It could just be a bruised heel since you said the ground has been a bit harder lately.
My friends mare had a similar issue though, she was off in the front and it would seem to change which foot she was lame on depending which direction she was going, we also suspected navicular. However it turned out that she BROKE her navicular bone in half and the reason it kept switching which foot she was lame in was because her opposite (not broken) hoof would become so sore from over compensating for the broken hoof.
I would give you horse some time off and if there is no improvement in about a month I would suggest you consider getting some x-rays done.
and I do realise that you said you don't want to give her time off due to a stifle issue but not giving your horse time to heal whatever is going on in her front end is not going to help matters at all.
yea thats what im thinking....the vet did not recommend giving her time off (see below post) but if she has actual heel bruising and its not a joint issue, time off would help that heal. Im hoping the farrier can investigate the heel for me and see what he thinks!
the vet said to keep her in moderate work to see if we can make it worse or better and also to tell if the adaquan is working on the issue. My vet did not recommend time off. When I say I ride 5 days a week, thats a 10 minute walk, 10-15 trot, and some days canter. Lately there has been no jumping b/c Im worried about the issue. Thats the stifle plan. W/o the work, her ligs/tendons/muscles around her stifle loosen up and we have big time lameness issues. It not gotten worse...if anything, it has gotten better but she is not completely sound, which is what I want her to be. According to her, even with navicular, they usually dont recommend time off unless its major. I mean, she was pretty sure it was a joint issue......I just am not 100% certain, ya know? I just have a "feeling". I def. dont want to keep her in work if it is making her worse!! For 10 days, she had very light or no work before the vet came b/c I was worried and I plan on giving her off until after the farrier comes on Monday
( ... )
What is her stifle issue? Does it lock? If yes then I understand they need work. If no, why can't you give her time off? Meaning paddock rest rather than stall where she'd be standing still all the time.
I'd think that she maybe experienced a rapid change in her heel length and ended up brusing her heels post trim. That's at least probably the best of problematic situations.
A mare I was working presented with a similar issue and she has significant changes on the heel of her left navic bone. She also wasn't getting shod properly, so the heel was...well, we weren't sure where it was. Now that she's growing some heel and has an egg bar, she's better, but still around a 2 on the lameness scale.
Just wondering, but why did your vet say to keep riding a navic horse? Curious in regards to the horse I mentioned above.
okay...im going to going to talk to the farrier and talk about the heel pain and ask him about the length. Its a new guy....I was not happy with the previous "new" farrier I tried last time...unrelated to her feet at the time;just didnt like the attitude :)
Well she didnt go much into it as my mare didnt block out but she said that even with navic, they can still be worked as much as they are comfortable with and that keeping them moving was good...unless they were really lame on it.
When the first block didn't ease all the pain, you didn't block out the pastern? Is it possible that this is a combination of things - like there is a bruise on the heel and that caused her to walk funny, irritating some ringbone that had never presented itself? My mare started having ringbone lameness around age 8 - and it came on very suddenly because of something else that changed her movement. Adequan would be helping the ringbone and the bruise could still be healing?
For him, my vet suggested a shoe with longer, wider bars in the back to cover his heel more because he was getting some bruising. That has fixed it, but if it starts to become a problem again I will remember your comment and take him in for an MRI.
Comments 16
My friends mare had a similar issue though, she was off in the front and it would seem to change which foot she was lame on depending which direction she was going, we also suspected navicular. However it turned out that she BROKE her navicular bone in half and the reason it kept switching which foot she was lame in was because her opposite (not broken) hoof would become so sore from over compensating for the broken hoof.
I would give you horse some time off and if there is no improvement in about a month I would suggest you consider getting some x-rays done.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
If no, why can't you give her time off? Meaning paddock rest rather than stall where she'd be standing still all the time.
Reply
A mare I was working presented with a similar issue and she has significant changes on the heel of her left navic bone. She also wasn't getting shod properly, so the heel was...well, we weren't sure where it was. Now that she's growing some heel and has an egg bar, she's better, but still around a 2 on the lameness scale.
Just wondering, but why did your vet say to keep riding a navic horse? Curious in regards to the horse I mentioned above.
Reply
Well she didnt go much into it as my mare didnt block out but she said that even with navic, they can still be worked as much as they are comfortable with and that keeping them moving was good...unless they were really lame on it.
thanks for the heel suggestion!!
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
My horse also has intermittent heel soreness.
For him, my vet suggested a shoe with longer, wider bars in the back to cover his heel more because he was getting some bruising. That has fixed it, but if it starts to become a problem again I will remember your comment and take him in for an MRI.
Reply
Leave a comment