Horse Navicular Disease: Managing Chronic Foot Pain

Navicular disease is a chronic progressive condition affecting the structures in the horse foot. Appropriate management allows many horses to maintain good quality of life for years.

Key Facts

Navicular disease involves degeneration of the navicular bone and associated structures
Warmbloods and Quarter Horses with upright pastern conformation are most at risk
Horses show bilateral forelimb lameness often worse on a circle on hard ground
MRI has revolutionized diagnosis by identifying the specific structures involved
Management includes corrective farriery, medication, and appropriate work modification

Welfare Considerations

Navicular disease causes chronic pain that without appropriate management progressively limits a horse's ability to move comfortably. The insidious onset means horses may have been compensating for pain and altering their movement for months before lameness becomes obvious. Diagnostic advances using MRI now allow precise identification of affected structures enabling targeted treatment rather than generic management. Corrective shoeing to optimize foot balance and reduce navicular bone stress is central to management. With appropriate care, many horses maintain quality of life and can continue light work for years after diagnosis.

What You Can Do

Seek thorough investigation including advanced imaging for horses with bilateral forelimb lameness
Work with a qualified farrier experienced in therapeutic shoeing for navicular horses
Provide appropriate medication to ensure adequate pain control
Modify work to match your horse's comfort level
Maintain regular veterinary monitoring to track disease progression
Consider pasture retirement with appropriate pain management when work is no longer comfortable