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  Discussion on Shoeing/trimming to help mare with ringbone
Author Message
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2005 - 4:50 pm:

Hi
My 13 year old mare has been X rayed due to preference for left lead at canter even on circle right on lunge. The vet found changes in her off fore on the front of PII that he said he didn't think was affecting the coffin joint as yet but could progress to this in the future. He recommended 2 or 3 sets of egg bar shoes then returning to normal shoes. I am not sure what these egg bar shoes will do - I know that these are used for navicular but the vet and farrier both saw the X rays and didn't suspect navicular. Could you explain how these shoes will help? I am a bit worried that they may lead to other changes in her leg/muscles/tendons and ligaments etc.I believe a strong contributory factor to ringbone is concussion so was wondering whether transitioning her to barefoot would be beneficial? She has a flat sole and on the X rays the coffin bone seemed quite close flat to the sole although the vet says that it hasn't rotated or DrOpped - it's just her foot conformation. My farrier is obviously biased in favour of shoeing as it is in his interest!
Thanks for any info!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2005 - 6:17 pm:

Hmmmm...Jo I don't think you are asking the right question first, "is the lead problem related to pain in the foot?" Without other evidence of lameness I am not sure it is. Before you do lots of changes you might try this: block the foot high on the pastern and see if the lead problem disappears. If the problem is sensitivity of the sole a eggbar might provide decreased pressure on the sole by supporting the heel.
DrO
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2005 - 6:37 pm:

Sorry Dr O ( and thanks for speedy reply)- I forgot to mention the important bit! Yes she did seem ok when her off fore was blocked at top of hoof/mid pastern (but then when this was done she then seemed less sound on near fore!)I know this smacks of navicular yet there are no visible changes on x ray and she has big cobby plate hooves not at all boxy. Why is it important to support her heel assuming it is the ringbone that is the problem? Or maybe the vet is guarding against possible navicular? Her soles although flat aren't particularly sensitive except on stones - I used to ride unshod on tarmac ok. Wouldn't more of her heel be in contact if she was barefoot rather than returning to normal shoes after a few sets of egg bars as suggested?
Thanks again for solving all my confusions!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 8:17 am:

I do not recommend eggbars for ringbone Jo so you will have to ask the veterinarian for an explanation. I am not sure I understand your barefoot question are you asking, "does being barefoot provide more heel contact with the ground than if shod?"
DrO
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2005 - 5:30 pm:

Why do you not recommend the egg bars - do you think they could be detrimental or just not helpful? The vet and farrier said when I asked that it was to bring the weight bearing centre further back to take the pressure off the front (???) and promote heel growth. To be honest I'm really confused but the alternative seemed to be wedges but I think these could cause more problems than they solve. I just guessed that if the idea was to bring the weight bearing surface back then a bare foot would do the same job. I would really value your input on what I can do to promote her working life and prevent it progressing to involving the joint. I'm thinking concussion is a contributory factor which shoes surely exacerbate?
Thanks again
Jo (and GladRags!)
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2005 - 6:20 pm:

Jo, have you investigated "Old Mac" boots for treatment of ringbone? You might want to ask your farrier about them, or call the company and ask why they recommend them. I know that the rubber soles will help reduce concussion, but I don't know if there are other reasons, as well, for using them for ringbone. I know that inserts for the boots are now available, and that there are different inserts to treat different hoof problems.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 8:35 am:

Just not helpful Jo. I don't think there is anything that is known to be better than a rockered and rolled toe and correct foot balance, but there sounds like there are other issues your vet wishes to address with the egg bars. Otherwise if your horse has been barefoot for years I do not know why he cannot remain so. If not I would not take him barefoot at this time without professional advice.
DrO
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 4:07 pm:

Hi again - after discussion with my vet and farrier we are trying my mare barefoot to see if it helps prevent her stumbling and tripping and to reduce concussion. I will be using Boa boots (thanks for the Old Mac tip). I'll let you know how we get on!
Member:
Cara2

Posted on Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 10:04 am:

Hi Jo,

I don't know if this is of any use to you but my mare was diagnosed with advanced arthritis of the knee last summer. She was stumbling alot and slightly lame for at almost every stride. There are complicating factors which meant I couldn't just put her on bute straight away, but I decided to try her on Bute-X from Global Herbs (they have a website, and the owner of the company is a UK vet). Within 1 week she was completely sound and her stumbling was reduced by 99% to the extent that I felt safe enough to not only ride but to let her have a canter up the hay field. I stopped using it for a while and her arthritis worsened through the winter (stumbling again) but this time we found an antiinflammatory she could have. Of course its expensive though, and the potential side effects... so I started her back on the Bute-X and voila, she is almost stumble-free again and I have reduced the antiinflams. As far as I am concerned this product is fantastic and really "does what it says on the tin". The difference in my horse's going is the proof and it works fantastically quickly. To watch her playing in the field with her companions and not being sore or unable to keep up is wonderful.
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 2:45 pm:

Hi again
My mare is much better in boots. But she does still stumble occasionally. It isn't a trip, it's more like her leg gives way or something catches - the vet suggested it may be a tendon catching on the bony changes on the front of P2 - would you agree or would it be best to x ray again to see if the changes have now affected the joint - I would post her original x rays but don't know how to copy them!
The chiropractor has also adjusted her twice as her pelvic ligaments loosened when she had a foal and tightened asymetrically with her pelvis rotated to the right and forward (accounts for the lack of right canter lead!)It keeps going back to the crooked position so I guess there isn't anything else I can try - could this cause stumbling or being hesitant/short going downhill? Any other ideas suggestions as to where to go next other than retire her?!
PS Reading this it sounds like she's a cripple and I shouldn't ride her but she did a beautiful capriole out in the field the other day!
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 4:34 pm:

Hi Jo,
This has probably nothing to do with your horse or maybe it does I just want to share. The reasons for it happening are different but the cause may be the same THE HOOF
I few months ago I guess maybe 4-. My horse was walking on his toes, stumbling like crazy, could hardly walk down hill at all. He stood bowed at the knees and in all honesty looked like severe tendon injury or navicular. He also could not canter on his left lead in a circle. Straight he was fine. Though I new or felt in my heart it was my barefoot trimmer. He had changed the shape of his hoof to fast and made him extremely heel sore. On Bute he was fine. To anyone not knowing his history they would say its his legs not feet as his feet did not look bad in-fact they looked great. I used the old macs for the last 4 months and with the help of a wonderful new barefoot trimmer have gotten his feet to grow and heal in all the right places. He used to have a low sole. Now his sole has completely concaved without being touched. I trim his feet from the top. Just cleaning loose crumbly stuff from the bottom. His feet are now rock crunching hooves again but the damage done from him walking and standing wrong for so long and from all that stumbling and almost falling down hills is taking time to heal, But it is.I think he stretched something from unbalanced hooves. . He is now landing heal first, he also barely stands bowed in the knees (sometimes). He stumbles a bit but its 25% of what it was. I expect a complete recovery.
My horse sounded exactly to a tee like yours. Something to think about. I conferred with my vet on many occasions over the phone. and even though she did not see my horse she was in agreement with me. Had he not shown improvement with different trimming methods etc my vet would have come in to x ray to see what damage was done by th incorrect trimming.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 - 6:37 pm:

Jo, instead of the radiographs I would like good conformation shots (standing square taken from the rear, side, and front). Also conformation shots of the feet from the side and front, that include some cannon and taken with the camera close to the ground might help.
DrO
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