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Member
Posts: 15
| Got a mare who recently found out is slight navicular, we got her injected in the coffin joint and got her an Os Phos shot. She has pretty much been sound to rid everyday, but after a weekend long barrel race I've noticed she gets sore and starts pointing her right front out. I am wondering what everyone does to keep theirs comfortable with out having to bute, or medicate on the day before or of the races. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
 
Location: Texas | I'm gonna just follow this thread. I don't have much positive to say. My 18 yr old gelding has not responded to the osphos, & he is in wedges/pads, but still lame. I frankly, do not want to spend the $ on a bunch of expensive maintenance just so he can MAYBE run in the 5D. I would rather retire him completely. He has earned his place here, and doesn't owe me a thing. I don't have a big horse budget, and I am practical when it comes to considering his age and physical limitations. Its just time for him to retire probably. I do supplement with joint supplements, and pain management. Good Luck. I am interested to hear what others have to say. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | My gelding that passed away had really bad navicular. He was diagnosed with my vet through some Xrays, the vet told me that I would need to retire him immediately from running barrels. I was devastated, he was my main man and we were in the middle of barrel season, plus it was 2 weeks before the NBHA Supershow in Vegas, I had no back up horses at the time. He wanted to inject him or block him, told me to put wedge pads on him and either way he was just going to destroy that navicular bone and that there was not a whole lot that I could do.
Well, I started to share the news about having to retire him and some of my friends came to my rescue and gave me hope. I tried the wedge pads.. I could see how uncomfortable he was. So I yanked them off him 2 days after, and a friend gave me a number to natural barefoot farrier that specialized in Navicular horses. Called them out, they balanced him out and made him comfortable enough to where I was still able to run him at the Supershow, that was supposed to be his last race before retirement. I bought him some SOFT RIDES, best investment I have ever made. I LOVE my soft rides. I kept them on him that entire race.. he never got lame.
So I kept my natural barefoot farrier, kept him on a 6 week schedule, didn't put any shoes on him. I was still able to ride him. After a couple months, I was able to keep running him on barrels. 6 months down the road, we were able to move him up to a 7 week schedule.. he was SOUND. No issues. After about a year and a half, I was also to put front shoes back on him and put back on an 8 week schedule with no issues. I kept soft rides on hand, placed it on him before and after each race and sometimes till the day after just to provide more comfort in knowing he wouldn't be sore, those things are amazing and they took the soreness (if he was sore) right out of him.. but I was still able to run him. He never took a lame step. I also started him on an all around joint supplement called Necessity with Glucosamine and MSM. Made a HUGE difference, even the farrier spoke of how much growth she saw in his feet. He was kept sound for 2 1/2 more years before he passed away from severe colic. I am a believer that if you have a good farrier that keeps your horse balanced, that the heel pain can be maintained and eventually go away. Also if you take the time to care for the horse, and not look for a quick fix that it is always possible. I didn't like the sound of injections or wedge pads.. I don't see how they prolong the longevity of a horse's life.
Hope this helps!
Edited by DashNDustem 2016-08-07 9:31 PM
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SHOOT IT
Posts: 1170
Location: TEXAS | I totally agree about letting your horse go barefoot and finding a good farrier that can keep your horse naturally balanced. I tried pads and wedge shoes and nothing worked as good as pulling the shoes off and letting my horse go barefoot. | |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Going barefoot doesn't work for every horse. You have to find what works for yours.
I had mine denerved. Was the best money I ever spent. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| Mine is 15, severe navicular. He is in Natural Balance PLR's with pads and equithane. Is on 2nd round of Osphos (8 months in between injections) also gets coffin injections. I bought him knowing he was a problem horse (he was completely cripple when I first saw him) that needed alot of work to get straightened out, and he is steadily improving. Was running in the 5D when I got him, would not work hard and is now running bottom 3D.
I keep him in soft rides while traveling, do alot of hand walking while on the road to keep him loose, and I do not run him hard. He makes 1-2 runs a month right now, with hopes to up the work load on him this fall. He is not an easy case, but I love seeing him sound and happy now. | |
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Regular
Posts: 62
| DashNDustem - 2016-08-07 9:27 PM
My gelding that passed away had really bad navicular. He was diagnosed with my vet through some Xrays, the vet told me that I would need to retire him immediately from running barrels. I was devastated, he was my main man and we were in the middle of barrel season, plus it was 2 weeks before the NBHA Supershow in Vegas, I had no back up horses at the time. He wanted to inject him or block him, told me to put wedge pads on him and either way he was just going to destroy that navicular bone and that there was not a whole lot that I could do.
