Given that all of these "navicular" horses can be shown to have deformities in the outward appearance of their hooves, it would seem logical to direct our efforts towards improving their abnormal hoof form, reversing the trends that are causing these deformities and provide for the horse a situation that promotes good hoof form. Cutting the digital nerves in these horses provides absolutely nothing that is honesty therapeutic for them. It is a medically unsound procedure, but it is prevalent in our modern day "use and abuse" philosophy of keeping horses going--doing this in a day and age where we now have an excellent understanding of why these horses end up with "navicular" pain is totally unnecessary and irresponsible--there are no sound medical reasons to perform these nerve surgeries with the reckless abandon they are. These procedures are an excellent example of how simple ignorance of proper hoof form and function allows horse owners and their veterinarians to perform them. Ter
ms like "salvage procedure" have become widely used to describe such procedures that prolong the useful life of the animal strictly for the human's monetary benefit. Addressing the real problems of the deformities in the feet and how to reverse them with proper trimming and lifestyle will win out as the only acceptable alternative for these animals and their human stewards, and the true salvage in terms of the lives of horses will be realized.
Performing digital neurectomies on heel-sore or foot-sore horses promotes further degeneration of the entire lower leg and hooves in these animals, because it disrespects and disallows what the entire animal needs to achieve a more proper hoof form and normal function. Instead of cutting the nerves to a part of the horse's anatomy and achieving a completely false sense of "soundness", we are alternatively able to nurture these unsound horses and their deformed feet to attain correct hoof form and thus proper and vital physiologic function. Natural exfoliation, vital mechanical hoof movements, energizing sensation and exquisite protection are just a few of the important functions horses' hooves need to have, and this is precisely what they achieve with proper hoof care. This leads us and our horses on a direct path to an honest soundness, far outpacing conventional western veterinary medical techniques and promoting the physical and psychological health of the entire horse rather than
disrupting a part of the horse's vital anatomy, which only leads to further deterioration, loss of use and early death.
As it is improperly trimmed and/or shod horses that are the ones affected by "navicular syndrome", we know that promoting sound, naturally shaped hooves along with adequate movement on firm terrain is essentially a life-promoting and life-saving, honesty therapeutic form of treatment--it is this type of treatment I will prescribe for horses that I tend to, as it is the only treatment that respects the nature of the horse. Drugs such as isoxsuprine, nitrous oxide, nitroglycerin, phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine do nothing to improve the deformed feet in these affected horses. Eggbar shoes, reversed shoes, special pads, natural balance shoes, wedge pads, impression material, shoes with rails and/or frog inserts or any other artificial appliance attached to the bottom of the horse can not possibly be honestly therapeutic for horses with navicular problems or other hoof ailments. It is a physiologic impossibility; they can only serve to further the deformities and damage to the hors
es to which they are nailed, perhaps prolonging the development of further, inevitable symptoms until years down the road, but still furthering the damage all the while. There is not a single case of a horse with severe "navicular disease" that has been cured by the application of an appliance to the foot. Cured, and/or sound, would be defined as a horse that is able to walk, trot and run at liberty on their own feet in a soft environment with animation, impulsion and without lameness. It is the promotion of natural hoof form and thus proper hoof function which allows horses to heal from the insults previously afforded them by improper trimming, shoeing and/or lifestyle, and they heal remarkably well if we respect their fascinating anatomy and it's wonderfully simple physiology. Providing this option to horse owners when they are faced with whether to pay for a "salvage procedure" or provide for what their horse honestly needs is what the natural hoof care movement is about. These ar
e life and death situations for our horses and it saves horses lives every day.
It is ironic that honest, well-intentioned people across the land are spending their hard-earned money on treatments that are making their horses more unsound and more unusable in the long run. Terms such as "therapeutic shoeing" or "corrective shoeing" will soon be exposed for the oxymorons they are, and interested parties such as insurance companies and horse-leasing operations will soon question such practices, and will not stand idly by while shelling out millions of dollars to pay for such appliances and other "treatments" such as neurectomies that only serve to worsen the conditions of the animals to which they are responsible. Alas, this is the age we now live in...an age of transition for ourselves as well as our horses. Our responsibilities are great, the knowledge is there, and it is coming to an area near you.
Tomas Teskey D.V.M.
P.S. "Crystal" is walking and trotting soundly (with animation and impulsion) in the last three weeks of her "treatment" that I have prescribed, and is working with an alertness and vitality that a few short months ago was gone from her life. She lives in a large 50 foot by 100 foot turnout on the far side of the boarding stable property with another gelding that she likes to boss around, has free choice grass hay and mineral, receives a variety of other herbs and vegetables daily and will be foregoing her previously planned pregnancies to go back in to the show ring and jumping circuit in the Spring. The previous owner and veterinarian have so far been uninterested in visiting her in her new setting with her new lifestyle, but twenty other boarders are keenly aware of where this crippled mare was four months ago and where she is headed now...these are the people that have been keeping the previous owner, veterinarian and two farriers updated on Crystal's progress. I will now be turn
ing over the hoof trimming duties to her new owner, as he has been an excellent student of the hoof under my supervision and has demonstrated a willingness and good ability to groom her much-improved hooves. There are also several other boarders that will continue their hoof grooming classes with me and be taking care of their horses' feet very soon. He and Crystal will be showing regionally starting in March.
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