Posted by Patty Stiller on May 17, 2000 at 00:04:28:
In Reply to: Navicular Brusitis,Caudal Heel,EDSS posted by Kathie Duggan on May 16, 2000 at 14:25:25:
: Hi,
: My 10 yo Arab gelding who I do endurance with has been slightly off since last October. I have had 3 vets look at him, one took xrays and the leg (right) was clean. The only vet that could find anything was the 3rd vet. She said that he either has Navicular Brusitis or Caudal Heel Disease. I can't find either of these in any Equine Medical Encyclopedia. She suggested Adequan every 4 days for 7 weeks and then once a month and EDSS shoes set way back on his foot. She said that I can continue doing endurance and this combination of drugs and shoes will get him back to "normal". Here's my dilema. My farrier does not want to use EDSS, he doesn't like them. I have never used this particular vet before so I can't say that I know her and trust her so to speak. I do trust my farrier and I know that he absolutely hates these shoes and says that my horse will be dead lame if I use them. I'm really stuck here and need some good solid advise.
: Kathie
'Navicular bursitis', and 'caudal heel disease' are terms that describe genaeral pain in the heel region of the foot. Really that is the GOOD news. The bad news is that it means that that general area of the hoof is painful. The pain arises from unnatural stresses, usually caused by long term hoof imbalance.
Natural balance principles and shoeing,is a very effective way to restore balance to the internal structures that are affected. and stop this disease process before the navicualr bone is affected to the point of no return. Once the bone has changes big enough to see on X rays, the process has been going on a very long time.
One of the most destructive imbalances we cause, through "traditional"
shoeing techniques, is to allow th point of breakover of the foot to drift farther and farther ahead of it's natural spot. That natural spot is(radiographically)about a quarter inch ahead of the tip of the coffin bone. Natural balance shoes are a way for the farrier to easily get the breakover point correct, after he/she has
*correctly* trimmed the foot according to some specific specifications. Ask your farrier why he feels that horses become lame after the application of these shoes. he may have either heard about one case, or saw one case which was done by a farrier who did not follow the basic instructions that come with the shoes. I too have seen that happen, and unfortunately if one farrier who doesn't uinderstands does that to one horse, a hundred folks hear about it. There are several VERY important points in preparing a foot to natural balance specs that, if ignored, could get the horse and the farrier in trouble.On the other hand when the Natural balance shoeing principles are applied by a farrier who understands the principles, horses respond get a lot sounder,quicker. It doesn't depend on the brand of shoe, it depands on the correct application of the principles. If your farrier is not willing to work with the vet who prescribed the natural balance then ask the vet for a referral to a farrier who is trained in it. You MUST have the vet and farrier on the same team for the sake of your horse.Patty