This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Hoof Care, Hoof Trimming, Shoeing Horses » Hoof Care Topics Not Covered Above »
  Discussion on Improve breakover on every horse..?
Author Message
Member:
Dres

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 12:54 am:

took my gelding to UCD today, this is the second visit in a year... both front hoofs lame ...
here is the report from today..

in a nut shell....

" X- rays of the front feet revealed a navicular bone avulsion fracture of the LEFT forelimb navicular bone ( avulsion= piece of bone pulled off the parent bone by a ligament or tendon attachment). the avulsion fracture of the right forelimb extensor process was more rounded than previously, indicating chronicity. There was evidence of mild - moderate degenerative change in the coffin joint. Finalized radiology report is pending. we will call if there are any other significant findings.
COFFIN JOINT INJECTIONS on both front..."

last year we discovered the right extensor processor fracture... this horse is now just 5 .. he was never lame a day in his life.. ( i foaled him out) he went into training at 3 was sound..gave him the winter off..( warmblood) ..spring time put him back into training,in 2 months lame on right front hoof.. (also a bad stall kicker, front feet)... took him to UCD and found out that he was sore on both front & found the extensor processor fracture... we put pads/w frog support and NBS on him.. and in 5 + months he was sound.. we gradually put him in reg. shoes.. spring time again this year.. i put him back into training.. ( dressage)..in 2 months, lame, more so on the left but sore on the right ... the above is the findings..

so now my question... i can see where they told me the first time thru that some horses are born with a fracture of the extensor processor.. and knowing now about the pull of the tendon / ligaments i can see how this can happen.. BUT now the left.?. ( vet said that he cannot positively say if the left was there last year or not..as the angels are somewhat different in the x-rays..).. ok .. could this be farrier error, sometime ago.. >??? and that being said.. shouldn't ALL horses be shod to improve break over??? so rolling or what ever the toes ALWAYS.....??

so confused and frustrated ...Ann




Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 8:44 am:

First, the extensor fracture is not likely to be effected by ease of breakover: the extensors work in the opposite direction of breakover. Next rolling the toes is not without consequences: it thins the walls at the toe so you have to give a little to get a little. If you are asking should all be done to keep breakover as easy as possible, the answer is yes, but overall this must be balanced against the other requirements of the foot. Some think that a shorter foot (compared with average lengths seen in regularly shod horses) with a slightly squared and rockered toe better approxiamtes the foot seen is wild horses. They look upon this as a indication that this is the strongest configuration, but not everyone is convinced of this.
DrO
Member:
Dres

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 10:29 am:

can my above post be due to genetics..? are WB's predisposed to navicular (like 1/4 horses once were thought).. and OCD like i hear folks say..??

with what you said about break over on the extensor fracture.. should that be shod different then the other hoof.?. geesh, now i am getting into real trouble i bet ..

is a navicular bone avulsion fracture due to weak bone structure...?? i am just so sad / frustrated at this finding.. and now paranoid about my other WB's ..specially the young ones that have the potential HE HAD...

Ann
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 8:22 am:

Deep breath Ann and let it out sloooooooow, deep breath, let it out sloooooow.....

There is no well established genetic component to your problems. Yes WB's seem predisposed to OCD but the reason is uncertain, for more see, Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of Joints » OCD and DOD in Horses. Always temper any new info on trimming and shoeing that traditional shoeing has served many millions of horses well for hundreds of years. Find a farrier who balances your horses feet well and if a little "rock and roll" is in his venacular, discuss it with him, to learn more see the articles in Care for Horses » Hoof Care.
DrO
Member:
Dres

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 10:23 am:

ok... i am breathing deep releasing sloooowly now...

so... now.... one ... more ... question.....<exhale>....have you seen these ''navicular bone avulsion fractures often? are they common, and can they go unnoticed in some horses..? ( the left one UCD can't be sure it was NOT there last year, by the angles taken)

<deepbreath> on a good note.. this AM I watched him trot out in his paddox completely sound.. just 3 days after injections and bar shoes on.. .. maybe i can keep him comfortable with this program for a few seasons...

as always THANK YOU for your knowledgeable responses...

Ann.. <exhale>
Member:
Dres

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 10:18 pm:

well my vet just called me.. she talked with the vets at UCD ... yes, these kind of fractures are seen don't want to say often.. but are seen .... not always in WB's.... it is usually caused by confirmation flaws... over worked on bad footing.. .. NOT a genetic thing..( but two different placed fractures..??)

they all agreed that this was not confirmation.. the vets agreed that this horse was put together very nicely.... it was not because of the high / low synDrOme... which most horses have... P's is not excessive ...
and we know it was not for being over worked or footing... so... Stuff (edited by DrO) HAPPENS .../ with that being said... Picasso has always been my 5% horse....
the radiologist confirmed that the fracture on the left front was new....? and that there were changes in the navicular bones... ( DUH.. its broke).....
so bottom line.. is that , i will ride him as long as i can , but that the prognoses is guarded to grave.... so i guess the Olympics is out of our future...

yes , it breaks my heart.. to have such a lovely looking horse and one that is / was so athletic/talented and able to WOW you... .. that being said.. he will make a great babysitter for nieces and nephews in the pasture, if his hoofs will let him..

Ann

Member:
Pbauer

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 10:43 pm:

Ann,
If that's, Picasso, pictured in your profile,THAT, would break my heart, too.
Don't give up, I'll keep both of you in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Tonya
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 7:54 am:

Good luck with it Ann.
DrO
Member:
Dres

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004 - 5:18 pm:

Dr. O.. 8 weeks out, my gelding has been sound! i am having him reset with natural balance shoes at 4 1/2 weeks , * noticed about that time he was starting to shorten his stride, not limp, after reset he was back to norm * i have been riding him basically at training level and am wanting to go back to the lateral work on him.. my trainer suggested that i call UCD to ask about that kind of work on this kind of fracture ( avulsion) as the horse will NOT land flat with lateral work.. i called and the vet confirmed that i maybe should wait another month for the fracture to 'knit' more..

that being said.. can an avulsion fracture actually heal..?? what kind of knitting occurs.. my understanding cus of the stress of the tendons / ligaments that it can't calcify , but knit? would you please explain this process to me..?

thanks as always Ann

Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 9:20 am:

If the pieces are not displaced badly yes they can heal, like any bone fracture heals. The quality of that healing depends on the distance and the amount of movement between the two pieces. If there is a lot of space and movement there may be no healing, if limited you get a fibrocartilaginous type of healing, with minimal problems you can get a bony union.
DrO
Member:
Dres

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 9:35 am:

THANKS Dr. O... the avulsion fracture on the left navicular is/was not displaced.. the x-ray only showed a fine line on the edge of the bone! this gives me hope, and ammunition to my argument to my husband as to WHY i am spending all this money on a gelding with supplements/shoeing/shoes and still taking lessons on him!!!

i will take this process slow.. and will keep you posted on his condition...

Ann

Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC