This article appeared in the September/October 2005 issue of Horse Talk Magazine and is reprinted here with the permission of the publisher.
Can Equine Podiatry Help Navicular Syndrome?
Written By Tina Dodd
You've heard the expression "no hoof, no horse." In the case of Navicular Syndrome, this is sometimes true. Many owners choose to put down their horses, some choose traditional veterinary treatment methods with special pads and iron shoes, and others search for alternative methods like Barefoot Equine Podiatry. Such is the case with owner Sandy Tucker and her 20-year-old mare, Brandy, who was diagnosed with Navicular Syndrome in 2003. Why would Tucker choose to go with a barefoot trimming method after having Brandy shod for so many years? For her, it was the last chance for Brandy to experience a painless life and the only hope of ever riding Brandy again.
Brandy, who had been worked regularly and wore iron shoes all of her life, never experienced issues with her feet until May of 2003 when she came up lame on her left front foot. Tucker consulted her farrier and regular veterinarian. Radiographs were taken and Brandy was diagnosed with "navicular bone irregularities." The veterinarian recommended traditional treatment: iron bar shoes with a wedge pad and medication to manage the pain until the horse stabilized. The farrier was consulted and worked in conjunction with the vet. He was advised by the vet to trim the toe shorter and place the bar shoes in a specific a position to support Brandy's under run heels until they grew out. Brandy was reshod every four weeks and seemed to be more comfortable, but Tucker was still unable to ride her. The pain medication, coupled with a lack of her usual exercise was making her gain an excessive amount of weight. Tucker followed this traditionally prescribed method of treatment until January of 2005. Brandy was still bobbing her head, lame at the trot, overweight, in pain, and lacked her usual stamina and energy. Finally, the vet and the farrier agreed there was nothing more they could do for her. Tucker would never again be able to ride Brandy and Brandy's health would continue to deteriorate.
Fortunately, Tucker had heard about an Equine Podiatrist who would be conducting seminars on hoof health at the World Horse Expo in Timonium, Maryland, this past spring. She attended the seminar and talked at length about Brandy's case with KC LaPierre, founder of the International Institute of Equine Podiatry. Tucker learned that Equine Podiatry is an alternative treatment to traditional farrier practices. It is a more holistic and natural manner of caring for the feet without the use of the iron shoe, or barefoot. LaPierre explained that the practice of Equine Podiatry also addresses the horse's health. Tucker would be required to help restore her horse's health everyday, but she was willing to make the commitment and asked LaPierre if there was a barefoot trimmer in the Fredericksburg area. LaPierre recommended Eric Nystrom, a student of his who had recently started his own part-time practice.
Nystrom's first visit with Brandy lasted over three hours. He watched Brandy's footfall at the walk and trot and video-taped and shot digital photos of every angle of all four feet to refer to later as he devised a plan to restore her health. Next, he pulled Brandy's shoes and applied the HPT trim. He assessed Brandy's way of going after the trim also. As LaPierre's book, The Chosen Road states, "It is the responsibility of the Equine Podiatrist or trimmer to achieve proper foot fall through the application of a proper trim. Removal of the hoof material should be kept to a minimum and should be limited to placing the hoof's working systems safely back into equilibrium. Overall structural integrity is observed and used as a guide in the application of the trim. This method accommodates the many different structures observed in the unlimited number of hoof types encountered. Angles as absolutes are best avoided. The only true absolute lies within the statement: Do no harm."
