VEI and podiatry? Marion DuPont?

[Meshach1]

I have had a hind end issue with my horse and I think I have exhausted my local vet and farrier’s ability to get to to the root of the issue. I have wasted so much time and money to no avail. So so much.

My first choice would be VEI based on their stellar reputation but do they have a farrier service that they work with? (I’m in NC so would need to be when I am up there) Or is Marion DuPont also a valid choice for lameness issues? Because their web page says they do have a farrier dept.

I do think there is a foot component to his issues. And obviously I need the farrier where I live to do whatever needs to be done, I think it just would be helpful to get it done once with vet somewhere first.

[JB]

Dr Nathaniel White at MdP is an excellent lameness vet, if he’s still practicing

[Railbird]

In VA there is a podiatrist named Dr O’Grady - I was considering him for my horse if needed down the road. I have asked a few people if they have used him and no one seems to have, but I swear I had him jump in on a weird foot issue 15 years ago or so and found him helpful. Keswick area would be closer to you than Middleburg, too. Worth looking into? He seems to have published some interesting literature, too.

Virginia Therapeutic Farriery (equipodiatry.com)

[Ben_and_Me]

What about making the slightly longer trip to Kentucky? There are excellent podiatrists at both Rood and Riddle and Hagyard.

[Feathered_Feet]

I used O’Grady for consulting a lameness/podiatry issue and I can’t say I would recommend him. He’s way overpriced, doesn’t even have his own radiographic camera even though he’s a vet that specializes in podiatry, and doesn’t appear to play well with others (based on what my current vet and farrier have said about him). I found it very difficult to get answers from him because he’s not very good at explaining things. YMMV.

I would recommend a virtual consult from Rood & Riddle before O’Grady.

[Feathered_Feet]

Someone at our barn has used VEI and LOVES the farrier they work with. I would definitely reach out.

I had reached out to Marion DuPont about 6 months ago, and they said to call their farrier dept directly as they do their own scheduling. I called and texted and never heard from them. Presumably they are all booked up, I guess. Hopefully you have better luck than I did.

I second the other recommendation to just go to Rood and Riddle directly if you can swing it.

[luvmyhackney]

If I was traveling from NC I would just make the trip to Rood and Riddle.

[Meshach1]

You guys weren’t supposed to give me a third option! Haha just kidding! I appreciate it! I think I am going to pass on Rood & Riddle for the dumbest of reasons – I HATE driving through the mountains (let alone hauling and by myself) and I know I-77 well, my husband’s family is in SE OH.

Thanks also for the heads up on Dr. O’Grady I saw his website and thought hmmm but I also was getting a strange vibe to it too. I spoke to an acquaintance last night, she had taken her horse up to VEI and also had their farrier do some work on him too. So I am leaning in that direction.

thank you all!

[Ben_and_Me]

I think there’s also a podiatrist in SW Virginia - Andrea Floyd? I am pretty sure some of the vets in Southern Pines I used to shadow worked with her.

Serenity Equine Veterinary lameness consultation & Hoof pads

I had great externship experiences at VEI - just no experience with their farriers.

[SilverSeaHorses]

I can’t speak to the Farriery department at Marion DuPont, but my horse spent a week there last year for advanced imaging. I can’t speak highly enough about the entire staff, from Susan in the office, to the techs, to Dr. Kelleher, Dr. Estell, and Dr. McDonald.
I would take him back there in a second and wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to the Farriers there if I needed that work. It does pay to be persistent because I think the farriers there also teach.

[Libby2563]

@Feathered_Feet

I used O’Grady for consulting a lameness/podiatry issue and I can’t say I would recommend him. He’s way overpriced, doesn’t even have his own radiographic camera even though he’s a vet that specializes in podiatry, and doesn’t appear to play well with others (based on what my current vet and farrier have said about him). I found it very difficult to get answers from him because he’s not very good at explaining things. YMMV.

I also did a consult and shoeing with O’Grady and his farrier (which cost almost $1,000 and didn’t include any radiographs) with my farrier observing, and second pretty much all of this. Some of the suggestions he made were useful and my farrier says she learned some valuable things, but everything he told us in person was already on his website and the trim/shoeing itself was nothing to write home about despite the cost.

I’ve also gotten podiatry films at Morven and they didn’t take any measurements, mark up the images, or give a detailed written report, so it wasn’t really any different from having my home vet do it. The only podiatrist I’ve seen who actually took measurements unfortunately just moved from VA to Canada.

[Railbird]

@Libby2563

I also did a consult and shoeing with O’Grady and his farrier (which cost almost $1,000 and didn’t include any radiographs) with my farrier observing, and second pretty much all of this. Some of the suggestions he made were useful and my farrier says she learned some valuable things, but everything he told us in person was already on his website and the trim/shoeing itself was nothing to write home about despite the cost.

Well thank heaven I brought it up and didn’t give him a glowing endorsement. Scratch that, OP!

[Meshach1]

Dodged a bullet!