Equine
Navicular Disease – What is new
By Lauren Lamb, DVM
Navicular ‘disease’ is a condition that affects the navicular bone, navicular bursa, deep digital flexor tendon and/or the associated ligaments attached to the navicular bone. Navicular disease, navicular syndrome, caudal heel pain syndrome in the horse or insert some other name are all terms used to describe the same condition, pain in the heel region of a horse. For the purposes of this article, navicular disease will be the term used to describe pain from the heel region of a horse. Navicular region will refer to the navicular bone, associated ligaments, navicular bursa and deep digital flexor tendon.
Before we can talk about navicular disease, we need to step back and review the normal anatomy. The navicular bone is located behind the coffin joint, within the hoof capsule. The navicular bone articulates (forms a joint) with the coffin bone and short pastern bone, which are located on the front side of the navicular bone.
The deep digital flexor tendon runs on the back side of the navicular bone. The navicular bursa lies between the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon. The bursa is a fluid filled sac that functions as a shock absorber and a lubricant for the deep digital flexor as it passes around the navicular bone. Several other small ligaments help hold the navicular bone in place. These small ligaments are extremely important and frequently contribute to the horse’s pain.
The exact cause of navicular disease is unknown. Several potential causes for the disease have been proposed.
To read more pick up a copy of the July 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Equine
The Cowboy Culture
By Phillip Kitts
The mystique and imagined glory of the rodeo road call many young people’s names. As they grow up, they watch the greats of the sport run from rodeo to rodeo and occasionally land on the television giving the perception of the rockstar lifestyle.
No, the glory of the rodeo road is not as grand as, say, the National Football League or the National Basketball Association, but being an athlete competing in front of the yellow chutes of Vegas is just as big a deal, and in every way, can be compared to competing in a Super Bowl.
However, things sure are different in the rodeo world. Let us take a minute and talk about what seem to be simple things in life that impact rodeo and rodeo athletes that in no way would make a difference to the big-money sports.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Equine
The Danger of Lower Limb Wounds of Horses
By Garrett Metcalf, DVM
It is common for horse owners to have a horse with a wound or laceration at some point in their life. Sometimes small lacerations can be perceived as benign, inconsequential problems that do not need immediate veterinary attention and are managed by the owners or trainers initially. Unfortunately, these simple-looking wounds can involve very important anatomical structures that can lead to serious infections that can be life-threatening or, at best career-limiting, for the horse.
Large wounds tend to get all the attention from owners or trainers because when they occur they are so obvious and visually appalling that medical attention is sought almost immediately. Those types of large wounds can be devastating, but they often involve the upper body regions of the horse, which heal better and often don’t involve structures such as joints or tendons.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Equine
A Rodeo Photographer’s Journey
By Phillip Kitts
Have you ever wondered what the rodeo looks like for contract personnel in the winter?
This month we will look at what the winter months look like from the rodeo photographer’s perspective.
To understand the time and demands that go into a career as a rodeo photographer, let’s start at when the season gets busy. Not all rodeo photographers work the same. There are many varieties in their career field. They can vary from the few weekends here and there to the full-timer who travels more than 30 weekends a year.
The full-timer that spends most of their year working usually hits the road in late winter. Yes, the winter months are slower but the photographer who has cemented themselves into the field usually books a few during late winter.
Rolling into the spring it begins to get busy. Depending on the photographer, spring can start with an every other weekend type schedule all the way to every weekend through the summer. In 2023 there were photographers that had 20-plus weeks straight going from rodeo to rodeo.
When late fall rolls in things begin to slow down, even for the go-getter who books everything they can.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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