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Posts: 226
 
Location: Middle Tennessee | Took my 8 year old gelding to Tennessee Equine Hospital yesterday and he was diagnosed with navicular. She said we didn't catch it very early because his navicular bone is pretty ugly, but since it isn't bothering him very badly and he isn't showing other signs such as pointing, shortened stride, etc, that I can still compete on him with maintenance. We injected the coffin joint and she said best case scenario we can do that for 4-5 years at about every 6 months if it continues to help him. After that, we can inject the bursa. Then we can look in to nerving if he is a good candidate after an MRI. My question is what supplements do you suggest. Equibine, OCD pellets, etc??? Do they work? We will also do a pour in pad and wedge shoes. He loves his job and is far too young and good at what he does to turn out! |
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| I'm sorry  |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| One of the best things I will recomend is to shorten the breakover point of the hoof by squaring off the toe. I would also get a second opinion, many vets interpret symptoms and even x-rays differently. Third thing- your horse still has plenty of life in him. I had a horse nerved and used him for six years until he was sold, and he was still perfectly happy. If you are looking at nerving in the future you still have 10+ years of use, if that is even the problem. |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | I feel your pain my 7yr old was diagnosed with bone spurs on her navicular bone at 5yrs old. I tried to tell the vet that is what I felt in my gut but she didn't think that was it so we wasted 6 months (and lots of money) before getting her diagnosed. :( Very frustrating. It made me sick to my stomach to see my beautiful young mare given such a devasting diagnosis. I gave her most of her 6yr old year off because I was having a hard time dealing with it and just almost wanted to avoid it. Well this year I am back on her and determined to let my beauty show what she can do and I will continue to research options. I want to give Equi-Bone a try but it is so expensive for the 5 month loading dose. After the loading does it really isn't much more than most supplements when you break the cost down monthly. The initial upfront cost is more so that is what makes it so difficult.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-22 10:30 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Honestly I wouldn't stress too much about it. It's not an ideal situation but it's certainly not the "death sentence" it used to be. So many changes in equine medicine and diagnostics in the last few years means that owners can keep navicular horses sound, happy, healthy and productive for many years. The advancements that have been made are tremendous and I can only imagine what another 8 -10 years will bring in terms of keeping our horses healthy.
I would put him on a good supplement and follow the medical advice of the vet and enjoy him.
(Sorry I don't have supplement advice... the US has so many more cool supplements then we can get in Canada) |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Whiteboy - 2014-04-22 10:23 AM One of the best things I will recomend is to shorten the breakover point of the hoof by squaring off the toe. I would also get a second opinion, many vets interpret symptoms and even x-rays differently. Third thing- your horse still has plenty of life in him. I had a horse nerved and used him for six years until he was sold, and he was still perfectly happy. If you are looking at nerving in the future you still have 10+ years of use, if that is even the problem.
This is so important, all the heel support in the world does no good at all if the breakover is too far forward. I love the PLR shoes for getting the breakover point back. |
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 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | Sooo sorry!! My then 6 yr old was diagnosed w/ mild/moderate navicular. We injected bursa & coffin, backed up the toe and he's riding like a dream! I did start him on Equibone in Nov., hadnt had him re-xrayed to see if there have been changes yet. I bought BOT bell boots for him and we put him on Isoxoprine. My vet said that the Isoxoprine is kind of an out-dated treatment for navicular, but it certainly won't hurt him. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-04-22 11:46 AM check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation.
Yep... speak to your vet about Tildren. |
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Member
Posts: 41
| You may also try soft ride boots. I use mine in the trailer, and when stalled on concrete. They will not cure it but may give some comfort and relief. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later)
there are more videos of her too |
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Unless used very early, Tildren is proving rather ineffective. But, when used early, it can have some promising results.
Nerving is not the "end of all" that most think it is--think of it as a pain management option, but certainly not the first one...or even the second, but don't rule it out.
Square toed rocker type shoes, Natural Balance for example, set back. Wedges if needed to open the coffin joint. Your farrier can make or break a navicular horse--so find a very good one, and take an x-ray to verify your horse's foot is balanced before and after shoes. Inject where/when needed--especially if you choose to nerve, as that can mask the need for those, so you have to be EXTREMELY proactive.
Supplement for strong feet, increased circulation and accelerated removal of inflammation. Look into and try a lot of non-medical therapies routines to supplement your medical efforts. Chiropractic and magnetic therapies have made the difference in mine.
Edited by RockinGR 2014-04-22 11:27 AM
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| Murphy - 2014-04-22 10:56 AM
ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-04-22 11:46 AM check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation.
Yep... speak to your vet about Tildren.
Another vote for Tildren. It seems to be the most powerful treatment, that works for the most horses. Equibone is good too. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| So sorry! I know a few navicular horses who are still competing at the top of their game. There are good treatments and maintenace today that were not available a few years ago. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! He was given Tildren as a two year old and then successfully futuritied on. I feel this is why she feels his navicular bone is ugly. It has3 holes that have been there his whole life and never bothered him because he was treated with Tildren so early. The bone spur that has developed on the back of the navicular bone is what I feel his issue is knowing his history. He just became lame after one run, so I know its not the holes bothering him. I feel the bone spur is my main issue. That's why I ask about the Equi-bone and OCD because I her they help remove spurs. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| Did the stem cell injections on mine - he was so lame the end of his 6 yr old year that I couldn't ride him anymore. He's 8 now, and sound as sound can be. He lives on a tiny dose of previcoxx, and wears PHT bells full time, as well as soft rides and BOT's when hauling anywhere or standing on hard ground/stalled. I just bought my permit to go hard on him this summer, so I'd say the route I took was a major success. My vet told me a few weeks back that if he hasn't had any lameness issues by now, he probably won't - and if he does, we'll touch it up with some PRP and go on with life. Unfortunately for him he was too far gone for Tildren, and injections only lasted a few weeks at best. I'll never regret going with the stem cells! He is on a pretty strict shoeing regiment, and I'm sure that has helped. I also keep him on Platinum Hoof Support. His hoof has dang near doubled in size since the stem cell, amazing what can be accomplished with technology these days! |
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Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-04-22 1:02 PM
Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! He was given Tildren as a two year old and then successfully futuritied on. I feel this is why she feels his navicular bone is ugly. It has3 holes that have been there his whole life and never bothered him because he was treated with Tildren so early. The bone spur that has developed on the back of the navicular bone is what I feel his issue is knowing his history. He just became lame after one run, so I know its not the holes bothering him. I feel the bone spur is my main issue. That's why I ask about the Equi-bone and OCD because I her they help remove spurs.
I will say that since giving the equibone his splints are almost completely gone, so that makes me hopeful for some help with the navicular. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | Another vote for Tildren. And as mentioned above- soft rides- was advice given to me by a nationally recognized podiatrist who said- protect, protect, protect any time you are on anything but soft sand- use a boot!!
I am one to choose anything other than a feed thru but that is just me as far as medical issues are concerned.
I would think the bursa injection would help more than the coffin joint? |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| I would call Silver Lining herbs. Get the feet and bone and the kidney. And you might also try the one for inflammation . These herbs work. 1 bag last 60
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 "Drank the Kool Aid"
Posts: 5496
Location: Iowa, LA | CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-22 11:13 AM
I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted ) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later )
there are more videos of her too
Amen! Barefoot saved my gelding! Never has he been this sound! ;-) |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | My 16yr old gelding was diagnosed about 5-6yrs ago. A hole starting to form on his fron right navicular bone, and bone spurs on both. Getting his angles correct and giving him break over helped more than any of the special shoes out there for Navic. I second Magnetic bell boots. You may find once his front feet feel better, his backend will come up sore and need hock injections from over compensating. I would also recommend Previcox for care. Tried the Equibone with no noticable difference. Also did navcular bursa injections twice, never had coffin bone injections done or recommended on my gelding
My boy continued competing up until about a year ago. He loves his job and I realized he wasnt going to let me know when enough was enough. I'm fortunate to have others to run/train so he just hangs out now so he can live out life comfortably. I never offically consider him 'retired' because every once in a while I get a bug to go leg him up and run him somewhere (that has really nice ground).
Do your research, read about shoeing for yourself.
