*New* The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*
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Locked on 03/21/2005 7:32:50 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Link to Thread Five. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1367619/posts |
Posted on 01/31/2005 8:31:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
*New* The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
I was just going to post a link:'(
So, that's where the smoke comes from. No EPA in Mexico.
Yes, I just read that. So sad, he was one of the good guys and a favorite of mine. Prayers for his family.
"Navicular Syndrome" covers just about any navicular problem. If you ever get a chance to buy the book Adam's Lameness in Horses by Ted Stashak, it's the definitive resource on lameness. I bought mine used from Amazon.
There are many types of navicular problems but all are bad. Can't fix them, just manage them. (and I'm generalizing here)
She didn't do any hard pounding work that I'm aware of but who knows. I'm not sure if it's a factor in navicular, though.
Bay sounds like he is doing just fine. His pictures sure don't look like he's lame. :)
I think neurectomies are controversial. Some people think they render the horse unrideable and some people think they save a horses life, that is going to be put down on account of the lameness. I myself have seen a horse that was nerved on both front feet, a warmblood that a girl was taking lessons on, and she was jumping her. She bought this mare for $12,000 and she went lame right after her purchase. As a last resort after trying lots of different therapies, they nerved her. Last time I saw her she was still jumping. No, I would never let my daughter jump a nerved horse but I'm still keeping it open as an option, since Winnie won't be anymore than a walk/trot/canter trail horse. It will be a last resort.
MissTargets, I'm sure you know this but for everyone else's information, neurectomies aren't permanent, the nerves do grow back and when they do, they branch out and it's nearly impossible to nerve them a second time. With any luck, the first nerving will last a year or 2, sometimes longer.
Well, I think overstress is... that's what I think makes horses with too-small a foot for their weight susceptible. Bay raced in 100 mile endurance races, and has carried big riders most of his life since. I think that explains his Navicular if anything does...... I just wondered if she had done a sport that was harder than the average work, like a lot of running or barrels or jumping or something.... to have developed trouble so young.
Bay is doing fine so far. Pain is hard to read in horses, but I feel pretty tuned in to him, and I don't think he needs the injections yet. He feels pretty good. Is Isoxuprine among things you are going to try? That's what Bay is on, and it's more affordable than the shots for as long as it continues to do the job.
I think it depends on the horse. Some can move without feeling their feet, and some can't function as well.
I honestly don't think she did any hard work but I don't have any way to be sure of that. She has nice feet, not too small and she's a good, slender weight. I did have another horse years ago that was navicular, both front feet and he was dead lame, nothing helped him. I had him put down. I didn't even want to try nerving him.
I do think Isoxuprine would be in the vet's bag of tricks. It's just trial and error right now. I'm gonna make that mare right, one way or the other. My daughter is very disappointed and it breaks my heart.
"I think it depends on the horse. Some can move without feeling their feet, and some can't function as well."
I hope I don't have to find out how Winnie would respond to a neurectomy. I'm going to try everything under the sun before I take that step.
I only know one test case... but it's worked for him so far. He was never head-bobbing lame though, just 'off' no one could tell but me that he wasn't floating like he used to. He's only at step one.
Offering as grist for the mill to see if you agree, the advice my vet gave to prolonging his soundness was to avoid lots of circling or lunging, particularly too much trotting, and provide lots of turnout. Much as I think it's good for Bay to sleep inside at night so he'll lay down, the vet assured me he was actually better off out and walking. I still like to offer him his stall, but he can come and go, even when the others are closed in.
I thought the relief lasted longer than a couple years, and that the nerve regenerating was not assured, only something that happened from time to time.
I won't nerve Bay because of the expense and his age. It's more of a luxury than I can afford right now for the likelihood of having to retire him afterward. If I win the lottery that changes everything.
I'd nerve Winnie as step three when the shots no longer work, because she's so young. I'd nerve Bay if he was nine. I wouldn't get another horse like him for the price of the surgery.
Winnie is head bobbing lame at the trot. At the walk you really can't tell there is a problem.
I would probably agree with your vet, I don't think it would be good for them to stand around in a stall. I don't do alot of lunging but it's good to know what your vet said, I will continue to keep lunging at a minimum, if at all.
I've heard that nerving is variable, at best. The girl I knew that nerved her horse was still riding him last time I saw them and her nerving was over 2 years old.
I wouldn't nerve Bay, either. You're right, at 9 years old I need to try whatever I can to make Winnie right. She's getting egg bars tomorrow, maybe that's all she'll need to start with. I doubt it, but who knows.
Just crush it up really fine and put a circle around the base of the Hosta and outwards until nothing can get on the leaves etc without going over eggshell. Ash from a fire works the same way.
I think after nerving you just have to turn them out to find their feet and see. If they can run and play normally, I think they'd be safe to ride. If they stumble too much then not. That's a big gamble. What are you expecting to pay for the surgery? I don't remember if it was $1000 or $2000 when it was discussed with me.
I was thinking it was $1000. I've probably already spent over $500 in blocks and x-rays. I had the vet go ahead and x-ray her other front foot today, just to see if anything was going on over there since navicular tends to be unilateral more often than not. He said he'd call me if he saw anything interesting on the x-rays. He didn't call, thank the Lord. Also, since it usually runs in pairs, when you block the foot that is lame, the horse will usually start limping on the other one. The horse is just noticably lame on the one that is the most painful. Winnie did not ever limp on the left.
Right... Bay didn't limp until we blocked one foot.
Or... rather... he was limping equally on both until one felt better. :~\
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