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  Discussion on Natural Balance shoes ???? good idea for lame mare??? help!
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Posted on Friday, Jan 12, 2001 - 6:45 pm:

I have a 6 year old Paint mare that went lame shortly after we pulled her shoes prior to foaling last year. I have had her xrayed twice about 5 months apart and nothing has changed. The vet cant see any problem, but did a nerve block of the navicular area and the limp was 90% reduced. He thinks it could be the beginning of navicular disease, or trauma to the heal area that wouldnt show up in an xray. He has ruled out a bruise or abscess due to the amount of time she has been lame. She only has pain in the right front heel. She never took a lame step prior to pulling her shoes. For the last 9 months she has been in a bar shoe with a pad. My vet wants to put her in a Natural Balance shoe and I was wondering if anyone has used them or knows any pros or cons to them. I really feel she would benefit from a wedge pad, she looks like she trys to put her weight onto her toe. Thanks Lauri

Posted on Friday, Jan 12, 2001 - 8:39 pm:

I used natural balance for awhile on my Arab... they are very light and wear faster than some shoes, but I liked them for the break over. (Faster break over meant less pressure on his toe, less forging, etc.) My gelding had pain similar to what you described and although several of his symptoms pointed to "navicular" most vets would be sceptical before diagnosing an Arab with it. He went to the Vet school hospital nearby, and after bone scans, ultrasounds, etc... he was diagnosed with pedal bone osteitis... smiliar treatments, however he did get better (and navicular doesn't).
Was this her first baby? These naviclar-like problems are often caused by excess weight with added strain on the legs, which being preganant surely would be both!
Your horse may have a different problem, but wedge pads never worked for me as they actually increased the wear on my horses heels (sort of crushed them as they do wiggle and shift) so my farrier built great wedge shoes instead. My gelding also gets very "ouchy" when barefoot, (but not lame) and with his other problems, I just keep him shod now. However, he does grow a lot of toe, so I have to be very regular about reshoeing. If you are already in a bar shoe, and she seems happier, ask your vet about trying a wedged iron shoe instead of a wedge pad.
-Ohio Holly

Posted on Friday, Jan 12, 2001 - 10:18 pm:

My mare has "low heel pain" - yes, just undiagnosed ouchies despite x-rays, blocks, etc. Went to natural balance shoes and just love them. Even the vet that suggested we try them was surprised at how well she responded. It just takes awhile getting used to the look of such a short toe. Also, based on x-rays, we got precise placement instruction, and the left was different than the right by a measurable amount. Now, one year past the initial workup, we started using a steel shoe that is very similar (moves the breakover point back) and have been having great success with them (and they can be reset). Good luck!

Posted on Saturday, Jan 13, 2001 - 2:21 pm:

Thanks so much Holly and Lisa! Yes this was her first foal, she was only 5 when she foaled and only has the pain in one foot which makes it really hard for me to think navicular. What I would like to know is after she gets her Natural Balance shoes (today!!!) will I notice her comfort level improve immediately or does it take a while? I also would be curious to know your thoughts on whether or not I should breed her again without a definate diagnosis? I already have a stallion booked, but the owner is a friend and I am sure I can back out...She is a beautiful mare, nice conformation, bloodlines and disposition, and she isnt a big bodied mare with small feet...

Posted on Saturday, Jan 13, 2001 - 2:29 pm:

From what I was told, even with navicular, and even if it is in both feet, she may still only show lameness on one side as it hurts MORE than the other side. (kind of like being right handed.) And there are so many little areas down there that can be the problem and show in the same way... hard to diagnose without extensive tests, and even then it may still be up in the air! I noticed immediate improvement with shoes (on the flat, at the walk, in hand.) I wouldn't expect her to work yet though. Breeding isn't up my alley (as I have a gelding) but I would think it would be an added stress on her and if she were mine I would wait to see if there is improvement before deciding on something like that. (Just my opinion!) -Ohio Holly

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2001 - 11:51 am:

Is there a website for these shoes? Thanks.

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2001 - 9:50 pm:

Hi Jordana!

Natural Balance Shoes are made by EDSS Inc. (Equine Digital Support System Inc.)
of Penrose, Colorado. Their web address is Hopeforsoundness.com


Susan

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2001 - 8:05 am:

Hello Lauri,
I am in kind of late and just wanted to point out that solar bruises can last as long as 5 months or even longer if the underlying cause is not corrected. If the problem is a bruise in the heel area a wedge pad MAY be contrindicated: it will increase the amount of concussion at the heel. There are other factors at work here so I cannot say for sure whether you should be using a wedge pad or not.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2001 - 9:27 am:

Back to the Natural Balance question. I seem to recall seeing obvious improvement within a few days. I suppose I should have documented that, but oh well... My vet told me that if the shoes were going to help I should see results within a week. He photocopied a research paper about the shoes' effectiveness, but I haven't been able to locate it. If I find it, I'll give you the reference. As I recall from in the paper, some horses responded in less than a day.

Let us know what happens.

Lisa

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2001 - 11:14 am:

Thanks so much everyone. I had the natural balance shoes put on yesterday. There is an obvious difference compared to being barefoot, but I expected that. She was barefoot for about 5 days from when her bar shoe was pulled to do the x-rays. I wasnt able to be here when the farrier was, and I havent had a chance to talk to him yet. He didnt put a pad on with this natural balance shoe. I walked and jogged her in the barn and saw improvement, but she has had a pad on for almost a year now and I cant imagine that I will be able to ride her without a pad. Should I have him come back and put one on? Dr O, we decided to try the Natural Balance shoe first and if that doesnt help then we would try the wedge, but not the wedge pad, a wedge shoe. I definately wont be breeding her this year, I will wait and see what happens. She has been lame for almost a full year now and wore a bar shoe with a pad for about 9 months of that year. Quick question, we looked at a gelding this weekend with white feet (to buy) he seemed to be a nice horse, but his feet were TERRIBLE he had cracks on both forefeet that went all the way to the coronary band and a deep opening from an abscess and was lame on his right front. The owner swore you could burn the top of the cracks and his feet would grow out just fine if you put shoes on????? he also had a crack to the coronary band on the inside of his right hind. Does this sound like something that could be fixed with shoeing? we passed on him because of the feet, but may go back for a second look if you think this is fixable. Thanks Lauri

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2001 - 11:50 am:

Hello Lauri,
Without examing the horse I really can't prognose his problems but why don't you let him fix'em then you won't have two lame horses to worry about.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2001 - 5:28 pm:

Be sure your farrier is familiar with NB principles and shoe placement. Ideally, the first set should be placed with the aid of radiographs. If you can find a farrier who has been to a NB clinic, you'll be ahead. My foundered horse, sore on all four feet, walked off greatly improved after the last nail was driven on his first set. He has been sound in the shoes for three years. I can't stress enough the importance of proper placement with these shoes. Go to the website https://www.hopeforsoundness.com/ for more info. Julie

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 17, 2001 - 8:25 am:

Lauri,
Concerning your question about the pads, I really cannot make that decision from here. Discuss the pros and cons with your vet and farrier. However since the shoes are already on I would lean in favor of trying without the pads.
DrO
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