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I feel your pain. I learned this afternoon that my beloved 8 year old mare is done competing. So heart breaking. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | My gelding was dead lame at one time. To the point that he didn't want to move at times! But we got him on Equibone and he is sound 99% of the time. I still go for a short easy ride every now and then but he is retired. His was very severe and took years(and ALOT of $$$) to get a diagnoses. I feel that if it weren't for equibone we would have had to put him down because of the pain. We haven't had him xrayed to see if there are any changes but there has to be by how pain free he is now. He was diagnosed as a 10 year old and is now 16 |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Find you a good lamness vet ther are so many things that can be done. Tildren, stem cell, prp, and a combo of things. You must have a good farrier. If you are going to run one hard they have to,be shod. You will have to see what combo works for you. Mthere is nit magic single bulllet, nor is it a death sentience like it used to be. You really need to find a good vet. Remember on spending money you know what kind of horse you have could you buy one for that money that you would spend. A lot of people on here would not,do a alcohol fusion on hocks on this board but for 500.00 bucks to fix my horse and this vet does then all day long, you have to weigh a lot of things and go to a vet that does mostly lamness stuff, before i did anything i check his suspensories so i would nit be waisting my money. Find a vet who specializes on lamness who does at least 60% of ther time in this. My horse saw 3 or 4 vets one was a highy aclaimed race track vet and i did not feel that what he said was goimg to work on a hock fusion vet was talking about shockwave. The vet i wemt to said with the xray once side that highly aclaimed vet did not do,both sides. My vet that i went to recently said that shockwave would have taken a long time to fuse. Ther are several different ways we could have fixed jethero. But i went with the vet reccommendations. I will know in 2 weeks. He is alreadly tracking better he will be shod in ten days.
Edited by daisycake123 2014-04-22 8:37 PM
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Every vet has things that works for them.
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 Winner winner chicken dinner
Posts: 2047
Location: California | One thing you can do for him at home is put pea gravel in his pen. It's very cheap (even in CA!) and increases circulation in their feet due to the constant pressure (but the gravel size is small and rounded so it doesn't hurt).
I did this for my navicular gelding after I brought a new mare home and had to pen him up. He's been retired for years and is barefoot, but shows low grade lameness due to his navicular. When I first penned him up, the pen had hard ground and his lameness increased dramatically. We added the pea gravel and he is more sound than he has ever been. It's the only thing we changed and cost very little. Good luck, it is so frustrating! |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| I just had a navicular diagnosis, it was caught very early. I did try tildren and will know in a month if it works.If that doesn't work I may try it a couple more times and do coffin joint injections. Or try irap. If all the above fails it's mri and nerving. Feel like I could have bought a completely new horse when this is over.. if it ever is. Fingers crossed something works. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes... |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | daisycake123 - 2014-04-22 9:30 PM
Find you a good lamness vet ther are so many things that can be done. Tildren, stem cell, prp, and a combo of things. You must have a good farrier. If you are going to run one hard they have to,be shod. You will have to see what combo works for you. Mthere is nit magic single bulllet, nor is it a death sentience like it used to be. You really need to find a good vet. Remember on spending money you know what kind of horse you have could you buy one for that money that you would spend. A lot of people on here would not,do a alcohol fusion on hocks on this board but for 500.00 bucks to fix my horse and this vet does then all day long, you have to weigh a lot of things and go to a vet that does mostly lamness stuff, before i did anything i check his suspensories so i would nit be waisting my money. Find a vet who specializes on lamness who does at least 60% of ther time in this. My horse saw 3 or 4 vets one was a highy aclaimed race track vet and i did not feel that what he said was goimg to work on a hock fusion vet was talking about shockwave. The vet i wemt to said with the xray once side that highly aclaimed vet did not do,both sides. My vet that i went to recently said that shockwave would have taken a long time to fuse. Ther are several different ways we could have fixed jethero. But i went with the vet reccommendations. I will know in 2 weeks. He is alreadly tracking better he will be shod in ten days.
