Thus, this is not a true ringbone or arthritis. Generally, the condition is due to a deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin D, or possibly vitamin C. Most often involved, Adams contended, are deficiencies in calcium and phosphorus. Usually, he added, more than one foot is involved. In some cases, all four feet are afflicted. Symptoms include lameness and joint soreness.
Treatment often is as simple as correcting the young horse s diet.
However, no correction can be made until it has been determined which elements are in the deficient category. This might mean that a complete analysis of the food being consumed must be made before treatment is initiated. Normally, it would take four to six weeks for a diet change to have a beneficial effect. If changes in the limbs are advanced at the time of the original examination, prognosis is guarded to unfavorable until the effect of the dietary correction can be determined. Shoeing For Ringbone One of the methods of dealing with ringbone involves corrective shoeing.