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 Husband Spoiler
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Location: North Dakota | I have a mare that was diagnosed with bone spurs on her navicular bone last January. I didn't do much with her last year because I was just kind of in shock and heartbroken because this horse was it. She was my special horse that I had such high hopes for and was everything I could have ever wanted in a horse. Then she came up "off" her futurity year and I asked again and again if it could be navicular and I kept getting told no that wasn't it. So I put thousands of dollars into different treatments tryin to get her 100% again but finally 4 months later we got a diagnoses that in my gut I knew what it was but still wasn't ready to hear it. Anyways I have decided to put her back to work and just get over it and do what I can to make her comfortable and enjoy her. Well she has been feeling good until recently when I have started to aks more of her and push her a little harder. She is starting to get a head bob and a more noticeable limp where as before it was just an off gate most would not be able to notice. I have her barefoot but in her xrays she has a fairly parallel to the ground palmar angle. So my question is do I try to throw some shoes and pads on her to decrease concussion? Do I wedge her or will that just cause more issues further down the road with her feet? I tried to keep her as natural as I could but I don't feel it is doing her any good right now so I think I need to try something else. She has fairly small feet for how big she is. She isn't big boned but she is about 15.3h with a big shoulder. She is out of a TB mare and you can tell...lol.
I am contiplating injections too but my vet thinks that just putting some shoes on her to decrease concussion may be enough.
I know many of you guys have similar expreriences and I love to hear other ideas. So if you have any input as to what may help this horse I would love to hear it! Like I said, TB built mare, big shoulder, small feet, parallel palmar angle, bone spurs on navicular bone, was barefoot before the diagnoses, put in shoes for a few months after diagnoses then weaned off and has been barefoot for about 8 months, just started to have noticeable limp now that she is being pushed harder.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-28 9:14 AM
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I'll share my experience, but please don't take any of it the wrong way!!!!
My mare I think is 13 this year ( I would have to look at her papers). I too would describe her like you did yours. The "one". She has a ton of wins to prove it.
Long story short, she was never lame but started hitting barrels really bad. Not just tipping them, but crashing the hell out of them. After nearly 18 months of continous vet checks and xrays (because we could never find anything) we finally saw changes to her right navicular bone.
Corrective shoeing had been tried prior to this because even though we didn't have difinitive proof, we are calling it as navicular the whole time. She got much worse with corrective shoeing (we tried NB shoes and wedges, pads, etc). Upon her last vet exam at Oak Ridge in OK, all the vets there felt corrective shoeing would make it worse because her angles were already where they needed to be, and corrective shoeing would change those angles so much that it would make her more sore.
So I just said screw it and retired her. I would rather retire a sound horse then wait for her to be miserable and crippled. We will still trail ride her this summer since she is sound. And a few months ago I yanked all her shoes off. She is way sounder barefoot then she has ever been with shoes in the last four years. Funny thing is though, and I haven't talked to anybody about this yet, is she is wearing her toes almost straight across, similar to the shape of the NB shoes.
I even cruised her through a pattern last month for the heck of it, and she felt awesome :) I also put her on TLC's equibone but I have no way of knowing if it made a difference. | |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I wouldn't wedge unless you had to, I have used wedge egg bars in the past and they ruined my horses heels.
If her angles are pretty much correct, I would try the PLR shoes or PLR race if she has smaller feet or thinner walls. Those shoes have been a lifesaver for a couple of our horses. I don't know why, could just be the individual horses feet, but the regular PLRs really improved the horses feet that we used them on. I also think they are more user friendly than the NB shoes. | |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Barnmom - 2014-04-28 10:32 AM
I wouldn't wedge unless you had to, I have used wedge egg bars in the past and they ruined my horses heels.
If her angles are pretty much correct, I would try the PLR shoes or PLR race if she has smaller feet or thinner walls. Those shoes have been a lifesaver for a couple of our horses. I don't know why, could just be the individual horses feet, but the regular PLRs really improved the horses feet that we used them on. I also think they are more user friendly than the NB shoes.
What is the PLR? I think I tried them on my mare but we tried so much on her.... | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | I have been considering equibone as well but the upfront cost and loading dose is so expensive.
I had her in NB shoes at first, then we weaned her into regular shoes, and then got her back barefoot but I just think with her palmar angle (even though her feet are balanced and trimmed how they should be) that something to protect against the concussion would help. I gave her pretty much all of last year off because it made me sick to think that my 6yr old mare may be done for already and I could not see myself making her crippled by continouing to run her. But this year I have decided to see what my options are because she is too young to just turn my back on. I atleast want to give it a try and if nothing works then I atleast know I tried everything I could (afford). Right now I really haven't done too much. I have not done any injections other than I had her on Pentosan for awhile last year but because I quit running her I took her off it and it wasn't really seeming to help anyways. She is currently on nothing other than MSM and a joint supplement. I have a farrier and vet apt on Thursday so I want to see what options I have to throw at them and see if we can't come up with some kind of regimen that works for her.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-28 9:41 AM
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | The only type of shoeing that did seem to help my mare was giving her a straight bar, or a heart bar, with frog support. No wedge and got ride of the pour in pad. It did seem to help her some but she is still better then barefoot. I like to think the equibone is helping her BUT I have only ridden her twice since I started her on it last october, and no new xrays yet. So there's no way to know for sure. | |
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Husband Spoiler
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Location: North Dakota | Barnmom - 2014-04-28 9:32 AM I wouldn't wedge unless you had to, I have used wedge egg bars in the past and they ruined my horses heels.
