Corrective shoeing for navicular disease is both an art and a science, with appropriate farriery being foundational to pain management and welfare for affected horses.
Corrective shoeing for navicular-affected horses is one of the most significant pain management interventions available, and its quality directly determines the horse's daily welfare. A horse in well-applied corrective shoes with appropriate geometry may be comfortable enough for continued ridden work; the same horse in poorly applied standard shoes may be in significant pain. The relationship between farrier skill, veterinary guidance, and horse welfare is direct — this is not a cosmetic intervention but a fundamental pain management tool. Investment in an experienced, navicular-specialist farrier is a direct welfare investment.