Well, I started to share the news about having to retire him and some of my friends came to my rescue and gave me hope. I tried the wedge pads.. I could see how uncomfortable he was. So I yanked them off him 2 days after, and a friend gave me a number to natural barefoot farrier that specialized in Navicular horses. Called them out, they balanced him out and made him comfortable enough to where I was still able to run him at the Supershow, that was supposed to be his last race before retirement. I bought him some SOFT RIDES, best investment I have ever made. I LOVE my soft rides. I kept them on him that entire race.. he never got lame.
So I kept my natural barefoot farrier, kept him on a 6 week schedule, didn't put any shoes on him. I was still able to ride him. After a couple months, I was able to keep running him on barrels. 6 months down the road, we were able to move him up to a 7 week schedule.. he was SOUND. No issues. After about a year and a half, I was also to put front shoes back on him and put back on an 8 week schedule with no issues. I kept soft rides on hand, placed it on him before and after each race and sometimes till the day after just to provide more comfort in knowing he wouldn't be sore, those things are amazing and they took the soreness (if he was sore) right out of him.. but I was still able to run him. He never took a lame step. I also started him on an all around joint supplement called Necessity with Glucosamine and MSM. Made a HUGE difference, even the farrier spoke of how much growth she saw in his feet. He was kept sound for 2 1/2 more years before he passed away from severe colic. I am a believer that if you have a good farrier that keeps your horse balanced, that the heel pain can be maintained and eventually go away. Also if you take the time to care for the horse, and not look for a quick fix that it is always possible. I didn't like the sound of injections or wedge pads.. I don't see how they prolong the longevity of a horse's life.
Hope this helps!
My horse was recently dx navicular. How much do you think the soft rides helped? He has pads on right now and I am riding him some to get him in shape. He feels better the more I ride him but granted I don't go out of a slow trot. I am going to use tight joints plus on him, keep him shod with pads, and I bought BOT wraps for him. I will get him soft rides too if that makes a huge difference. Not sure because yours is barefoot and he won't be. Thanks!! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | RachelBeth* - 2016-08-09 11:12 AM
DashNDustem - 2016-08-07 9:27 PM
My gelding that passed away had really bad navicular. He was diagnosed with my vet through some Xrays, the vet told me that I would need to retire him immediately from running barrels. I was devastated, he was my main man and we were in the middle of barrel season, plus it was 2 weeks before the NBHA Supershow in Vegas, I had no back up horses at the time. He wanted to inject him or block him, told me to put wedge pads on him and either way he was just going to destroy that navicular bone and that there was not a whole lot that I could do.
Well, I started to share the news about having to retire him and some of my friends came to my rescue and gave me hope. I tried the wedge pads.. I could see how uncomfortable he was. So I yanked them off him 2 days after, and a friend gave me a number to natural barefoot farrier that specialized in Navicular horses. Called them out, they balanced him out and made him comfortable enough to where I was still able to run him at the Supershow, that was supposed to be his last race before retirement. I bought him some SOFT RIDES, best investment I have ever made. I LOVE my soft rides. I kept them on him that entire race.. he never got lame.
So I kept my natural barefoot farrier, kept him on a 6 week schedule, didn't put any shoes on him. I was still able to ride him. After a couple months, I was able to keep running him on barrels. 6 months down the road, we were able to move him up to a 7 week schedule.. he was SOUND. No issues. After about a year and a half, I was also to put front shoes back on him and put back on an 8 week schedule with no issues. I kept soft rides on hand, placed it on him before and after each race and sometimes till the day after just to provide more comfort in knowing he wouldn't be sore, those things are amazing and they took the soreness (if he was sore) right out of him.. but I was still able to run him. He never took a lame step. I also started him on an all around joint supplement called Necessity with Glucosamine and MSM. Made a HUGE difference, even the farrier spoke of how much growth she saw in his feet. He was kept sound for 2 1/2 more years before he passed away from severe colic. I am a believer that if you have a good farrier that keeps your horse balanced, that the heel pain can be maintained and eventually go away. Also if you take the time to care for the horse, and not look for a quick fix that it is always possible. I didn't like the sound of injections or wedge pads.. I don't see how they prolong the longevity of a horse's life.
Hope this helps!
My horse was recently dx navicular. How much do you think the soft rides helped? He has pads on right now and I am riding him some to get him in shape. He feels better the more I ride him but granted I don't go out of a slow trot. I am going to use tight joints plus on him, keep him shod with pads, and I bought BOT wraps for him. I will get him soft rides too if that makes a huge difference. Not sure because yours is barefoot and he won't be. Thanks!!
I think they helped a lot. They were worth every penny, I loved how they worked and so did my horse, so much so that he would literally stare me down after his run and lightly shift his feet if I didn't put them on right away.. as if saying, Um.. Excuse me mom, you forgot something! lol It's like Dr. Scholls for horses, and if he was sore.. I'd put them on for a day, take them off the next and he'd be fine.