If her angles are pretty much correct, I would try the PLR shoes or PLR race if she has smaller feet or thinner walls. Those shoes have been a lifesaver for a couple of our horses. I don't know why, could just be the individual horses feet, but the regular PLRs really improved the horses feet that we used them on. I also think they are more user friendly than the NB shoes.
I think PLRs are what we had on her. Not NBs. I did not run her much that year when we had them on. Maybe I will discuss putting them back on her. Would a pad help? That way she will get some contact to her frog with the pad but also help with the concusion. | |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | If you opt for pads, consider pour in pads versus regular ones. Each horse is different, but I tend to prefer pour in pads when I need them.
Also, when thinking about the equibone. Try to look at it this way, it certainly can't hurt anything to put her on it. I do plan on getting more xrays of my mare this spring after we breed her to see if it helped, but it's all about time and money right now :) | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I won't ride a horse that is lame or needs pain killers/antiinflammatories to not be in pain.
Personally if the horse was mine, the horse would have been retired if the vet could not make the horse sound by surgery (not a neurectomy), injections, or by tildren.
Horses are histoic they can handle a lot of pain before they show pain. To me as a horse owner it is my responsibility to do what is best for the horse, not what is best for me. | |
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Husband Spoiler
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Location: North Dakota | missroselee - 2014-04-28 9:39 AM The only type of shoeing that did seem to help my mare was giving her a straight bar, or a heart bar, with frog support. No wedge and got ride of the pour in pad. It did seem to help her some but she is still better then barefoot. I like to think the equibone is helping her BUT I have only ridden her twice since I started her on it last october, and no new xrays yet. So there's no way to know for sure.
I am a little worried about trying those while competing. Isn't there more tendancy to over reach and clip them? Not that she is a huge over reacher so she may be fine with them. It is just something that has me a little worried I guess. | |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | cheryl makofka - 2014-04-28 10:43 AM I won't ride a horse that is lame or needs pain killers/antiinflammatories to not be in pain. Personally if the horse was mine, the horse would have been retired if the vet could not make the horse sound by surgery (not a neurectomy), injections, or by tildren. Horses are histoic they can handle a lot of pain before they show pain. To me as a horse owner it is my responsibility to do what is best for the horse, not what is best for me.
cheryl my mare was never lame. Never took a bad step. The only reason we kept poking and prodding was because she shouldn't have been hitting barrels like she was. She passed all but her very last flex test with flying colors. I just chose to retire her because I knew there would come a point in time when she would be lame if I kept riding her. Obviously it was causing discomfort or she wouldnt' have started crashing barrels. | |
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Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | My husband is my farrier so I order them from EDSS, they also carry all of the NB stuff but I like the PLRs better. They really improve the quickness of the breakover all the way around the foot. The regular PLRs also come in a wedge version if you need it.
We just shod my Jet of Honor gelding with the wedge PLRs and equipak yesterday, time will tell if it helps.
Edited by Barnmom 2014-04-28 9:53 AM
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Just Bring It - 2014-04-28 10:45 AM missroselee - 2014-04-28 9:39 AM The only type of shoeing that did seem to help my mare was giving her a straight bar, or a heart bar, with frog support. No wedge and got ride of the pour in pad. It did seem to help her some but she is still better then barefoot. I like to think the equibone is helping her BUT I have only ridden her twice since I started her on it last october, and no new xrays yet. So there's no way to know for sure. I am a little worried about trying those while competing. Isn't there more tendancy to over reach and clip them? Not that she is a huge over reacher so she may be fine with them. It is just something that has me a little worried I guess.
Not really. Straight bar or heart bar. Now an egg bar, yes, they can stop those off. But we had a pair of straight bars that did her really well that didn't stick out any further then the heel of a regular shoe would have. BUT....I never ran her after all that. I ran in her the NB and she actually won the 1D that day. That was the very last time I ever ran her :(:(.....at least I ended on a good note I guess. | |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Sara you know what I think of your farrier. I have a really nice 1D mare that is now crippled thanks to him. He also came to me with the recommendation of my FORMER vet. I switched vets and farriers. They had her running again for another couple years but too much damage had done by the previous farrier and instead of continuing to work on trying to make her sound enough to run I chose to retire her as well at a very young age. You can do what you want but IMO get a 2nd opinion. I'm not saying your vet and farrier are wrong but it doesn't hurt to check elsewhere. My mare isn't the first one that he crippled and she wasn't the last.
