I know there are a couple older Osphos threads (that I read through) but I thought I could start a new discussion and/or compare to my individual horse.

We bought Dexter in the fall of 2016. My mom rode him a couple times here and there and she thought some days he moved a little "off" but really nothing to be super concerned about. Her farrier suggested that if he would ever ben ridden on a regular basis, that he should probably have shoes on. I started riding him regularly last year (2018) and I kept regular shoes on his front feet all year. I can't say that I really noticed anything and he seemed to move fine. Had a lameness check in the middle of the summer 2018 and vet said he was very mildly sore on his front feet but not enough that we opted to do anything at the time. His hocks were fusing (as I suspected and were the main reason for visit) so we injected those. This year he had been riding fine for me again and took him for a lameness exam (knew he would need those hocks done again before we started barrels again) but this time he flexed a lot more sore on his front feet. Decided to do x-rays of left front foot only (that was worse than the other) and he has mild changes to the navicular bone. I was surprised how much more sore he moved on the flexions this year, as he had been feeling fine for me. Since then, maybe I feel like he's a bit "short" in front? But again, not obviously lame. Just that "feeling" that maybe he could be moving better.

He is 13 years old this year. I would bet he never had consistent farrier care in his younger years, which of course contributed to his changes today. (Bought him from a rough'n'tough cowboy....)

Vet recommended to do a low wedge which I took him to my farrier a few days later to have a 2 degree wedge put on with his shoe. He really does not need a wedge based on his angled in the x-rays, so it's a double edged sword, but it will help relieve some of the heel pain for him.

Vet suggested I could consider Osphos for him. For right now, I opted to do the wedge pads and start him on Equioxx and see how he does with that. I'm not opposed to trying Osphos but my pocketbook at that last visit couldn't handle it (since my other horse got ProStride injections in both front feet that day).

Of course, Osphos isn't without its risks but I'm just curious on things you've seen with your horse with changes to the navicular bone and/or how your horse responded. Of course, I trust my vet and she is awesome, but sometimes it's nice to hear what others have gone through with their horse. He's been a real sweetheart and tries so hard to please you, despite the rough background I know he has had. I've just really enjoyed getting to ride him and play around on him, so of course I want to do the best I can for him. I think he will be a great little step-up horse for my kiddos someday.

I tried it with no noticable difference.

I've used it on 2 horses. 1 was a young horse who already had bad x-rays - it did not help her. Neither did any shoeing, joint injections, etc. She wouldn't stay sound for any riding. The other is my mare who presents like she has navicular problems (sore in both fronts, gets short strided, heel sore) but her x-rays don't look bad. It seemed to help her not move as short in front, and I think it helped her hocks feel better, too. She's also shod with pads (no wedge, we just keep the toe back) and dental impression

We did Osphos and 2 degree wedge on a rodeo horse.  We don't know which made a difference, but it made a big difference in how he felt and performed. 

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I'm not entirely sure I like the wedge on him (he's pulled each front shoe off on different occasions already in the short time he's had them on, and I don't think he ever lost a shoe all last year) but I'm hanging in there and giving it a try for now.

I had a big horse with small feet. During the prepurchase, there was small changes. But he moved sound.  We went ahead and gave him Osphos. Other than he acting really weird the next few days. (Stuck out and hit my forearm! Totally not his character!) I couldn't tell a difference.

Osphos can take up to 60 days for you to notice a difference.  It's hard to judge if something works or not when you dont get immediate results. I think the most important component with any horse that is 'navicular' is the trimming/shoeing.  If you don't get that right, it does not matter what you do.  

to the OP- where did the lameness block to?

Hi! on my 3rd round of Osphos with my severe navicular guy and it has worked wonders for him. I agree with above though, it does take time to see noticeable improvements. My guys 1st round was in June 2016 and I didnt see him start turning around until Sept/Oct of that year.

Also his shoeing has probably been THE MOST important thing that has helped him. If you are not seeing improvement with the wedges you might try PLR's with a wedge pad and equithane. Really worked on him, we have now graduted down into a regular shoe! But it has been a 4 year process.

