Farriers I need your input

[cyb]

Should I pass on this horse? I'll type in what the vet wrote as my scanner decided not to work:

Very subtle lameness on right front, intermittant grade 1-2

Old quarter crack appears to have white line

Can not rule out navicular w/o radiograph

no pain with hoof testers

Recommend farrier resect crack and expose fungus to the air & treat w/antifungal astringent

[cyb]

I've never dealt with white line disease, is this something that will most likely recur? Is there always hoof wall separation? If we get his hoof corrected will his hoof be as if nothing was ever wrong with it? Bottom line I'm thinking of his future. Will he need front shoes? Will he need to be on bute constantly? I want to know what I would be getting myself into.

[Petra]

Cyb, you should ask WB to put this in to horsekeeping. Farriers may not notice it in here. ;)

[palomino]

If you are serious, get the xrays done. I would not get a horse with navicular, personally. You can maintain them, but why bother when there are so many great horses out there that vet out great.

ETA: Why are you thinking of getting a horse that is already lame?

[palomino]

Also, the WLD has been brought up alot lately- its fixable, no biggie unless it goes untreated and seperates the coffin bone.
I dont shoe, so I dont reccomend shoes or not to anyone, but you dont HAVE to shoe a horse for either a crack or WLD. Up to you and your farrier what path you decide to take with treatment.

[cyb]

ETA: Why are you thinking of getting a horse that is already lame?

Its a long story, I'll try to explain it, The horse was bred and raised and trained by a friend of mine who sold him when he was a 3 year old, I've been riding this friends Morgan quite a bit lately and have fallen in love with him but he is not for sale, this horse that is for sale is his half brother and looks just like his twin (another registered Morgan) I love his temperament and his looks. Since she sold him the new owner rode him at first but has let him just sit in the pasture for about 4 years and she would like to see him be someplace where he is ridden, we all live in the same neighborhood. Does this story make any sense?

[SedonaThunder]

It doesn't say he has navicular - it says "can't rule out navicular" and you can't rule out navicular on any horse. As for the lameness it could just be caused from that crack and and any kind of WLD or thrush up in there. The xray would help you feel more sure but if you like him as much as you say, I wouldn't pass him by. Can you have your farrier look at him?

As I mentioned in my response to your other thread on this - I bought a horse with WLD and it's gone now, he isn't shod, and he's not lame on that hoof.

[palomino]

I suggested getting xrays, but if lameness is no big deal because its a sentimental purchase, then by all means go for it. Is the lameness on the cracked foot?

[cyb]

I Is the lameness on the cracked foot?
yes

[HoustonFarrier]

It doesn't say he has navicular - it says "can't rule out navicular" and you can't rule out navicular on any horse.

??? Really?? Naviclular syndrome or navicular disease??? X-rays are pretty definitive for ruling out nav disease. Syndrome is really nothing more than undetermined caudel heel pain, which can be a number of non-nav bone issues.

I'd bet good money NONE of my Clydesdales has navicular anything....:D

Steve

[Joey A]

Without knowing what's wrong, I wouldn't even think about it. That and if they're suffering minor chronic pain you can't even get a good assessment of the horses temperament.

[westmanfarrier]

A radiograph may be a good idea here to help rule out any bone changes. With the right shot you can also get an idea how involved the WLD is and if it has gone septic, which can be the cause of the lameness.

I agree, as usual, with Walkin Fool. If the horse is hurting, you cannot gauge the temperament. Some are entirely mellow until you get them feeling better, then they are hell fire. Some are mad at the world until the lameness gets better, then they are your best friend...etc.

[cyb]

Thanks everybody for your input.