I did the Equibone on my mare and yes I do believe in it. | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | cheryl makofka - 2014-04-28 9:43 AM I won't ride a horse that is lame or needs pain killers/antiinflammatories to not be in pain. Personally if the horse was mine, the horse would have been retired if the vet could not make the horse sound by surgery (not a neurectomy), injections, or by tildren. Horses are histoic they can handle a lot of pain before they show pain. To me as a horse owner it is my responsibility to do what is best for the horse, not what is best for me. Well she pretty much got all of last year off because I feel the same way but this year she felt great and she seemed to do better if she got out and exercised and got her circulation going. It is the concusion on her feet that is starting to cause a problem and that is why I want to address it to see if I can't get her sound. She is not drugged up to be sound. The only anti-inflammatory she gets is MSM. I don't think I am wrong for wanting to try options to make my horse comfortable and sound. I have not yet tried numerous things without luck. I haven't really tried anything yet and now I am wanting to see what my options are that could help her. There are horses out there that go on competing for years soundly that were once dead lame because the owner finally found something that worked for that particular horse. I'm not expecting a miracle and I'm not expecting to cure her but I at least want to try and not give up on her. I'm not doing this to just have a horse to run. I have others just as nice but that doesn't mean I just want to toss her aside and forget about her because she is "broken". I want to give her a fighting chance.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-28 10:01 AM
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | CYA Ranch - 2014-04-28 9:48 AM Sara you know what I think of your farrier. I have a really nice 1D mare that is now crippled thanks to him. He also came to me with the recommendation of my FORMER vet. I switched vets and farriers. They had her running again for another couple years but too much damage had done by the previous farrier and instead of continuing to work on trying to make her sound enough to run I chose to retire her as well at a very young age. You can do what you want but IMO get a 2nd opinion. I'm not saying your vet and farrier are wrong but it doesn't hurt to check elsewhere. My mare isn't the first one that he crippled and she wasn't the last.
I did the Equibone on my mare and yes I do believe in it. He was not the one that did this to her. I switched to him because she came up "off" under my previous farrier (not that he did it to her because I think her issue is more genetics than anything but he wasn't addressing the issue like I wanted). DK has not done anything to this mare that was drastic to cause any lameness. All he has done is helped balance her feet. He has not rolled toes, raised heels, taken this or that off, etc. He has kept her very natural and has only tried to keep her as natural as possible while keeping her sound. I am not against another oppinion at all though. I just don't really know who else to try because there aren't too many good farriers in the area. There are other good ones hours away but getting in with them is nearly impossible. So far I have been happy with DK. He took my gelding that had a huge long stride but all of a sudden started to become a climber back into a low long strided mover. He also questions my vet and keeps her on her toes which I love. He is the one that spotted the bone spur in the x-ray in the first place. I wanted to make sure they were both there when I had it done.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-28 10:11 AM
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Just Bring It - 2014-04-28 10:07 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-04-28 9:48 AM Sara you know what I think of your farrier. I have a really nice 1D mare that is now crippled thanks to him. He also came to me with the recommendation of my FORMER vet. I switched vets and farriers. They had her running again for another couple years but too much damage had done by the previous farrier and instead of continuing to work on trying to make her sound enough to run I chose to retire her as well at a very young age. You can do what you want but IMO get a 2nd opinion. I'm not saying your vet and farrier are wrong but it doesn't hurt to check elsewhere. My mare isn't the first one that he crippled and she wasn't the last.
I did the Equibone on my mare and yes I do believe in it. He was not the one that did this to her. I switched to him because she came up "off" under my previous farrier (not that he did it to her because I think her issue is more genetics than anything but he wasn't addressing the issue like I wanted). DK has not done anything to this mare that was drastic to cause any lameness. All he has done is helped balance her feet. He has not rolled toes, raised heels, taken this or that off, etc. He has kept her very natural and has only tried to keep her as natural as possible while keeping her sound. I am not against another oppinion at all though. I just don't really know who else to try because there aren't too many good farriers in the area. There are other good ones hours away but getting in with them is nearly impossible. So far I have been happy with DK. He took my gelding that had a huge long stride but all of a sudden started to become a climber back into a low long strided mover. He also questions my vet and keeps her on her toes which I love. He is the one that spotted the bone spur in the x-ray in the first place. I wanted to make sure they were both there when I had it done.
