8 Month Update - barefoot navicular syndrome rehab 4.0

Eight months is a long time to wait. It’s a long time to do anything really. But I do see the fruits of our efforts every week, every month! I see that this is the way. The way to a longer lasting, healthy, happy horse. It’s not temporary, it’s not degenerative, he continues to improve! I just went back and looked through the hoof pictures I have posted here over the years. I am terrified! Knowing all that I know now, and all that I have learned about hoof care, I am embarrassed to even have allowed my horse to have such poor feet. But I know I have to cut myself some slack because it was 100% due to pure ignorance...and apparently lack of knowledgeable guidance from all professionals I sought help from at the time.  But hey, it’s been a great education for me and has sparked a passion for hoof care.

Diet has not changed since I last updated months ago. However, I did take out MSM. I had to go without it for a while due to a lost shipment and actually noticed Shorty was surprisingly not as jumpy about certain things. I put him back on it when it came in, and noticed a clear change back to being more spooky. I have heard of this before and for whatever reason now believe from this accidental trial that he is better off and more at ease without MSM.  

Okay so what has happened in the last few months?

The heels have been opening up and expanding like crazy. After the casting, he still wasn’t quite as comfortable on his bare feet and I was booting him a lot. We moved to Easy Shoe Performance glue ons for several weeks and he did well! We pretty much stuck to this until he could be turned out barefoot, which was right after this cycle in November.

Here is progress of the left front foot, which is now the stronger foot. It had started out as the more lame foot. Not anymore! Just wow, look at that much stronger heel! He is landing heel first at the walk AND trot on both feet. Very exciting. 

Sole pics next:

March, here is where we are now::

This is some substantial improvement! Way better hoof wall connection from improved diet 

Such an interesting difference here with how the heel is growing more underneath the foot. Better alignment. 

This is where we are now in March. I will say after this trim, he was quite sore for over 2 weeks :( So many people find success in sticking to a shorter trim cycle, but in Shorty’s case it seems like he is not so appreciative getting trimmed so often. He does the best at 4 weeks and more of growth, so the plan is not to touch up anything this time unless really needed. One thing is for sure, this horse has never gone without routine 4, 5, 6 week farrier visits....which actually might have been problematic for him this entire time. People just seem to take too much off for his liking. Who knew trying to do right by your horse might have also been part of the problem.