>>>>The vet said that if I was going to try to ride him I could get some >>>>special shoes that are different than the egg-bar but he suggested just >>>>letting him retire.
I don't have any experience with navicular, but I'm sorry to hear about your horse's pain. I have a friend with a navicular horse who has tried just about everything to get the horse sound. Technically, her horse has a navicular cyst, which I guess is different from true navicular syndrome. It took a lot of trial and error to get the horse comfortable, but even so, she really can't ride her much. She tried barefoot - which the mare had been for many years prior - and several kinds of shoes and trims. She probably has the vet lameness vet in the area and definitely the best farrier, but sometimes there just isn't much we can do except make them comfortable. They finally found a way to shoe her that helps her comfort for her daily life. I sure don't want to make you give up, but on the other hand, it's easy to feel like you're screwing something up, when you're really doing all you can do. Worry about the horse's comfort first, and if you keep that as your primary focus, maybe you can eventually find a way to ride him...if not, you'll know you did all you could for his happiness, and that's the most important thing of all. Karen Thomas, NC
