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Re: [RC] Navicular Syndrome - Elana RiedelI had a very similar experience with my Vet. When my vet was out doing my mare's annual check up, I stated that I wanted to condition my mare for long distance riding and would she please give my mare a lameness exam. She tested my mare's feet with calipers and found some heal pain in the front feet. I then lounged my mare for several minutes in each gait and each direction. My vet stated that she had a slight head bob which is indicative of pain and navicular. Last week, I went to the vet for an indepth exam with X-rays and numbness injections. The entire exam took over 6 hours (and $1,700)! My mare was lounged over and over with numbing injections in different parts of her feet and legs to see how the lack of pain (feeling) affected her gaiting. I must say that although it was difficult to see the head bob from the pain (since it was so slight), it was very easy to see the free extended gaiting when there was no pain. After she isolated the problem areas (based on the numbness injections), she took 5-10 X-rays of each front foot. She has digital equipment, so I was able to see the bone structure as it developed on her computer. I have of course seen photos of horse bones in magazines, but it was so much more interesting to see the bones of MY mare's feet. The good news was that there was no internal bone damage yet (just some inflammation), so it should be easier to correct the problem. Since there is no internal bone damage, our working theory is that my mare is wearing down her heel faster then she grows it (which was not a problem doing short rides, but is a problem since I've been doing longer rides). This coupled with the fact that she is starting to get under run heels is resulting in her heal bulbs hitting the ground at the faster gaits. At this point, we've shortened her toe and put her into full round shoes. The front of the shoe is a standard metal natural balance shoe, but the back is rubber. Thus when she steps down, her heel area and heel bulbs are protected. It is like us having gel insoles in our shoes. The vet says that it should only take a few shoeings for her feet to be back to where we can use standard shoes again. I put her out in the pasture today, and it was wonderful to see her kicking up her heels and gaiting all over the place. It could have simply been the nice day, but I'm hoping that it is actually a good sign that the shoes are helping to relieve the pain. Elana [Original Message] From: Sharon Levasseur <sharon1359@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: 2/28/2006 1:34:18 PM Subject: Re: [RC] Navicular Syndrome What EXACTLY did he say the problem was? How did he define "Navicular Syndrome"? Did he say the navicular bone has begun to degenerate, or did he just say there is inflammation of the deep distal flexor tendon? I'm asking because I finally found the cause for Zephyr's chronic minor lameness over the last year. On our first visit the vet referred to it as early-onset navicular syndrome BUT when pressed at our second visit, he said really it was just inflammation of the deep distal flexor tendon, with only the very slightest noticeable change in the navicular bone itself. He said he was CERTAIN that Zephyr could return to a successful career in Endurance. His actual words were "I see no health reason this horse cannot do anything and everything you want him to do." Immediate treatment was focused ultrasound (aka Shockwave therapy). The vet also said to trim his toes even shorter (for better breakover) and put him in low wedge shoes in front to take the strain off that tendon. That was a few months ago... maybe in August if I had to guess? A second ultrasound treatment was found to be unnecessary. Zephyr has been back in training since maybe October, perfectly sound. He does still have a very minor shortness of stride on that side, that resulted from a sore muscle in the forearm of that same leg (probably compensatory from his earlier discomfort). With massage and stretching exercises he trots evenly. The vet said in a year or so we can try putting him back in flat shoes. I'm sure others here can give more specific information and advice, but that's my experience with "navicular". Hope I was of some help. BTW, Zephyr is a 10yo half-Arab... although I doubt that coincidence has any bearing on this. Good luck, -Sharon L. Quoting aggiekris@xxxxxxxxxxxx:My 9 year old half-arab mare was just diagnosed with navicular syndrome, and I was just wondering if anyone out there has dealt with this before, and has any advice. I love this mare, and was planning on moving up to 50s on her next month, and the vet seems optimistic that she can still be sound and do endurance, but I just don't know. 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