She has an amazing vet, who has the credentials and experience that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-23 7:09 AM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
Barefoot is better than natural balance. . I took my guys NB shoes off and turned him out. I had the pad on him too.. just seemed heavy and I am not a fan. Buy a level and a degree reading tool for his feet and make your farrier use them I believe you want 54 degrees on the front or anywhere 45 to mid 50's I believe depending how long he is ect. My farrier wanted to wedge one foot and not the other. I got sick of watching them try to eyeball it. I am a visual person need solid verified degrees... I have SUCH a short temper when it comes to my horse. ETA I am not riding him right now when I do I will do rims all the way around possibly with an elevated heel.
Edited by SwishMiss 2014-04-23 9:16 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-23 8:09 AM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
The stem cell for me was less than $1500, which in the grand scheme of things, is reasonable I thought. It was a quick process, left him off for several months (winter time) and he's made a full recovery. My vet didn't have high hopes for him recovering the way he did, that is for sure! So, I consider myself lucky  |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-04-22 2:02 PM Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! He was given Tildren as a two year old and then successfully futuritied on. I feel this is why she feels his navicular bone is ugly. It has3 holes that have been there his whole life and never bothered him because he was treated with Tildren so early. The bone spur that has developed on the back of the navicular bone is what I feel his issue is knowing his history. He just became lame after one run, so I know its not the holes bothering him. I feel the bone spur is my main issue. That's why I ask about the Equi-bone and OCD because I her they help remove spurs.
I had a horse with a bone spur on his coffin bone. I had a lot of sucess by injecting his coffin joint and navicular bursa and also leaving magnetic bell boots on him 24/7. The only time the bell boots come off was when I was riding him. He lived in them in the pasture etc. I also shod him with a straight bar shoe and the pour in pads. Good Luck! |
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 Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | Many horses compete who are navicular. Last year we bought a 22 yr old navicular rope horse. With a strict shoeing schedule he felt great...in fact so great we ended up selling him as he was too much horse for us. He was a cow MONSTER and incredibly fast. He still had a lot of years left and was not nerved. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-22 10:09 PM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
Good for you being open minded to barefoot! I find it silly sometimes when people try everything from special shoes/drugs to stemcell treatements but mention barefoot and its like OMG why would I try that! Out of anything if nothing else its cheap. And if your willing to try anything to help your horse. Why the heck not?
I'm not a trimmer or anything. Just a rider. I barrel race, jump and ride up gravel roads - no problems. My horse's feet aren't naturally awesome either. I feed a mineral balancer with included hoof supplement. So if u feed em right their hooves will be nice.
Without a shoe blood circulation increases too. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| http://www.hoofrehab.com/NavicularSyndrome.html
Some reading if anyone is interested |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | Thanks everyone! I can't do barefoot with him because he is very thin soled and always abscesses when he doesn't have shoes on. He was given Tildren as a 2 year old if I remember correctly. It worked. His issue now is the spur I believe. I plan to try the Equi-Bone and go from there. He was injected Monday and is running and bucking today... back to normal for now. I added pictures to show him off (: love this guy. Oh, and he's a heck of a hunter horse too!
 (vic4.jpg)
 (vic.jpg)
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 vic4.jpg (27KB - 195 downloads)
vic.jpg (78KB - 197 downloads)
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| phillyincal - 2014-04-22 11:01 PM One thing you can do for him at home is put pea gravel in his pen. It's very cheap (even in CA!) and increases circulation in their feet due to the constant pressure (but the gravel size is small and rounded so it doesn't hurt).
I did this for my navicular gelding after I brought a new mare home and had to pen him up. He's been retired for years and is barefoot, but shows low grade lameness due to his navicular. When I first penned him up, the pen had hard ground and his lameness increased dramatically. We added the pea gravel and he is more sound than he has ever been. It's the only thing we changed and cost very little. Good luck, it is so frustrating!
One thing you can do for him at home is put pea gravel in his pen. It's very cheap (even in CA!) and increases circulation in their feet due to the constant pressure (but the gravel size is small and rounded so it doesn't hurt)
I never wouldl have thought of this ^^ However, based on the little massage ball I have for my arches, it kinda makes sense! Would it be harmful for a horse that doesn't have navicular?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-23 3:03 PM
TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-22 10:09 PM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
Good for you being open minded to barefoot! I find it silly sometimes when people try everything from special shoes/drugs to stemcell treatements but mention barefoot and its like OMG why would I try that! Out of anything if nothing else its cheap. And if your willing to try anything to help your horse. Why the heck not?
