I lost a very good (my favorite) polo pony due to Navicular issue that was never figured out. We tried padded shoes and raised heels and after a more than a year of limited exercise and exrays and mri and everything the vet and farrier that i will not mention (not Gene Ovnicek or his vet) recommended killing the nerve with Navicular surgery clip. So we did that and she got infected and finally thought the wound was heeled up ok after nursing wound and infection for another year finaly closed up and the vet recommended we turn her out and let her heel. Well, she never stopped lamness and it seems infection never went away inside, she died in the pasture turned out in less than a year. I had big loss. I just write this so someone does not discount the importance of good evaluation and treatment. I dont believe my vet and farrier had the right treatment strategy. certainly was a failed surgergy. but the problem is no one takes responsibility. be careful who you choose to take care of your horses.
If bars are laid over as in my mare how would or how could they be straightened out? Doesnt the internal portion of bars squeeze the internal structures? Trying to stay barefoot.
As you trim the bars you start decrease the curvature and they will straighten some just with trimming, but you have to deal with the length of the heel at the same time. The heel growing in a forward direction is what causes the bend in the bars and if they bend enough they kind of collapse under the weight and lay over. If you get the heels back and trim the bars some, and start to share more load with the frog, the bars will regrow in a more upright formation. It takes time and you need to keep the heels in a good position. The bars are basically an extension of the wall. It can be done barefoot, but it may take several months. The healthier the frog gets and the closer to a heel first landing you can get, helps as well. There are some good tips on barefoot trimming at the ELPO website as well: www.lamenessprevention.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=6600&pk_association_webpage=13352
I've got a ex barrel racing mare that has on and off heel pain in the front right foot. The back half of her frog has become completely detached. The front half stays in tact. She shows no signs of thrush. the back half of her frog, under the portion that is detached, is tender to pressure just from pushing on it with your thumb. It is also spongy feeling and does not come into contact with the ground. It lies approximately 1/2 an inch up inside the foot from where it should be contacting the ground. Should she possibly be shod in this manner to stimulate the frog and try to get it to grow so that it does come into contact with the ground eventually? I will greatly appreciate your feedback! Thanks.
Stimulating the frog when it is atrophied or having some health issues is generally a good idea. How much active support (stimulation) or passive support you offer can vary from case to case. The fact that it is sore in the back half is unusual, and I wonder if the soreness is from the freshly uncovered, more sensitive frog material (due to exfoliating piece of frog), or if the sensitivity comes from pressure on the back of the frog? I would be inclined to start with something like Artimud packed in and around the frog commissures and central sulcus to see if you can improve the health and conditions surrounding the frog to see if that will eliminate the sensitivity. Once the sensitivity is gone, you can move to a frog support pad and impression material to start to stimulate and provide shared support to the whole foot. If you want to e-mail me pictures at edssinc@gmail.com I can take a close look at things and see if there are any further recommendations I can offer. ~Cody
Yes, those are the Aluminum Natural Balance Shoes. We probably would use more of the NB PLR (Performance Leverage Reducer) Shoe in this situation now days, but both will work well.
Some things to look at to improve your chances of getting a heel first landing (especially in a barefoot horse), would be the heel position, is there frog contact (not atrophied), and the point of breakover. The ability for the horse to get to a slight heel first landing has to do with a balance of tension between tendons and ligaments of the limb (DDFT, DDET, etc.) and the Inferior Check Ligament. If you have trimmed the heels to a good, supportive position (close to the dimple in the back of the frog - or about the widest part of the frog), and still can't get a heel first landing, then look to see if your breakover is in a good position relative to the tip of P3. Getting the breakover in a good position helps with the landing phase as much as anything. Sometimes in barefoot horses you need to leave a little extra wall in the toe-quarter region in order to place that pivot point (rolled toe) back far enough and not invade the sole with your rasp. Again, check out the helpful videos from the ELPO as well: www.lamenessprevention.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=6600&pk_association_webpage=13352
@@HoofCareToday The shoe is putting break-over pressure on the quarter walls (4:34) This will cause wall flaring reducing support for the heel. The result in more under running of the heel and greater bar distortion. (5:27) The under running of the heel is not corrected and most of the standing weight of the horse is at the center of articulation of the coffin joint. While the hurt doesn't show the PAIN still grows. This was 2015...does Gene still support this method to reverse Navicular pain?
amazing job, amazing knowledge, amazing that he cares so much about horses welfare in making sure each shoe is the correct size for the foot. the 4 dislikes on this video are probably the shite farriers out there.
Most amazing before and after I’ve ever seen, true horseman.
