Lameness is the most common reason horses are withdrawn from work and a major welfare concern. Proactive prevention through hoof care, footing management, and exercise programs significantly reduces incidence.
Horse lameness prevention reflects the welfare principle that proactive management prevents suffering more effectively and more humanely than reactive treatment. The financial and welfare cost of treating established lameness - tendon injuries, navicular disease, osteoarthritis - vastly exceeds the cost of the management practices that reduce their incidence. Hoof care, appropriate footing, graduated exercise, and early detection all contribute to a proactive approach that keeps horses comfortable and working. The veterinary and farriery professions have developed considerable evidence for prevention strategies, but implementing them requires owner commitment and investment. Treating lameness prevention as a welfare priority rather than a production concern shifts the framing appropriately.