If your horse does have pads, I'm not sure if they would work. Because the gel inserts are designed to support the frog area, and create impact and blood flow so if the whole of the horse's foot is covered on the bottom.. I don't know if that would work. You might have to contact them to see. Also I do believe they have "navicular" designed inserts as well.. but I just used the regular one for mine. Lastly, exercise is good for a navicular horse. You want to keep them moving, which is why your horses feels better when he gets exercised more. Keep those tendons and ligaments and flexing, even turning them out or hand walking them for 20 minutes (if you don't have time to ride) will help them out. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 555
Location: Texas | I had to retire my navicular horse over 6 yrs ago. I kept wedges on him for years to keep him comfortable. I had a new farrier start a year ago and he has been a blessing to me and my horses. My son started riding him a year ago when we changed him to egg bar shoes. Within a couple of shoeings he was like a new horse. He didn't short step anymore as he did with wedges. You need to support the whole foot with a higher degree in the back to lift it up. Mine couldn't go barefoot at all. My son is now running him at youth rodeos at the age of 20. So as others had mentioned a good farrier that knows navicular and can shoe them properly. Mine was underslung when I bought him but my farrier at the time kept taking off to much heel. My horse grows toe and no heel.. | |
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Member
Posts: 8
| TLC Animal Nutrition Equi-bone. Call them. | |
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Member
Posts: 15
| my mare has soft rides, I keep them on the entire show. I was thinking about padded shoes. I just don't know what else there is to keep her comfortable. She is already on a joint supplement. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | worktorodeo - 2016-08-09 11:36 AM
TLC Animal Nutrition Equi-bone. Call them.
Read about this stuff too! Never tried it, but always kept it in my "potentially go to" box in case I needed another option! | |
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Member
Posts: 15
| wow that stuff is expensive
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 No Name Nancy
Posts: 2715
Location: never in the right place | worktorodeo - 2016-08-08 2:36 PM TLC Animal Nutrition Equi-bone. Call them.
yes to this. my horse came up lame, xrays showed nothing wrong. vet said soft tissue injury, so just rest. 3 months later not sound, she suggested a MRI, which I had done. It showed a hole the size of a pencil eraser in his bone. still does not show up on xrays. I immediately put him on Equibone and he got sounder but not completely (just yet), he was on it for 5 months, took him to get his foot injected so he would be more comfy and he never took a lame step at the vets, trotting of ashpalt, they had me ride him and he was good. did xray for the heck of it (i guess) and still nothing showed. they told me to take him home and use him. I was riding another horse at the time so I let him sit. He has been riding sound for 2 yrs now and I just started back to running him, every once in a while he gets a little sore but works out of it. I just bought Equibone again this week ( recommended by Paul Humphrey at his clinic) and will continue to use it. you have to give it at least 5 months and follow the directions. The Calcium Phosphorus ratio in you feed has to be within a certain amount ( I was told to only feed beet pulp, he stopped wanting to eat it after 5 months) so I discontinued the Equibone. According to Paul he uses it with his Omelene 500 grain thus the reason for me starting it again. sorry this is long. | |
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No Name Nancy
Posts: 2715
Location: never in the right place | walshbm2 - 2016-08-08 3:20 PM wow that stuff is expensive
yes it is expensive but it works, once you get past the loading time frame of 5 months it will last longer | |
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Regular
Posts: 62
| AWESOME!! Thank you so much! I will continue riding him, he is out on pasture and running around herding the other horses HAHA. He is bored, he needs to do something. Hopefully as the season winds down I will get more time on him. I will be happy with a 5D horse I can run a couple times a month. He deserves that.  | |
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Member
Posts: 7
| Osphos. Can actually reverse navicular. It rebuilds bone | |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| Nerving.
We spent $$$$$ on almost all of the options listed above and none of them worked, (or would work for long). The best thing we did for the horse was to nerve him.
We never had a problem after that.
Obviously you will have to find something that works for you... but in my case, this was the solution. | |
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Member
Posts: 15
| How much was nerving? and have you had any issues since then? | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 382
| I'll check when I get home but my brothers horse was diagnosed 2-3 months ago. The vet gave us some pill to put him on for 30 days and Osoxaprine (sp??) 2x a day for 30 days and then after 30 he just got it once a day. A little background- He has had it for a long time but we never thought it was able to be reversed so he became a pasture pet. He got really sore so we had the vet out and prescribed the meds. the vet said that if we would have gotten it sooner it very well could have been reversed Sorry if it's confusing but hope it helps Good Luck!!
ETA- The horse is moving as sound as we have seen him in a long time and we are able to do low key goat tying on him now
Edited by barrelracer63046304 2016-08-09 10:37 AM
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