It doesn't matter if he did it to her or not all I was suggesting is a 2nd opinion but if your happy with him then by all means keep him. | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Oh and I will be hauling a few to another vet soon. I have a couple I want some other oppinions on. | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | CYA Ranch - 2014-04-28 10:11 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-28 10:07 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-04-28 9:48 AM Sara you know what I think of your farrier. I have a really nice 1D mare that is now crippled thanks to him. He also came to me with the recommendation of my FORMER vet. I switched vets and farriers. They had her running again for another couple years but too much damage had done by the previous farrier and instead of continuing to work on trying to make her sound enough to run I chose to retire her as well at a very young age. You can do what you want but IMO get a 2nd opinion. I'm not saying your vet and farrier are wrong but it doesn't hurt to check elsewhere. My mare isn't the first one that he crippled and she wasn't the last.
I did the Equibone on my mare and yes I do believe in it. He was not the one that did this to her. I switched to him because she came up "off" under my previous farrier (not that he did it to her because I think her issue is more genetics than anything but he wasn't addressing the issue like I wanted). DK has not done anything to this mare that was drastic to cause any lameness. All he has done is helped balance her feet. He has not rolled toes, raised heels, taken this or that off, etc. He has kept her very natural and has only tried to keep her as natural as possible while keeping her sound. I am not against another oppinion at all though. I just don't really know who else to try because there aren't too many good farriers in the area. There are other good ones hours away but getting in with them is nearly impossible. So far I have been happy with DK. He took my gelding that had a huge long stride but all of a sudden started to become a climber back into a low long strided mover. He also questions my vet and keeps her on her toes which I love. He is the one that spotted the bone spur in the x-ray in the first place. I wanted to make sure they were both there when I had it done.
Oh yeah and I agree. I just don't know who else to try. There is a guy from MN my friend is trying to get an apt with and I am trying to see if she can't get mine in with him as well. DK has not personally given me a reason to look for someone else but I am all about getting other oppinions because they were all taught differently and have all had different experiences so who knows when someone has an idea that does the trick! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | My gelding is on equibone by TLC and has an egg bar shoe on. He feels better now than he has in years | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | I'm in the same boat as you are. I had just purchased my WPRA permit and planned to run my gelding at his first pro rodeo, then he came up lame a week before. He was my mount I planned to make rookie of the year on. Got my navicular diagnosis a week ago today. Same as you with the spur on the bone and a few cycsts (but they had been there since he was young). Went to the most reputable vet here in Tennessee. He already had Tildren at a younger age. So, she decided to inject his coffin joint to begin with. Thinks we will get about 4-5 years out of doing that evry 6 months if he stays the same. Then we can move to injecting the bursa, since it is hard on the ligament/ tendon you have to inject through (can't remember which she said). Then, if he is a goood candidate after an MRI we will nerve him if needed. She thinks I can still follow my dreams on him, and I pray every day that I can. I won't be able to afford a horse of his caliber again for a LONG time.
I will tell you what she told me to do. - Wedge shoes (2-3 degree) and a pour in pad half way (just from the tip of the frog back) to absorb shock.
- Inject every 6 months.
- Keep up my IM injections of Acetyl D Glucosamine Chondroitin
- A good fed through supplement like Cosequin ASU.
What I plan to do. - Equi-Bone (ordered my first bag and I'm waiting on it to get here. She told me it may or may not work. If I could afford it, try it. I really can't afford it, but if it may help, I find a way.)
- Soft Ride boots with the special orthotics for navicular.
- Aculife patches on his foot.
Hope this helps and I will be praying for you and your horse. It IS POSSIBLE for him to still be your ONE!!! Have hope! Ignore the hateful people that don't understand how much riding and competing on this horse means to you. If you need anything feel free to message me (: | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-04-28 1:10 PM I'm in the same boat as you are. I had just purchased my WPRA permit and planned to run my gelding at his first pro rodeo, then he came up lame a week before. He was my mount I planned to make rookie of the year on. Got my navicular diagnosis a week ago today. Same as you with the spur on the bone and a few cycsts (but they had been there since he was young). Went to the most reputable vet here in Tennessee. He already had Tildren at a younger age. So, she decided to inject his coffin joint to begin with. Thinks we will get about 4-5 years out of doing that evry 6 months if he stays the same. Then we can move to injecting the bursa, since it is hard on the ligament/ tendon you have to inject through (can't remember which she said). Then, if he is a goood candidate after an MRI we will nerve him if needed. She thinks I can still follow my dreams on him, and I pray every day that I can. I won't be able to afford a horse of his caliber again for a LONG time.
I will tell you what she told me to do.
- Wedge shoes (2-3 degree) and a pour in pad half way (just from the tip of the frog back) to absorb shock.
- Inject every 6 months.
- Keep up my IM injections of Acetyl D Glucosamine Chondroitin
- A good fed through supplement like Cosequin ASU.
What I plan to do.
- Equi-Bone (ordered my first bag and I'm waiting on it to get here. She told me it may or may not work. If I could afford it, try it. I really can't afford it, but if it may help, I find a way.)
- Soft Ride boots with the special orthotics for navicular.
