AboutChristine Sizemore Expertise I can answer questions for horse owners who would like to have their horses go barefoot (without shoes) and can also answer questions related to hoof care.
Experience Barefoot trimmer since 2003, rehabilitation of problem feet, transition of horses from shoes to barefoot, work with horse owners to make the appropriate decision re: shoes or no shoes, train horse owner to perform basic hoof care between trims.
Education/Credentials MS and PhD. in Biology, Horse owner, extensive continuing education in hoof care and trimming.
Past/Present Clients Thoroughbreds, quarterhorses, arabians, gaited horses, one draft :-); current clients are trail horses, pleasure horses, geriatric horses with arthritis, pony club hunters, jumpers. All barefoot and maintained to be best at their intended use without shoes.
My 13-year-old Appendix Quarter Horse named Bugsy was diagnosed with
navicular syndrome last year and I took him barefoot Feb. 1 (using a trimmer
in Pete Ramey's group) hoping to cure his lameness. I was initially worried
about his becoming overly sore without shoes but he seems to have
weathered that without much incident. But when I brought him back to the
trimmer last Friday (March 7) for a second trim, all of a sudden he appeared
to be off at a trot on his front LEFT leg instead of his RIGHT (as he had been
previously--and the right foot was the primary one diagnosed as navicular).
Is this something I should be concerned about? What's going on?!? I'm
attaching a JPEG showing his front feet at various stages over the past 5 or so
weeks in case that's of any help. Bugsy's front right foot is somewhat upright
and to the best of my understanding is in worse shape as the frog and digital
cushion were thus always left far off the ground. Both front heels were
contracted. And the most outstanding feature I can think of regarding his
front left leg is that it paddles when he trots. I don't get the feeling Bugsy's
doing any worse than last week and if I had to say one way or the other I'd
guess he may be even doing a little bit better. But, if so, why would he all of a
sudden be off on his other leg?!? Can you help me understand what's going
on?!? Thanks for whatever insights you can offer!
Answer Thanks Evan!
There are a few things that may be going on with Bugsy....thanks for the pics! Can you please send me pics of him standing on level ground (cement, or pavement or something like that where you can see his feet) - Pics that show the whole horse from the side the way he NATURALLY wants to stand, i.e. don't make him square up if he does not want to and just move him back and forth a few steps until he has settled into the most comfortable stance - and also a pic front on with his head in it as well, and on straight from the back, and then a closer view (camera on the ground) of his hinds and fronts from the front and the side, and if it is safe, from the back of the feet as well? For a horse with his issues, the side to side, and more importantly, the front to back balance is critical to assess the appropriate approach for any corrections.
Also, please be aware that it will take time before any adjustments that are done through barefoot trims will set in...it takes 9-12 months for a new hoof to grow and it will be a few months before you can see a definite change in his feet. However, I can definitely help you assess what may be going on with him suddenly not feeling well with the other leg, if this may be related to trims. What part of the country are you located in and what footing/moisture is Bugsy kept and ridden on?
With the new pics, I will do my very best to try to explain to you what may be going on.
Also, when you say he was diagnosed with Navicular syndrome, can you tell me what test the vet did to arrive at this diagnosis and do you happen to have pics of Bugsy in shoes from before that time? Also best view would be from the side on level hard ground.
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