Success Stories - Page 3

Case 5: Metabolic (Dix)

Dix is a Lippizan/Swedish WB cross who Lauren acquired as a yearling to be her Dressage horse. Always a sensitive horse Dix's early life was uneventful--other than his gelding which did not go smoothly and nearly cost him his life.

After having been started under saddle by a local cowboy known to start horses gently he began his dressage career at age 4. This is when the challenges to come began to surface. Dix was extremely senstive and seemed to be very angry. He fought with other horses and resisted training. When he reared up and flipped over onto Lauren it became clear that something had to be done.

Of course, back in the day, Lauren had not made a connection between Dix's health and his behavioral problems. She would also only learn later that the training guidance she'd received was deeply flawed. It was no wonder he was angry. But still even after converting to a better approach in terms of training Dix was still not Right.

As she studied hoof health and began her journey on the barefoot path she learned that Dix had a metabolic condition that explained his poor hoof health, his cresty neck, and excessive sensitivity. All of this was prior to May 2006 while she was still in Florida. Toward the end there Dix became anhidrotic (lost his ability to sweat).

When Lauren and her family first arrived in Tennessee there was no way to separate Dix from the herd as he had been in Florida. It was sink or swim and fortunately room to run was not a problem. And a good thing too because Dix did his level best to run the herd with an iron fist. Mostly he ran himself ragged.

Remarkably this turned out to be the best thing for him. He became fit, his metablism leveled out, his soundness improved and all mainly due to a LOT of movement. He was much better but not perfect. He was still a challenge to work with due to his anger issues and what seemed like raging hormones (yes he is a gelding!). Getting his diet balanced with Equipride, Remission (for the metabolic condition), and Chastetree berry (for the raging hormones) has really helped him to start to act like a "regular horse".

This is Dix today at age 12. Back under saddle without a rear in sight in a year. He lost a lot of training time getting healthy but he's still young.

FAQs

Q1. EEK! My vet just told me my horse has navicular! What can I do?

Answer:

First, don't panic! Your horse can be sound again. What even vets and farriers don't understand is that poor hoof form is the PRIMARY reason for navicular pain. Even more importantly, GOOD hoof form can and will reverse the damage. How long this will take depends on the extent of the damage.

Q2. My horse has red spots through his white hooves and is sometimes sore after a trim.

What is that about?

Answer:

If you horse is tender and/or has red marks through the hoof wall the most likely culprit is a laminitic flareup. This is very common and is the result of any of a variety of stresses on the horse's body. The first thing to consider is what the horse is eating. Get a good vitamin/mineral supplement and keep sugars to a minimum. Exercise with boots for comfort. Your horse can become sound and happy with proper management.

Q3. Is it true that my horse will go lame if I take off his shoes?

Answer:

Generally, no. Some horses, who's internal structures are so damaged, will experience some difficulties during the transitional period. We strongly recommend that you have your horse wear boots if he is at all uncomfortable. Owner education and participation is an important part of a successful transition. If your horse is sore barefoot we will explain why the horse is uncomfortable and what can be done about it. It will be important for you, as the horse's caretaker, to be vigilant about implementing any instructions for care that you are given.

Q4. Is it true that my horse will founder and die if I take off his shoes?

Answer:

Absolutely NOT. This is a scare tactic used by some uninformed individuals to prevent people from exposing their lack of knowledge. Not only is it not true but many horses who have been diagnosed as 'hopeless' are being cured by taking OFF the shoes and providing the horse with a proper trim, sufficient exercise, and the good nutrition needed to support healthy hoof growth.

Q5. How long will my horse be sore after I remove his shoes?

Answer:

Every case is different. Some horses will come out of shoes and never take a bad step. Others have significant internal damage and for them the transition to soundness may take many months. Still others are sometimes uncomfortable under some circumstances. In any case, if your horse is uncomfortable barefoot the best thing to do, along with implementing any nutritional, lifestyle, and treatment recommendations we make, is put BOOTS on your horse. There are numerous choices these days making a good fitting boot an option for most everyone.

Q6. My horse has a toe crack and my farrier says that shoes are needed in order to keep the crack from getting worse. Is this true?

Answer:

No. Chronic toe cracks, or any crack for that matter (by chronic we mean that the crack remains after trimming and only gets worse) is the result of poor trimming practices. The crack would and should disappear with a correctly balanced trim irrespective of the shoes.

Q7. What is the difference between laminitis and founder?

Answer:

Lots of people use the terms "laminitis" and "founder" interchangeably. Technically, laminitis is inflamation of the laminae. The laminae may become inflamed as a result of a variety of reasons including changes to diet, hormones or possibly recent vaccinations. This inflammation may pass with only slight discomfort to the horse and once the offending factor is put right the hoof is able to recover.

Founder refers to a specific situation in which the coffin bone and the outer hoof wall are no longer paralell as they should be. Typically, severe laminitis has resulted in such a weakening of the laminae that the hoof founders, in other words the coffin bone seperates from the hoof wall.