Good Luck!

I have never tried osphos but I had a gelding that was severe navicular, the vet told me I should have retired him yesterday when we were reviewing the xrays. To put the story short, I tried the wedges and they did not work for him, he was super uncomfortable.  I found a barefoot farrier that specialized in Navicular. First trim she was able to get him comfortable enough to move out, kept him on a strict 6 week schedule. In 6 months we had him completely sound, he was still running barrels 2 1/2 years later until he passed. When he was sore I put soft rides on him (the normal turqoise). I walked him really good at the beginning when riding, like a good 10-15 minutes to let him stretch and warm up. Riding them consistently is important for keeping them more limber, I would ride him about 3-4 times a week.  I kept him on a good anti-inflammatory and joint supplement. I guess the way I chose required more effort and work to keep him sound, but I felt it better than getting him injected, wedge pads, nerving ect. Your horse may be different but this is what worked best for my guy. 

Thanks! I was not aware of the 60 days, but truthfully have not yet asked my vet those very detailed questions.

He was sore on both front feet but worse on the left so we blocked the left. I don't know the technical term but he was sound on the left front after the very first lowest block on the heel, and then as expected was worse on the right front (that was not blocked.)

Yep that makes sense to me. That whole scenario. that block is the palmar digital nerve block. 

I own two horses who had Osphos done last year for different reasons. Chance had it because of bone spurs on the navicular bone in one front foot. He's had foot issues for years and we typically run him on some Equioxx and shoe him with pour-in pads plus keep him off hard ground and haul in Soft Rides. He was laid off from any circles or sharp turns for 60 days after the Osphos, and then got 2 weeks of actual conditioning before I entered him. Eased into first and he won 3rd at a super tough jackpot, clocking right with a horse who won a round at the URA Finals in that same arena 3 days later. We haven't re-x-rayed him but he's seemed to feel a lot better after the Osphos and time off.

My little Fred horse also got Osphos a month later since we couldn't find anything real specific causing him to be off. We had injected coffin joints in mid-July and he never really was quite right so we did Osphos in early September and gave him time off to recover as well. It took me longer to get him legged back up so he didn't run again until Jan. 6 and he was right there in the hunt for 2D money (exactly where he usually ran). I made one more run on him and then handed him off to a youth rodeo girl since I'm pregnant. She's got him super fit and he is feeling great. I think the Osphos helped him though we don't know exactly where or how since x-rays showed us no serious problems.

No improvement with one of my mares......

unless he reacts to hoof testers across the frog and/or heel the only thing I would address is medial lateral balance. I can’t see what foot that it but it looks like he’s low on the outside, boney column sways to the outside (if it’s LF) which would cause soreness when he lands. Looks like he has decent palmar angle without a pad ? (Xray is without pad ?). Coffin joint injection and address medial/lateral balance would be first before Osphos. 

Yes, the x-rays are without the pads. And yes, he does have good palmar angles with the pads ... which I why I mention he really shouldn't be wedged because of that, but the heel pain also needs to be addressed so it's kind of a "between a rock and a hard place". But that's why farrier only went with the 2 degree pad and not higher than that.

No, he didn't react to hoof testers.

His left foot isn't too bad, but his right front foot is kind of crooked (I did not provide pictures of that one, and I did not xray that one). He does kind of have weird round feet.

I am leaning toward trying regular injections for him before the Osphos. Guess you could say I'm kinda nervous about some of the potential side effects. Not sure I want to spring the money on ProStride injections. I tried them for my other horse and I *think* they are helping a bit but I don't know if they are helping enough to justify the price.

 If he’s not reactive to hoof testers he doesn’t have heel pain . I see some navicular changes but that doesn’t mean he has heel pain. Unload the DDF (by wedging) and you’ll load the Suspensory (not what you want), it’s mechanics.

The foot in the picture is out of balance (medial/lateral)and has been for quite awhile. He lands inside toe, outside heel. The balance is what’s making him sore, most likely. If he needed anything it would’ve been a half wedge pad outside so he lands flat. 

You’re treating heel sorenes when it’s a balance problem. 

We had zero success with it