Shoeing principles for the management of navicular disease in horses.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Shoeing Principles for Navicular Disease Management Turner's 1986 analysis of 36 horses with navicular disease demonstrates that strategic farriery alone can achieve substantial clinical improvement, with 86% (31/36) becoming sound at final evaluation over a follow-up period of 12–54 months. The shoeing approach prioritised correcting existing structural imbalances, optimising foot mechanics, and facilitating breakover—a strategy supported by short-term phenylbutazone use (10 days post-shoeing) rather than ongoing medication. Early intervention proved critical: horses shod within 8 months of initial lameness onset responded significantly better than those treated later, suggesting that prompt farrier assessment upon first signs of navicular involvement may prevent secondary adaptive changes that complicate recovery. Performance discipline also influenced outcomes, with ridden show horses demonstrating superior soundness compared to animals in jumping or gaming activities, likely reflecting differences in loading patterns and intensity. For farriers and veterinary teams, this work emphasises that thoughtfully designed corrective shoeing—tailored to the individual foot's biomechanics rather than a standardised template—warrants consideration as a primary intervention, particularly when applied early and adapted to the horse's intended use.

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Key Findings

• •All 36 horses with navicular disease showed improvement in lameness following corrective shoeing
• •86% (31/36) of treated horses were sound at final evaluation (12-54 months follow-up)
• •Shoeing was most effective when applied within 8 months of initial lameness onset
• •Show ring performance horses responded better to corrective shoeing than gaming or jumping horses

Conditions Studied