08/23/2026
A summary of Casino's history:
I fulfilled my dream of owning my first horse as I was turning 60. Casino, my beautiful paint gelding, arrived to me January 17, 2026. I had my vet examine him at the beginning of February and he was deemed healthy and sound. By the end of February, his health had deteriorated resulting in significant weight loss, lameness, and he had become easily spooked and defensive. My first inclination was to move him to a new barn because the manager was off site and I was concerned that he was not being fed properly during the harsh winter. He was moved on March 1, 2026.
His new barn manager was on sight and he was being fed ample hay and grain, however, he still was not gaining weight back by the end of March. When he suddenly would not allow me or his handlers to pick up his right back foot to pick his hooves, I called my vet back to re-examine him.
At the beginning of April, she described him as a "very quiet, sullen horse, BCS 4/9 with a poor haircoat which was dry and brittle. In addition, he was stiff and landing toe first. He was lame LF to L, RF to R, and LH to left. Abaxial blocks RF and LF improved lameness and overall willingness to go forward. Next, x-rays confirmed severe navicular disease with bilateral markedly abnormal navicular bone, Large OCD fragment of extensor process, and mild osteoarthritis of the coffin joint."
My vet recommended beginning with shoeing changes with frog support and wedge pads. We also started Equioxx and Gastrogard as well as Vitamin E supplementation. Due to low vitamin E levels, he was worked up for muscle testing. Thankfully, his results came back negative. I also switched him to a low starch diet as we were waiting for his genetic results, I have since kept him on this diet because he responded so well.
My vet re-examined him on June 3rd and noted, "Casino has finished his gastrogard and remains on vitamin e and equioxx. He is on a 5-week shoeing cycle with 2 degree wedge pads. Casino has gained a significant amount of weight. His coat condition has markedly
improved. I found him to be much more relaxed and less defensive.
On the lunge line there is still mild LF to L and Rf to R however Casino is willing to go
forward without any encouragement. He is bright and much happier. He is being shod well.
Given the improvement in demeanor and body condition I recommend returning to work
Try to avoid tight circles and lots of lunging. He would be best suited for low level
walk, trot and trail riding."
I had been doing research on navicular disease and found the Barefoot Navicular group on FB. Not only would I read the posts but also the comments. In one of the comments someone mentioned gallium nitrate, which led me to Eby Pharma. I had nothing to lose at this point and decided to try Casino on an 84 day regimen beginning on June 4, 2026 after letting my vet know.
Casino has recently completed his course of gallium nitrate. Over the summer months, he was moved to another barn because his barn manager was moving out of state. I decided to allow him to continue to heal and acclimate to his new surroundings. Casino has continued to improve. He has been trotting and galloping around the field with his herd and his farrier said that his hooves look the best that they have since he started working with him in April. He is no longer lame and I was able to begin riding him in the ring.
I believe that gallium nitrate helped his navicular pain improve. Now that his other health issues have also improved, I am eager to see him blossom. If he begins to show any signs of stiffness or lameness, I plan to resume the gallium nitrate.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