- Aculife patches on his foot.
Hope this helps and I will be praying for you and your horse. It IS POSSIBLE for him to still be your ONE!!! Have hope! Ignore the hateful people that don't understand how much riding and competing on this horse means to you. If you need anything feel free to message me (:
Thank you! I am gonna give this girl a chance and not give up on her. I think if she could talk she would tell me to help make her awesome and to not turn her out. I want to make her stronger and better. I do not have plans on just covering anything up just to get a few runs out of her all the while she is breaking down. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 733
| IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct.
Edited by Rope-N-Run 2014-04-29 1:18 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 861
| I have not read all the replies, but can say that with my gelding, the only results we had was with glue on shoes. Very expensive but made all the difference in the world. I have him on the Silver Lining bone supplement also. Forgot to add that we did Tildren also.
Edited by luvinit 2014-04-29 9:01 AM
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Location: North Central Texas | I am trying the TLC Equibone on my mare. Yes it is somewhat costly. I am doing it exactly as instructed to do. But if it works as many who have tried it says it does, then it is not that expensive in the long run. It is expensive to load up and haul to the vet too!
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct.
Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM
Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct.
Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice!
Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-04-28 1:10 PM
I'm in the same boat as you are. I had just purchased my WPRA permit and planned to run my gelding at his first pro rodeo, then he came up lame a week before. He was my mount I planned to make rookie of the year on. Got my navicular diagnosis a week ago today. Same as you with the spur on the bone and a few cycsts (but they had been there since he was young). Went to the most reputable vet here in Tennessee. He already had Tildren at a younger age. So, she decided to inject his coffin joint to begin with. Thinks we will get about 4-5 years out of doing that evry 6 months if he stays the same. Then we can move to injecting the bursa, since it is hard on the ligament/ tendon you have to inject through (can't remember which she said). Then, if he is a goood candidate after an MRI we will nerve him if needed. She thinks I can still follow my dreams on him, and I pray every day that I can. I won't be able to afford a horse of his caliber again for a LONG time.
I will tell you what she told me to do. - Wedge shoes (2-3 degree) and a pour in pad half way (just from the tip of the frog back) to absorb shock.
- Inject every 6 months.
- Keep up my IM injections of Acetyl D Glucosamine Chondroitin
- A good fed through supplement like Cosequin ASU.
What I plan to do. - Equi-Bone (ordered my first bag and I'm waiting on it to get here. She told me it may or may not work. If I could afford it, try it. I really can't afford it, but if it may help, I find a way.)
- Soft Ride boots with the special orthotics for navicular.
- Aculife patches on his foot.
Hope this helps and I will be praying for you and your horse. It IS POSSIBLE for him to still be your ONE!!! Have hope! Ignore the hateful people that don't understand how much riding and competing on this horse means to you. If you need anything feel free to message me (:
Stupid question - which ones are the special orthotics for navicular? The purple inserts? | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 11:44 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now ) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had.
I have an apt on Thursday so I will talk to her more about it then. Thanks! It is so hard seeing the costs of everything and knowing nothing is a certainty. How lond did it take for you to notice a difference?
Give me the lowdown on what the procedure was and what the time frame for everything was. :) | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | I'm afraid that it is her conformation that is causing it and that it will be like a merry go-round and we won't really get anywhere because we can't change her conformation. By conformation I mean her small feet in comparison to her large size. But I don't know that is the case for sure. Who knows it could have been a tendon injury that caused the bone spur. It is just all speculation and a bunch of guessing which makes this so difficult. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:14 PM
luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 11:44 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now ) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had.
Give me the lowdown on what the procedure was and what the time frame for everything was. :)
They did the procedure in August - it was a half-day deal, they pulled the stem cells out of his rump, and injected them along with the PRP into his bursa. He was more sore in his butt than anything, because they had to dig around pretty good to get what they needed poor guy! Since we were headed into winter, my vet wanted me to leave him off until the following spring to give it as much time as possible - he said the longer the better in order to heal/rebuild. He was sound right off the bat from the PRP, but that faded, and he kind of went back to being off ever so slightly. I left him alone after that, and in January I started watching him (he was turned out on pasture all winter to allow for plenty of movement). He trotted around sound, so I got on him one day, and had a friend watch to see if he was off. Took him back to the vet, did an exam, took some video, and I was sent home with instructions on bringing him back slowly! When I first brought him back, he went right to running in the 1D, and was consistent for once. He's doing good enough now that I finally bit the bullet and bought my permit - when I told my vet he gave me a big hug! Quite the success story!
I 100% understand the cost and uncertainty, I thought I was a fool for going forward with the stem cell...but we had no other options at that point. And with mine being a gelding, I was stuck. What do you do with a 6 yr old gelding who knows nothing but barrels and isn't calm enough to be a kids horse?! LOL. My vet and I are both sad this wasn't around a few years prior, when I had to practically give away my superstar at the time who had a hole in her pastern joint along with a tendon issue - he just knows we could have saved her too :) It's pretty good stuff! | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 12:29 PM
Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:14 PM
luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 11:44 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now ) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had.