I lost a very good (my favorite) polo pony due to Navicular issue that was never figured out. We tried padded shoes and raised heels and after a more than a year of limited exercise and exrays and mri and everything the vet and farrier that i will not mention (not Gene Ovnicek or his vet) recommended killing the nerve with Navicular surgery clip. So we did that and she got infected and finally thought the wound was heeled up ok after nursing wound and infection for another year finaly closed up and the vet recommended we turn her out and let her heel. Well, she never stopped lamness and it seems infection never went away inside, she died in the pasture turned out in less than a year. I had big loss. I just write this so someone does not discount the importance of good evaluation and treatment. I dont believe my vet and farrier had the right treatment strategy. certainly was a failed surgergy. but the problem is no one takes responsibility. be careful who you choose to take care of your horses.
Very similar to that recommended by my vet. He also chose to used an aluminum shoe with a significant heel. Helpful but not 100%
If bars are laid over as in my mare how would or how could they be straightened out? Doesnt the internal portion of bars squeeze the internal structures? Trying to stay barefoot.
As you trim the bars you start decrease the curvature and they will straighten some just with trimming, but you have to deal with the length of the heel at the same time. The heel growing in a forward direction is what causes the bend in the bars and if they bend enough they kind of collapse under the weight and lay over. If you get the heels back and trim the bars some, and start to share more load with the frog, the bars will regrow in a more upright formation. It takes time and you need to keep the heels in a good position. The bars are basically an extension of the wall. It can be done barefoot, but it may take several months. The healthier the frog gets and the closer to a heel first landing you can get, helps as well. There are some good tips on barefoot trimming at the ELPO website as well: www.lamenessprevention.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=6600&pk_association_webpage=13352
I've got a ex barrel racing mare that has on and off heel pain in the front right foot. The back half of her frog has become completely detached. The front half stays in tact. She shows no signs of thrush. the back half of her frog, under the portion that is detached, is tender to pressure just from pushing on it with your thumb. It is also spongy feeling and does not come into contact with the ground. It lies approximately 1/2 an inch up inside the foot from where it should be contacting the ground.
Should she possibly be shod in this manner to stimulate the frog and try to get it to grow so that it does come into contact with the ground eventually?
I will greatly appreciate your feedback! Thanks.
Stimulating the frog when it is atrophied or having some health issues is generally a good idea. How much active support (stimulation) or passive support you offer can vary from case to case. The fact that it is sore in the back half is unusual, and I wonder if the soreness is from the freshly uncovered, more sensitive frog material (due to exfoliating piece of frog), or if the sensitivity comes from pressure on the back of the frog? I would be inclined to start with something like Artimud packed in and around the frog commissures and central sulcus to see if you can improve the health and conditions surrounding the frog to see if that will eliminate the sensitivity. Once the sensitivity is gone, you can move to a frog support pad and impression material to start to stimulate and provide shared support to the whole foot. If you want to e-mail me pictures at edssinc@gmail.com I can take a close look at things and see if there are any further recommendations I can offer. ~Cody
what is the pad called that you used?
That was a Natural Balance Frog Support Pad. It is available in a flat and wedged version and 2 different sizes. www.shopedss.com
What is the exact name of those shoes ? Is this an Aluminum Natural Balance shoe?
Yes, those are the Aluminum Natural Balance Shoes. We probably would use more of the NB PLR (Performance Leverage Reducer) Shoe in this situation now days, but both will work well.
We can't get heel first landing😬
Some things to look at to improve your chances of getting a heel first landing (especially in a barefoot horse), would be the heel position, is there frog contact (not atrophied), and the point of breakover. The ability for the horse to get to a slight heel first landing has to do with a balance of tension between tendons and ligaments of the limb (DDFT, DDET, etc.) and the Inferior Check Ligament. If you have trimmed the heels to a good, supportive position (close to the dimple in the back of the frog - or about the widest part of the frog), and still can't get a heel first landing, then look to see if your breakover is in a good position relative to the tip of P3. Getting the breakover in a good position helps with the landing phase as much as anything. Sometimes in barefoot horses you need to leave a little extra wall in the toe-quarter region in order to place that pivot point (rolled toe) back far enough and not invade the sole with your rasp. Again, check out the helpful videos from the ELPO as well: www.lamenessprevention.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=6600&pk_association_webpage=13352
What happens to break-over when the horse turns ???
The breakover of the shoe continues around the toe quarters, so leverage relief is provided both when the horse is going straight and turning.
@@HoofCareToday The shoe is putting break-over pressure on the quarter walls (4:34) This will cause wall flaring reducing support for the heel. The result in more under running of the heel and greater bar distortion. (5:27) The under running of the heel is not corrected and most of the standing weight of the horse is at the center of articulation of the coffin joint. While the hurt doesn't show the PAIN still grows. This was 2015...does Gene still support this method to reverse Navicular pain?
NIce!
amazing job, amazing knowledge, amazing that he cares so much about horses welfare in making sure each shoe is the correct size for the foot. the 4 dislikes on this video are probably the shite farriers out there.