I'm not a trimmer or anything. Just a rider. I barrel race, jump and ride up gravel roads - no problems. My horse's feet aren't naturally awesome either. I feed a mineral balancer with included hoof supplement. So if u feed em right their hooves will be nice.
Without a shoe blood circulation increases too.
This thread has officially convinced me to try it... your right.. what the heck! |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-23 3:55 PM CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-23 3:03 PM TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-22 10:09 PM I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others. How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes... Good for you being open minded to barefoot! I find it silly sometimes when people try everything from special shoes/drugs to stemcell treatements but mention barefoot and its like OMG why would I try that! Out of anything if nothing else its cheap. And if your willing to try anything to help your horse. Why the heck not? I'm not a trimmer or anything. Just a rider. I barrel race, jump and ride up gravel roads - no problems. My horse's feet aren't naturally awesome either. I feed a mineral balancer with included hoof supplement. So if u feed em right their hooves will be nice. Without a shoe blood circulation increases too. This thread has officially convinced me to try it... your right.. what the heck!
If you are going to do barefoot find a good trimmer and also don't be afraid of hoof boots. Or check out the new Easy care shoe. I think it could really help out some navicular horses. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-23 6:55 AM
CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-23 3:03 PM
TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-22 10:09 PM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
Good for you being open minded to barefoot! I find it silly sometimes when people try everything from special shoes/drugs to stemcell treatements but mention barefoot and its like OMG why would I try that! Out of anything if nothing else its cheap. And if your willing to try anything to help your horse. Why the heck not?
I'm not a trimmer or anything. Just a rider. I barrel race, jump and ride up gravel roads - no problems. My horse's feet aren't naturally awesome either. I feed a mineral balancer with included hoof supplement. So if u feed em right their hooves will be nice.
Without a shoe blood circulation increases too.
This thread has officially convinced me to try it... your right.. what the heck!
Awesome I wish you and your horse all the best! Keep us update!  He will have a period of adjustment and will probably be ouchy for a bit while he gets used to having his own feet back on the ground. So don't freak out give him some time and get yourself a good barefoot trimmer who knows what he/she is doing. Many farriers don't unfortunaly. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | annemarea - 2014-04-22 6:02 PM
CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-22 11:13 AM
I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted ) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later )
there are more videos of her too
Amen! Barefoot saved my gelding! Never has he been this sound! ;- )
I vote for barefoot, too. It's terrible what farriers do to these horses. I buy and sell quite a few horses a year, and I RARELY get one in that my farrier doesn't have to do a major re-do on their feet. I look at the ads on here and just shake my head at the shoe jobs. They all would be much better off barefoot. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| equussynergy is right boots are your friend AND get a good trimmer cannot stress this enough! |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| dianeguinn - 2014-04-23 7:28 AM
annemarea - 2014-04-22 6:02 PM
CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-22 11:13 AM
I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted ) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later )
there are more videos of her too
Amen! Barefoot saved my gelding! Never has he been this sound! ;- )
I vote for barefoot, too. It's terrible what farriers do to these horses. I buy and sell quite a few horses a year, and I RARELY get one in that my farrier doesn't have to do a major re-do on their feet. I look at the ads on here and just shake my head at the shoe jobs. They all would be much better off barefoot.
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-23 3:03 PM
TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-22 10:09 PM
I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others.
How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes...
Good for you being open minded to barefoot! I find it silly sometimes when people try everything from special shoes/drugs to stemcell treatements but mention barefoot and its like OMG why would I try that! Out of anything if nothing else its cheap. And if your willing to try anything to help your horse. Why the heck not?
I'm not a trimmer or anything. Just a rider. I barrel race, jump and ride up gravel roads - no problems. My horse's feet aren't naturally awesome either. I feed a mineral balancer with included hoof supplement. So if u feed em right their hooves will be nice.
Without a shoe blood circulation increases too.
