I know this isn't really training related, but wanted to see if you Richard, and/or anyone else had any experience with this. 

I got this mare about 3 months ago and we've been doing groundwork, ground driving, and I've gotten in her and got a few steps. 

She set up due to all the rain we've been getting(thank God) and turned up lame about a week ago. We exhausted the resources of our local vet and wound up having to go about an hour and a half south for x-rays. Vet highly suspected abscess-ok fine. Soak, pack, wrap. 

But the skyline view showed severe navicular front right, moderate front left. She just turned 5 in April-a baby. 

This is all very new to me and I don't know what life might look like moving forward. She isn't yet broke and I'm a bit concerned that even if she can handle light riding, she may not be able to physically handle some of the groundwork it would take to get us to the point of light riding. 

Any thoughts?

Hi Mr. Boatwright. I was hoping to get some insight on bits. This is the first horse I'm breaking to ride in a loooong time. I have 2 what I believe to be junior cow horse setups. One is a dogbone double jointed snaffle ( i would need to look at the other one again). But these are just leftover bits from back in the day that my uncle would've just had me ride with. I never learned much of anything about bits- just rode in what I was told to ride in. 

Anyways, both of these bits have shank on them and that's just not where I want to start a new horse. So I purchased a Mullen bit on d-rings thinking it would be lighter on her, but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if that is too heavy or harsh a bit to be starting with. Would love to hear your two cents and/or specific recs. I've also got a sidepull on the way, just because I used to really like starting there to just not be in their mouths right away