Give me the lowdown on what the procedure was and what the time frame for everything was. :)
They did the procedure in August - it was a half-day deal, they pulled the stem cells out of his rump, and injected them along with the PRP into his bursa. He was more sore in his butt than anything, because they had to dig around pretty good to get what they needed poor guy! Since we were headed into winter, my vet wanted me to leave him off until the following spring to give it as much time as possible - he said the longer the better in order to heal/rebuild. He was sound right off the bat from the PRP, but that faded, and he kind of went back to being off ever so slightly. I left him alone after that, and in January I started watching him (he was turned out on pasture all winter to allow for plenty of movement ). He trotted around sound, so I got on him one day, and had a friend watch to see if he was off. Took him back to the vet, did an exam, took some video, and I was sent home with instructions on bringing him back slowly! When I first brought him back, he went right to running in the 1D, and was consistent for once. He's doing good enough now that I finally bit the bullet and bought my permit - when I told my vet he gave me a big hug! Quite the success story!
I 100% understand the cost and uncertainty, I thought I was a fool for going forward with the stem cell...but we had no other options at that point. And with mine being a gelding, I was stuck. What do you do with a 6 yr old gelding who knows nothing but barrels and isn't calm enough to be a kids horse?! LOL. My vet and I are both sad this wasn't around a few years prior, when I had to practically give away my superstar at the time who had a hole in her pastern joint along with a tendon issue - he just knows we could have saved her too : ) It's pretty good stuff!
Thank you so much for your positive story!!! I will definitely continue to look into it and talk more seriously to my vet about it. Oh and I better talk to the hubby as well. Maybe he will be help me decide. He really likes this mare and believes in her so I think if I knew I had his support I would feel better about all this. It is just so hard sometimes to spend so much on vet bills constantly. We have so much other stuff that we plan on wanting to do around our place and we can't because of all this money getting spent on darn vet bills (and equipment repairs, etc, etc....but that is life). | |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:38 PM
luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 12:29 PM
Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:14 PM
luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 11:44 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now ) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had.
Give me the lowdown on what the procedure was and what the time frame for everything was. :)
They did the procedure in August - it was a half-day deal, they pulled the stem cells out of his rump, and injected them along with the PRP into his bursa. He was more sore in his butt than anything, because they had to dig around pretty good to get what they needed poor guy! Since we were headed into winter, my vet wanted me to leave him off until the following spring to give it as much time as possible - he said the longer the better in order to heal/rebuild. He was sound right off the bat from the PRP, but that faded, and he kind of went back to being off ever so slightly. I left him alone after that, and in January I started watching him (he was turned out on pasture all winter to allow for plenty of movement ). He trotted around sound, so I got on him one day, and had a friend watch to see if he was off. Took him back to the vet, did an exam, took some video, and I was sent home with instructions on bringing him back slowly! When I first brought him back, he went right to running in the 1D, and was consistent for once. He's doing good enough now that I finally bit the bullet and bought my permit - when I told my vet he gave me a big hug! Quite the success story!
I 100% understand the cost and uncertainty, I thought I was a fool for going forward with the stem cell...but we had no other options at that point. And with mine being a gelding, I was stuck. What do you do with a 6 yr old gelding who knows nothing but barrels and isn't calm enough to be a kids horse?! LOL. My vet and I are both sad this wasn't around a few years prior, when I had to practically give away my superstar at the time who had a hole in her pastern joint along with a tendon issue - he just knows we could have saved her too : ) It's pretty good stuff!
Thank you so much for your positive story!!! I will definitely continue to look into it and talk more seriously to my vet about it. Oh and I better talk to the hubby as well. Maybe he will be help me decide. He really likes this mare and believes in her so I think if I knew I had his support I would feel better about all this. It is just so hard sometimes to spend so much on vet bills constantly. We have so much other stuff that we plan on wanting to do around our place and we can't because of all this money getting spent on darn vet bills (and equipment repairs, etc, etc....but that is life ).
I've yet to make it through a year without at least a $2k vet bill, it's awful!!! Never-ending battle at my house ;) | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 12:54 PM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:38 PM luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 12:29 PM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 12:14 PM luvrdeo - 2014-04-29 11:44 AM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 10:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! Mine wasn't a candidate for Tildren either because the damage was too far gone - he had tendon damage on top of everything else going on in the bone. We tried different shoeing, injections, you name it - he'd stay sound for a month then it would all fall apart again. End of his 6 yr old summer, he was so lame I had to quit riding altogether. My vet talked me into the stem cell and PRP, and he hasn't taken a lame step since. It was a gamble, he really didn't think it would work due to the extent of the damage. I went in a few weeks ago (it's been a year and a half now ) and my vet said if he hasn't come up lame since the stem cell, most likely everything has been repaired and he should be sound for the rest of his life. So, we are going to hit the road hard this summer! I wouldn't think twice about the stem cell with the success I've had.