Nystrom inquired about the type of feed Brandy was consuming, what kind of medicines she had been prescribed and her daily amount of exercise. He also used the tape to determine her weight. Before leaving, Nystrom told Tucker he would send her an e-mail with complete recommendation of feed and exercise along with an assessment of how each foot scored on the spectrum of usability. (The spectrum of usability helps lo rate the condition of each part of the foot on a scale of 1-10 according to the type of work under saddle the horse is expected to perform.) Brandy's spectrum of usability would be based on her history as a pleasure mount on the trail and in the ring. Tucker also learned that the hoof is a mechanism used to pump blood in and out of the foot, thereby nourishing all of the components. The expansion and contraction of the hoof helps to pump the blood. When an iron shoe is nailed onto the hoof it cannot expand or contract; therefore, less blood is pumped in and out of the hoof and over time the shoe destroys the foot's integrity. Iron shoes are thought to protect the feet from concussion, when, in fact, they contribute to concussion on the components of the foot including the navicular bone. Barefoot hooves will usually harden over time if provided with proper care, but many barefoot horses are ridden in removable rubber hoof boots to increase their spectrum of usability rather than being shod in iron shoes.
Within a few days Tucker received Nystrom's recommendations for a regular trimming schedule of every four weeks and a change in diet to include a low-fat, vitamin rich pelleted feed, flax seed, and vitamin supplements to stimulate hoof growth and magnesium to help break down fat deposits. He recommended a treatment of soaking each foot in Clean Trax solution to rid the feet of any bacteria, especially in cracks and nail holes, which must grow out with the hoof. The cracks will not close up if there is an infection present. He also told Tucker that she should hand walk Brandy every day for 20 minutes on the stone dust ring to stimulate heel growth and naturally exfoliate the sole. Tucker was faithful with Brandy's new regimen. After her trim, Brandy could walk comfortably on the stone dust each day.
Brandy's condition improved with her new regimen; soon she was able to walk on pavement to help stimulate hoof growth and also to be ridden at the walk rather than just hand walked, but occasionally she would come up lame again and Tucker noticed that Brandy's left front foot was starting to turn inward. Nystrom felt the regrowth of Brandy's hooves was slower than it should be but was not sure why. He decided to have Tucker walk Brandy in oversized hoof boots with a Sole Mate therapeutic pad placed in the bottom to further stimulate growth. Nystrom also asked Tucker to schedule another set of radiographs because it had been almost two years since he had taken the last ones.
In June, Nystrom had planned to assist in one of K.C. LaPierre's upcoming clinics and asked Tucker to bring Brandy for LaPierre's assessment of the treatment so far and to see if he had any advice about the left front foot. After reviewing the radiographs and watching Brandy trot out (lame), LaPierre trimmed Brandy's left front foot and addressed the flare more aggressively than Nystrom had and recommended Brandy be trimmed every two weeks to keep the feet in balance. He commented, "There was inflammation in Brandy's feet which is why the foot growth had been slow." He recommended a natural supplement called Boswella to reduce inflammation. "Part of the inflammation is coming from the feet being out of balance, which puts stress on the internal ligaments. The more frequent trim will keep the feet in balance, thus reducing the source of inflammation." Immediately after her trim, Brandy trotted out well.
Since Brandy's visit with LaPierre, Nystrom has trimmed Brandy faithfully every two weeks and Tucker started administering liquid supplements with a syringe rather than pouring it over her feed because she noticed sometimes Brandy would not eat her feed when Tucker employed the latter method. Brandy has lost a considerable amount of weight, but because she still needs to lose more, Tucker has elected lo put a grazing muzzle on her when she is turned out on grass. Tucker still allows Brandy her usual ration of hay in the morning and at night when she is in her stall.
As of early August, Brandy is doing well. She is pain-free, her energy level has increased, and she enjoys being ridden again. With more time and hoof growth she should improve on the spectrum of usability.
Tucker now says, "I have a new horse. Actually, I have my old horse back again. She never took a lame step today and I rode her for over an hour, walking and trolling, she was alert and happy."
Tucker has nothing but praise for the holistic approach of LaPierre's method and Nystrom's dedication and determination to help make Brandy sound again. In less than seven months, Brandy became sound under saddle at the walk and trot after suffering for almost two years from navicular. It's truly amazing and inspiring to other horse owners who share a similar experience with their horses. It has taken a lot of perseverance and a dedicated team of caring people to get Brandy to this stage, but it has been worth it.
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| After Trim No 1 Jan 29 2005 | After Trim No 10 Aug 7 2005 |