Lameness is the leading cause of premature retirement and euthanasia in horses. Proactive hoof care, appropriate surfaces, and early detection can prevent the majority of cases.
Equine lameness causes chronic pain that profoundly affects quality of life. Horses with low-grade lameness may continue in work for months or years before their pain is recognised and addressed — particularly in disciplines where performance expectations mask the subtle gait changes that signal discomfort. The welfare cost is compounded by the fact that many lameness conditions are progressive: early intervention when lameness is mild or subclinical can prevent the joint degeneration and structural damage that leads to irreversible disability. Hoof care quality is a direct welfare determinant: an unbalanced foot transmits abnormal forces through the entire limb, accelerating wear on joints, tendons, and ligaments. Every horse deserves regular, skilled farriery and proactive lameness screening as a welfare baseline.