Navicular fracture

Question
My friend's horse was just diagnosed with a navicular bone fracture. He is a 7 yr old, 15 hand small framed paint gelding. He is her daughter's 4h horse. The news of course was devestating. He is not terribly lame in fact most of the time so slightly off you wouldn't see it if you weren't looking for it. My question is what kind of future will he have? Will he be sound enough to use as a 4h horse for flat work? It has been about two weeks since this happened. Thanks for your time!

Answer
Hi Meghann ... while no one knows or can guarantee the outcome I would think that once he heals, the bone will have some scarring on it but he should be OK. But it takes time to heal and then rehab. Tincture of time.

I'm so sorry -- what a time for this to happen!  Best to allow him all the rest that can be afforded and make sure to feed him good immune and cell boosters ie: Transfer Factor Stress Pak (google Transfer Factor) will boost his immune system by over 400%; there are vegetables and herbs you can give to him to help a speedy and uneventful recovery. A basic salad would be 1 yam, 1 apple, 3 - 4 carrots, 1 orange, 1 banana, a handful of mixed greens with 1 tbsp. of Kelp mixed with 1 egg (yep, whole egg; just not the shell) and all sprinkled with 1/4 c. of safflower or olive oil infused with a clove of garlic and sprig of rosemary. Add a "dash" of organic (Bragg's) Apple Cider Vinegar and a 1/4 cup of ground flax seed and you've got a horsey salad that will provide many, many nutrients, immune builders as well as the 8 essential glyconutrients that can only be found in vine-ripened vegetables and fruit. the glyconutrients are ESSENTIAL for new, healthy cells to grow and regenerate.

You can add the salad right in with his regular grain once a day. Plenty of green grass to graze and free choice hay will also help to ensure his body gets what he needs to recover.

That and plenty of love and hugs!  
:) -- Gwen