10/01/2023
I am going to do my best not to get on a soapbox here, and please give me grace if I veer that way.
It is incredibly hard to see our horses dealing with lameness. I can guarantee there is not one of us who enjoys when our horse is in pain. Because of that, it is tempting to do something, heck, ANYTHING, to get them more comfortable.
With the horses I come to that are struggling, my goal is also comfort. But that being said, I don't want to just treat the symptom of pain, I want to find the root cause of the pain.. and it is not always what we think.
If I see a horse with navicular bone damage, I don't instantly think "it's degenerative" and needs medication or injections for pain management... Instead I want to watch the horse move and note their biomechanics to see how the horse may be straining surrounding soft tissue leading to repetitive strain type injuries. From there we can formulate a plan to get more correct and comfortable movement to strengthen those tissues. I don't want the pain masked, because if they can't feel the pain and work through it and we ignore the improper biomechanics, the damage doesn't stop.
If I see a horse with laminitis, I want to know that horse's exact diet and have the owner explore bloodwork and a metabolic-friendly approach to management to stop the pain at the source, before I cover it up with hoof protection.. because if I just cover up the pain, the damage doesn't stop.
If I see a horse with thin soles, or shelly walls, or chronic white line disease, I want to know that horse's exact diet to see if it could be playing a role in poor hoof quality and sensitivity before I apply anything to the foot, because I want to stop the cycle of poor quality instead of ignoring it.
These are just a few examples, but there are so many when it comes to hoof-based lameness. Of course we know NSAIDs and injections may take away the pain, and I am not a veterinarian and think owners should discuss their options with their vets to stay informed. But I want owners to know all options - that a few small tweaks in management and hoofcare approach may change the root issue, instead of just masking it or putting a bandaid on.
It's definitely not an easy way out and often takes some troubleshooting, but most often gives you a sounder horse for the long haul.