I can't go barefoot either - have major issues with hoof defects and cracks splitting them in half. The thing with the stem cell is it repairs the damage done...so it wasn't just me trying something random to jump on the bandwagon. I'd love to have my horse go barefoot, would save me a ton of money and frustration no doubt! Maybe someday! |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | What joint supplement do ya'll suggest? Can't really afford Platinum CJ but will try it if it's REALLY worth it. I can get Advanced Cetyl-M at wholesale pricing, or Actiflex 4000 is another I've looked in to. Any others ? |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| I think Platinum CJ is well worth the money. You are only using one supplement undead of having to add multiple ones. |
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Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | Anything with Avacado soy extract in it, is supposed to be the best.. and of course, most expensive. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| I wouldn't call barefoot jumping on the band wagon. Its really hard to go against the traditional (shoes) at least for me. My choice to keep my horse barefoot (not broke had never had shoes on when purchased) was not made lightly or without a bunch of research through scientific literature (I'm a biologist). I cannot find any benefit to shoes but lots for barefoot. Yes you can hold together a broken cracking hoof or numb the hoof so the pain is reduced with a shoe but why glue and tape the problem. I would rather take the time to feed my horse right and grow a healthy happy hoof. Cracking hooves I would check your feeding program - your horse is not getting enough minerals or vitamins he needs. Many fed companies don't included enough in there mixes.
Easy care just posted this article including the videos of the mare I posted above!
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/horse-boots-customer-help/a-quick-...
I think this will be my last post on this thread - haters are gonna hate - I could defend a thousand times over but untimely those who don't wish to be open minded will remain so. Did you know that the doctor who first suggested hand washing between patients was ridiculed - many people died from transmitted infection before hand washing became common practice in health care. |
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 Potato Soup Queen
Location: Alabama | SwishMiss - 2014-04-23 9:08 AM TNcowgirl88 - 2014-04-23 7:09 AM I took my gelding monday to the vet. He diagnosed him with navicular cysts.... we injected him with tildren. We will see how it works. I am seriously considering letting him go barefoot. Right now he has natural balance shoes and I was going to try to put equithane (????) just a cushioning in his feet to absorb the shock. I am taking him back in 6 weeks for another injection. I have been fighting this battle for over a year now and nothing really has seemed to help. I have him on MSM and magnets full time. Some days are better that others. How much is the stem cell therapy? I know every vet differes... Barefoot is better than natural balance. . I took my guys NB shoes off and turned him out. I had the pad on him too.. just seemed heavy and I am not a fan. Buy a level and a degree reading tool for his feet and make your farrier use them I believe you want 54 degrees on the front or anywhere 45 to mid 50's I believe depending how long he is ect. My farrier wanted to wedge one foot and not the other. I got sick of watching them try to eyeball it. I am a visual person need solid verified degrees... I have SUCH a short temper when it comes to my horse. ETA I am not riding him right now when I do I will do rims all the way around possibly with an elevated heel.
SwishMiss, I don't wish to rain on your parade but, the info you posted here is inaccurate to say the least. IF you understood the mechanics of the hoof and how it operates (or should operate in a sound state) you would know that elevated heels are the number one reason for "navicular syndrome" in horses.
To the OP: depending on who your farrier is and their understanding of natural balance shoeing, the trim is almost exactly the same as if the horse were going to be barefoot....so, when trimming to prep for shoe placement, the trims are almost identical. In fact, for horses with navicular issues, caudal heel pain, etc. the two ways I treated it was either barefoot (via the trim) or with natural balance shoes. I don't have any idea of your farrier's credentials or understanding when it comes to applying natural balance shoes so I can't comment. My knowledge and understanding might be quite different than the person you use. I've been through the clinics and shod with the creator of the shoe itself so my understanding of how to apply the shoes is quite sufficient to use them as a healing tool for navicular pain and long toes, etc.
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Member
Posts: 17
| Highly reccomend TLC Equi-bone worked wonders for my horse diagnosed navicular at 6yrs old MRI showed navicular bursa not fully formed from birth. I agree with the barefoot if he can I only have one horse with front shoes on and the rest are barefoot. The equi-bone keeps my navicular horse sound and he is still running barrels at 10yrs old now
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