Navicular disease (podotrochlear syndrome) is a common cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses, causing persistent foot pain that significantly affects welfare and performance if poorly managed.
Navicular disease causes chronic, progressive foot pain that significantly diminishes quality of life. Affected horses experience persistent discomfort that manifests as reluctance to move, shortened stride, and forelimb landing patterns designed to offload the painful area. Horses worked through pain without adequate management experience ongoing welfare harm; those rested without treatment may deteriorate as the underlying pathology progresses. Neurectomy — surgical cutting of the palmar digital nerve — removes pain sensation but does not address underlying disease and creates welfare risks including the risk of catastrophic tendon rupture without pain warning. The long-term welfare of horses with navicular disease depends on realistic management expectations, regular farriery, and honest assessment of when continued work is appropriate.