Navicular syndrome causes chronic forelimb lameness in horses and requires a multimodal management approach that addresses pain, biomechanics, and hoof health to maintain welfare and quality of life.
Navicular syndrome welfare requires long-term management of a chronic pain condition that affects the horse with every stride on affected feet. The welfare assessment must balance the pain of the condition against the welfare cost of prolonged box rest, the effectiveness and side effects of analgesic medications, and the realistic prognosis for return to comfortable work. MRI diagnosis has improved the ability to identify the specific pathological changes present, allowing more targeted management rather than empirical treatment. Therapeutic shoeing that optimizes hoof balance and reduces biomechanical stress on affected structures is a non-pharmacological welfare intervention that complements medical management. The decision about retirement, reduced work, or continued management depends on honest assessment of the individual horse's pain levels and quality of life across the management options available.