Hey everyone, 

  It's been a really long time since I've been on here, years in fact. Anywho I just purchased a horse to begin running barrels again & she is navicular which we were aware of when we bought her. Currently she is on california trace & glc5500 max for daily supplements. I give her summit 2x a month currently with light-moderate riding, shod with bar shoes on the front, stalled at night with turn out daily. 

  What I am wondering is what worked best with your navicular horses for daily supplements?  Summit VS adequin?  Any experience with Osphos?  Any other tips on what worked to manage navicular for any of you?  

TIA

Well, first question, what symptoms does she show? You'll have to clarify more about "navicular".

I have a horse with heel pain. But his xrays are clean and always have been. I probably had him the best I ever had this year, with 3 degree pads on the front feet with his shoes, did steroid bursa injections, and then started him on Pentosan and kept him on it every 2 weeks. He is also on daily Equioxx during the competition months. He is 12 this year. He's turned out 24/7.

I tried Adequan last year, which helped, but the pentosan has been even better.

I tried ProStride last year, which didn't help any more than the cheap steroid injections, so I went back to that.

I also am selective of where I run him. He certainly does not get his legs run off and I don't run him if the ground isn't good.

I have another horse with "navicular". His xrays look horrible. However, he moves better and has less problems than horse mentioned above. He did very well in just plain shoes on his front feet and on daily Equioxx. I tried wedge pads last year when didn't seem to help anymore than the plain shoes. If needed, I'll do steroid injections but he just needed showed to need it. Next year, I am going to try him on pentosan since my other horse responded so well to it.

So knowing more exactly what symtoms or problems your horse has, will be helpful.

  Her previous owners had her xrayed in June. She is confirmed navicular in both fronts with the right being more severe than the left, heel sore on both, reluctant to put full weight on left front heel when standing tied, in her stall, ect. Vet did a lameness exam a week ago and we ended up injecting her coffins. According to xrays and the vets exam last week her angles are perfect right now with just the bar shoes. When I had the vet out she was just starting to show head bobbing while trotting. In general she is sensitive all the way around and is soft footed. I have only had her since the begining of November so we are still learning one another. The vet recommend the adequan instead of summit & looking into osphos. Summit is what she was on with her previous owners which is why I continued it. The first 2x's I gave her the summit I did see a big difference however the last 2 I didnt see much of a difference. Her last injections were in June so 6 months ago. We have another week before we see full effects of these injections. I am just trying to figure out what I can do to best maintain her, keep her as sound & comfortable as possible. 

Navicular is degenerative. I think you meant coffins were injected instead of cannons. I would go with osphos first. Adequan is not going to do a heck of a lot for navicular in my opinion. You might have to inject Bursas as well. 

How old is she?

Obviously, you are just getting started with her but I would stay far away from any barrels until you get her feeling better.

I would probably give the Osphos a try.

And if you've already tried Adequan and Summit, might as while try Pentosan. Just for the sake of trying something else (and it is cheaper than the others). Doesn't mean it will do any wonders but something else to try. At least, since my guy is doing so well on it.

I would also try to keep her on a regular fitness program too. The old saying to "keep moving".

And not a popular option but you could denerve the horse (depending on age). No, it's not fixing anything but when/if you get to the point where you've tried everything, it can bring some pain relief to the horse.

"It depends"

My horse does not have anything that shows on x-rays, but presents as "navicular". The #1 thing that helps her is correct shoeing, keeping her angles correct, toes back etc. She is not in wedges right now but was for awhile. I have given Osphos in the past and I believe it helped, but she hasn't seemed to need it for awhile. I inject her coffin joints once/year. Every horse is different but having a great farrier and great vet, and ones who will work together is the key!

You need to keep blood flow to the feet.  I would use Stride Lifeline and Surge.  The Plasma in the Lifeline will really help and Surge will increase blood flow.  I would use Movex for injectable.  It is pharmaceutical grade chondroiton and has research to back it.  Finally a good corrective shoer and a good performance vet. 

Stay on top of her farriery. Don't let her get long, don't let her angles get out of line.. even if you have to spend more on x rays when she gets shod. 

You can inject coffins and bursas if you have to.. daily equioxx maybe.. you can try different types of shoeing- PLR wedges, navicular shoes, wedges, pads, etc.. whatever gets her the most comfortable.  But at some point it'll catch up to her. 

Osphos is definitely something I would try.  Maybe even get her on the Equibone supplement.