Give me the lowdown on what the procedure was and what the time frame for everything was. :) They did the procedure in August - it was a half-day deal, they pulled the stem cells out of his rump, and injected them along with the PRP into his bursa. He was more sore in his butt than anything, because they had to dig around pretty good to get what they needed poor guy! Since we were headed into winter, my vet wanted me to leave him off until the following spring to give it as much time as possible - he said the longer the better in order to heal/rebuild. He was sound right off the bat from the PRP, but that faded, and he kind of went back to being off ever so slightly. I left him alone after that, and in January I started watching him (he was turned out on pasture all winter to allow for plenty of movement ). He trotted around sound, so I got on him one day, and had a friend watch to see if he was off. Took him back to the vet, did an exam, took some video, and I was sent home with instructions on bringing him back slowly! When I first brought him back, he went right to running in the 1D, and was consistent for once. He's doing good enough now that I finally bit the bullet and bought my permit - when I told my vet he gave me a big hug! Quite the success story! I 100% understand the cost and uncertainty, I thought I was a fool for going forward with the stem cell...but we had no other options at that point. And with mine being a gelding, I was stuck. What do you do with a 6 yr old gelding who knows nothing but barrels and isn't calm enough to be a kids horse?! LOL. My vet and I are both sad this wasn't around a few years prior, when I had to practically give away my superstar at the time who had a hole in her pastern joint along with a tendon issue - he just knows we could have saved her too : ) It's pretty good stuff! Thank you so much for your positive story!!! I will definitely continue to look into it and talk more seriously to my vet about it. Oh and I better talk to the hubby as well. Maybe he will be help me decide. He really likes this mare and believes in her so I think if I knew I had his support I would feel better about all this. It is just so hard sometimes to spend so much on vet bills constantly. We have so much other stuff that we plan on wanting to do around our place and we can't because of all this money getting spent on darn vet bills (and equipment repairs, etc, etc....but that is life ). I've yet to make it through a year without at least a $2k vet bill, it's awful!!! Never-ending battle at my house ; )
Oh my gosh I know!!! Same here. If it's not one thing it's another. When I do my taxes I cringe at the final amount that I spend each year on vet bills. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 733
| Just Bring It - 2014-04-30 8:02 AM
Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct.
Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice!
For tendons I really like PRP injections. Another good supplement you might want to consider is Smart Tendon. It is for tendons but has Silca in it, Silca is what is in Osteon (plantinum's bone supplement). IMO I am sure I will get flamed but before I put my horse on Equi-bone I would first make sure they are on a balanced diet containing all the vit/min they need in the correct ratios, since if you look at equi-bone, and talk to them that is essentially what it is. First and foremost I would put shoes on your horse with your vet (shoeing apt.) and take x-rays to make sure that the horse is level and is not broke forward for back. Get a GOOD shoer (not saying that yours isn't) that is willing to work with a knowledgeable vet, and possibly do injections (just to get the inflamation out). Again, IMO, shoeing, balanced diet, and fitness are the 3 most important things when it comes to keeping your horse sound. Before doing Stem Cell, PRP, or Tildren make sure you are consulting with a vet that has done the treatments before and has good understanding of the type of horses each treatment works best on, most places offer financing, its usually the type of financing that has no interest as long as it is paid of before a certain date. I used Care Credit the first time I did tildren, my horse won enough in the first 3 months I was able to cover expenses and pay it off.
Also what kind of hay are you feeding? I would take a strong look at your calcium:phosphorus ratio.
Here is the program I have my horse on:
Feed: LMF Show Time (3-4 lbs depending on work load)
Supplements: Smart Tendon, Acetyl-d-Glucosamine, Previcox (1/4 daily up to 1/2 pill when traveling & running), FORCO, Lung aid, DMG & Ulser Shield (when traveling)
Other Care: Shod every 3-4 weeks in the summer, Soft Rides, PHT bell boots, Magic Cushion when hauling longs ways or if I have ran on hard ground. Of all my other care the most important is the shoeing, if you are on a tight budget that is the best place to spend money, next would be soft rides if you are going to be hauling a lot.
