Navicular syndrome encompasses a range of conditions affecting the navicular bone and surrounding structures, causing chronic forelimb lameness that requires careful management to maintain horse welfare.
Horses with navicular syndrome experience chronic forelimb pain that affects gait, willingness to work, and quality of life. The condition is often progressive if poorly managed and can become severely debilitating. Welfare concerns arise when horses are kept in work despite inadequate pain management, when economic pressures delay diagnosis, or when management is inconsistent. Horses with well-managed navicular syndrome can maintain good welfare and reasonable function for many years, but this requires significant owner commitment to regular farriery, veterinary monitoring, and appropriate workload adjustment.