Navicular disease (palmar foot pain syndrome) is a common cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses, causing ongoing pain that requires careful management for welfare-positive outcomes.
Navicular disease causes chronic pain that significantly affects horse quality of life and performance welfare. Horses with active navicular pain land toe-first (avoiding heel pressure) and take shortened, careful steps - behavioral signs of active pain avoidance. Management is complex because navicular pain ranges from mild and manageable to severe and debilitating, and progression varies. A welfare-centered approach to navicular management prioritizes effective pain control alongside biomechanical correction through shoeing, honest evaluation of whether managed horses are comfortable at their requested workload, and willingness to retire or reduce work if pain cannot be adequately managed. Neurectomy provides pain relief but requires careful welfare monitoring as horses lack sensation that normally prevents overload injury.