Posted by Patty Stiller on May 16, 2000 at 23:07:27:
In Reply to: lameness in front foot posted by Christina Horsley on May 13, 2000 at 00:55:47:
: Hi my name is Christina and I have a 15.2 black mare, and last season when I did eventing on her I pushed her to hard and she came up lame. WE took her to the vet and he said that it was in the navicular bone.I read through all the books and all the symtoms were the same. She is pointimg her hoof and looks in pain. We took her to the farrier and he took of her shoes and trimmed them right back. It has been past a month now and all my friends don't think its navicular diease but I not sure. And after a while she doesn't limp but the sightest walking sets it off again. And she is the most amazing horse and I don't want to to be ruined. So if you have any adive please write THANKS
Hello Christina. What you need to do is get your farrier and the veterinarian together to discuss the veterinarian's findings and the shoeing strategy for your horse.They need to do this in person, not through notes or simple written prescriptions. The two need to work as a team, closely. The farrier should be willing to work with the vet, and visa versa. If the two of them can not, or will not then you as the horse owner need to get a "team" of prefessionals. Listen to the professionals and do not let the opinions of non professional friends (though they mean well) confuse the issue.As to the question of wether or not it is really the navicular bone, the veterinarian has the means to best diagnose that. Did he/she do temporary "nerve blocks"? What did the X rays show? These are questions the fariers needs the answers to, as well as , how the bones are lined up and balanced inside the foot, and is the point of breakover of the shoe(the front end of the shoe or the place it rocks over at the toe) placed at a point about a quarter inch in front of the tip of the coffin bone? (This will be determined from X rays taken from the side of the foot). These are factors that again, the farrier needs to know to best shoe your horse.So, ask the vet all these quesations, and ask the farrier and vet to consult with each other, and go over the X rays together to decide shoeing methods. Patty