I just love this horse, but I dont want to have to deal with lameness down the road, any ideas? Heavier breed of horse, Friesian.

[Ray_Knightley]

That is a million dollar Question ....:)
If the horse has been worked hard before you buy ;and has not come up lame at all okay ...If it has been standing around I would be careful.....If you love it you will buy it anyway??or?

[Rick Burten]

I have attached the photo with arrow next to 'spur'....does anyone think this would be a good reason not to buy?
Yes, me. :o

Additionally, to my eye, it looks as though the navicular bone is already undergoing some bony remodeling apart from the spur.
I just love this horse, but I dont want to have to deal with lameness down the road, any ideas?
Yes, keep looking.....

Rick

[Ronald Aalders]

I have heard a zillion questions like this. Should I buy this horse although he has an .............. (fill out blank) issue? NO of course you should not buy that horse. It's hard enough to find problems that may cause trouble somewhere down the road, now you found something, you still wonder if you should pay attention to it? On a 4 year old?

The fun part is that whatever you say 80% goes ahead and buys horses like that anyway. Which is a good thing, because they call me when they start getting lame and ask me to fix it. :D And yes, that comes at a price.......... :D


Ronald Aalders

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

I'd not purchase.

4 years old is way too young to be showing that sort of thing.

If he's been worked hard and hasn't been lame so far, then personally I'd be worried anyway. I wouldn't personally ever want a 4 year old that has done a lot. Too young to have done much.

Then to counter that because he's just 4, he shouldn't have done much and hence shouldn't have been tested .... yet.

Personally speaking, I wouldn't want to be the person to test whether he's going to come up with a lifetime of unsoundness because of the dreaded "navicular diagnosis"

[QuarterAranch]

I agree with the above. If your notice the distal border of the navicular bone there appears to be some remodeling and rarefaction that will eventually upset the navicular bursa and cause issues with the deep digital flexor tendon. I am sure that you will be able to find a horse that will suit you just as well that has a better chance of soundness over a much longer period of time.

[Jaye Perry]

the horse is almost 4, no lameness, can anyone please tell me if they feel this is something that would prevent them from buying this horse? Vet said may need corrective shoeing down the road, but didnt give much information, this was during pre purchase exam.

I have attached the photo with arrow next to 'spur'....does anyone think this would be a good reason not to buy? I just love this horse, but I dont want to have to deal with lameness down the road, any ideas? Heavier breed of horse, Friesian.


Most Warmblood breds will have navic changes at birth; no big deal.

Here is one that was shod by me for three years w/o a problem. The words "May need corrective shoeing" goes with any horse, no matter the breed.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s120/ferrous2007/WINGS/36050004original.jpg

[Rick Burten]

Most Warmblood breds will have navic changes at birth;
Why? What is the nature of the changes? How has this been determined?

Rick

[tbloomer]

Why? What is the nature of the changes? How has this been determined?

Rick
Prenatal radiographs? :confused:

[jack-mac]

Most Warmblood breds will have navic changes at birth; no big deal.

Here is one that was shod by me for three years w/o a problem. The words "May need corrective shoeing" goes with any horse, no matter the breed.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s120/ferrous2007/WINGS/36050004original.jpgWell shadow in my world corrective shoeing doesn't go with every horse, correct shoeing does no matter the breed. Most Warm-blood breeds will have navic changes at birth; no big deal. :eek: some one has lost the plot , DON'T BUY THAT HORSE .

[highbank farms]

I have done a lot of horses that have had bone spurs some showed sighs of lameness down the road some never had an issue it just depends if you want to play russian rulet. it might never effect the horse it might. the first farrier made a good comment if the horse hasn't been worked then i would worry about it. if the horse has been worked hard and shows no sighs of lameness the i probably wouldnt be as worried about it

[foxgrove1]

thanks guys, I appreciate your advice. We went ahead and bought him, we had him looked at by a lameness specialist in the area (veterinarian) and he seems to feel fine about it. I have been training him regularly and there hasn't been any problems yet. I hope you guys don't think I'm **** but he is a Friesian and his legs and build are very solid. Do you think the breed makes any difference? I also had two other vets look at the radiographs as well and they were fine with it. the vet that did the pre purchase exam had only two years of vet experience under his belt, as I was looking for a lower price on a pre purchase, and then i ended up paying more to have the problem ruled out by a more experienced professional!