Navicular disease (caudal heel pain syndrome) is one of the most common causes of chronic lameness in horses. Understanding modern approaches to diagnosis and management improves welfare outcomes.
Horses with navicular disease experience chronic, low-grade to moderate pain that significantly affects their welfare. The condition is insidious - horses often show subtle lameness that gradually worsens over months or years. Without diagnosis and treatment, affected horses experience persistent discomfort during every stride. The nature of horse work means these animals may be ridden through pain that goes unrecognized. Modern diagnostic approaches - particularly MRI - have improved our understanding of which specific structures are damaged and allow more targeted treatment. Pain management, corrective shoeing, and appropriate workload modification can maintain reasonable quality of life. The welfare challenge is ensuring that horses with this condition receive diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate workload adjustment.