RE: [RC] Navicular - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
Yes, a navicular fracture isn’t that
uncommon. It usually happens when the foot somehow gets caught in a fence
or cattle guard or something like that, fights the entrapment and bingo,
fractured navicular. The horse’s future depends a lot on whether
the fracture also displaced, or remained more or less in its original position.
A non-displaced fracture is more likely to heal fairly well, while the more
displaced the fracture is, the more likely it is that the fracture will heal
with a fibrous union only---think of trying to put a broken plate back together
again with scotch tape instead of cement and you get the idea.
Yes, they can come back and be sound
enough for work at some level. Would I ever consider one for endurance,
CTR, jumping or any of the sports where a trot might be involved and the horse
might break into a sweat? Not in a million years, even more so in a horse
that apparently needed to be nerved at the time---if that fracture decided to
come loose from its moorings again, the horse wouldn’t know it until the
entire foot had come undone. No way, no how.
JMO.
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sabrina Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2006
12:03 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Navicular
I have a friend who wants to look at a horse who, 8
years ago, broke his navicular bone in one of his front feet. The owner had him
nerved in that foot only, and pulled his shoes. Now, my question to you
all is, has anyone ever dealt with this kind of injury? I have never heard of
such a thing as a broken navicular bone. Apparently, this horse has no lameness
issues, but was used on the trail and hasnt been ridden in 2 years. I
personally like barefoot, and am glad to hear that he is so, but tell me all you
know about everything navicular. Can this horse really be ridden and sound?
Give it to me people....
