Chronic lameness affects millions of horses globally and is the most common reason for early retirement or euthanasia. Effective long-term management can maintain quality of life for affected horses.
Chronic lameness in horses presents long-term welfare management challenges that require realistic owner expectations, appropriate specialist involvement, and honest quality-of-life assessment over time. Pain management strategies including NSAIDs, joint medication, and emerging regenerative therapies can significantly reduce suffering. Corrective farriery — specialized shoeing to redistribute weight and relieve pressure points — is often the most impactful intervention for foot pain. The welfare calculation for chronically lame horses requires regular reassessment: a horse that is comfortable at a reduced workload may have excellent quality of life, while one that is pain-managed but not comfortable at rest warrants euthanasia consideration.