MRI has transformed the diagnosis of navicular region pain in horses by identifying specific soft tissue lesions that guide targeted treatment and improve welfare outcomes over generic management.
MRI has genuinely improved welfare outcomes for horses with navicular region pain by enabling specific diagnosis and targeted treatment selection. Horses previously managed generically based on radiography findings often received suboptimal treatment for specific soft tissue lesions that are now identifiable. Specific treatment based on MRI diagnosis provides better pain control and in some cases enables horses to continue working safely that would otherwise have been retired. Access to MRI remains unequal based on geography and cost, creating welfare disparities in treatment quality.