| Navicular is the inflammation of the bursa between the | | | | The Navicular bone acts a pulley system for the |
| bone and the deep flexor tendon in the hoof. It is quite | | | | tendons in the deep heel part of the foot. When the |
| painful for horses and you will see them start shuffling | | | | horse walks the tendon moves up and down over the |
| and not wanting to put all their weight into their feet. | | | | Navicular bone. If the horse is extremely heavy and |
| Many times Navicular occurs in both feet. So your | | | | has a small foot, the concussion of the weight on the |
| horse may not seem lame because he is sore in both | | | | foot can cause inflammation in the heels and pressure |
| front feet. This disease only occurs in the front feet | | | | on the internal bones of the foot. |
| and usually only affects big quarter horses with small | | | | Navicular does not need to be a death sentence. |
| feet. | | | | Many horses have made full recoveries from this type |
| Now the question is, what can you do for your horse | | | | of syndrome. Keith Seeley, Certified Journeyman II |
| now that it's been diagnosed with equine Navicular | | | | Farrier, has worked closely with Dr. Bowker in hoof |
| syndrome? Many times if you can catch it in the early | | | | pathology and understands how to trim the foot to |
| stages before any calcification has occurred, proper | | | | achieve a full recovery from Navicular Syndrome. |
| trimming and shoeing can alleviate the pressure of the | | | | Long toes and low heels are usually to blame for this |
| tendons across the bones. | | | | problem. |