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Husband Spoiler
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Location: North Dakota | Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 3:14 PM Just Bring It - 2014-04-30 8:02 AM Rope-N-Run - 2014-04-29 1:09 AM IMO you need to find a really experienced lameness vet. One that specializes in lameness in equine athletes. Have you looked into Tildren, Stem Cell, or PRP? Did you a MRI? Many times navicular horses also have tendon issues going on in the foot, you could be dealing with a bone and tendon issue. Sorry for the questions just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. It sounds to me like she needs shoes, maybe a low degree wedge. Has anything else changed besides work load such has her feet being in a damper/wetter area, deeper or harder ground either in her pen or where you are working her. Just going off what you said I would do coffin injections and shoeing, if that doesn't work I would then try pour in pads, then go to a wedge if needed. I would also do a yearly shoeing apt with X-rays to keep track of any changes and to make sure the angles are correct. Go ahead and ask all the questions you want! I want some advice so if you need to know more ask away! I have looked into Tildren but I do not believe she is a good candidate since she does not have holes in her navicular bone but has spurs. What I read about Tildren is that it works at filling holes (very simply put...lol). My vet did talk to me about Stem Cell but it was pretty expensive to do but it definitely is an option I have been considering. I talked to my vet about an MRI and she said it would be a waste of money (yeah I did not like that response either but when she told me the cost I took that option off the table because I just couldn't afford that at the time). If it was a tendon issue what exactly could be done for it in that area? How do you treat a tendon issue in the hoof? She has had time off so what else can be done? I was wanting to get x-rays taken again when I take her in because it has been a little over a year since our last x-rays.
Thank you for all the advice! For tendons I really like PRP injections. Another good supplement you might want to consider is Smart Tendon. It is for tendons but has Silca in it, Silca is what is in Osteon (plantinum's bone supplement ). IMO I am sure I will get flamed but before I put my horse on Equi-bone I would first make sure they are on a balanced diet containing all the vit/min they need in the correct ratios, since if you look at equi-bone, and talk to them that is essentially what it is. First and foremost I would put shoes on your horse with your vet (shoeing apt. ) and take x-rays to make sure that the horse is level and is not broke forward for back. Get a GOOD shoer (not saying that yours isn't ) that is willing to work with a knowledgeable vet, and possibly do injections (just to get the inflamation out ). Again, IMO, shoeing, balanced diet, and fitness are the 3 most important things when it comes to keeping your horse sound. Before doing Stem Cell, PRP, or Tildren make sure you are consulting with a vet that has done the treatments before and has good understanding of the type of horses each treatment works best on, most places offer financing, its usually the type of financing that has no interest as long as it is paid of before a certain date. I used Care Credit the first time I did tildren, my horse won enough in the first 3 months I was able to cover expenses and pay it off. Also what kind of hay are you feeding? I would take a strong look at your calcium:phosphorus ratio. Here is the program I have my horse on: Feed: LMF Show Time (3-4 lbs depending on work load ) Supplements: Smart Tendon, Acetyl-d-Glucosamine, Previcox (1/4 daily up to 1/2 pill when traveling & running ), FORCO, Lung aid, DMG & Ulser Shield (when traveling ) Other Care: Shod every 3-4 weeks in the summer, Soft Rides, PHT bell boots, Magic Cushion when hauling longs ways or if I have ran on hard ground. Of all my other care the most important is the shoeing, if you are on a tight budget that is the best place to spend money, next would be soft rides if you are going to be hauling a lot.
ETA: I have soft rides and PHT magnetic bell boots for her. I was leaving the bells on 24/7 but it has been raining nonstop for a few days and the pen is a muck hole so I kept them off.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-29 4:00 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 733
| I was going to order that Smart Tendon a few weeks ago when they were having a 50% off sale but reading up on silica it sounded like I would be better off just making sure she is receiving all her essential amino acids. My farrier comes to the vet to work on horses so on Thursday both will be there to talk options over with. They do well working with each other and bouncing ideas off one another. So should I have her x-rayed before or after having shoes put on?
ETA: I have soft rides and PHT magnetic bell boots for her. I was leaving the bells on 24/7 but it has been raining nonstop for a few days and the pen is a muck hole so I kept them off.
If you tell your vet you would like a shoeing apt she should know. But basically with my vet we x-rayed both lateral and frontal (not sure that is the right word, both views) I will attach pictures if I can. Then vet and farrier went over xrays, trimmed/shod accordingly, then xrayed to make sure they have it right. It could take a couple tries. These x-rays are not my horse found them on Google you will see how the horse is not level side to side and the 2nd one has correct angles. I also added a article if you don't want to read the whole thing scroll to the part about radiographs. http://equipodiatry.com/article_proper_physiological_horseshoeing.h...
Edited by Rope-N-Run 2014-04-29 5:22 PM
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | I will have to have my vet email me my xrays again since the computer I had them saved on crashed. Then I will post them. She was not balanced laterally in the first xrays we took back in August of 2012 so that is when she suggested this other farrier that is now my current farrier. I had another set taken in January 2013 but nothing since then. | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | What is the difference between Stem Cells, PRP, and IRAP? I'm sure I could google it myself but sometimes hearing it in laymens terms helps. :)
ETA: I found a good site that explains it all pretty well.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-29 6:43 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| Wondering if you had an update about your horse. I'm dealing with a parallel palmar angle now.  | |
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