| You have a young horse between the age of 3 | | | | cushions the Navicular bone and then slowly |
| and 7 years old and he's been diagnosed with | | | | develops into adhesions in the deep digital flexor |
| Navicular. Everything has been going along nicely, | | | | tendon. This can be quite painful for the horse. If |
| you've been showing and winning and everything's | | | | you catch it in the early stages, proper trimming |
| been great. But then you start noticing your horse | | | | of the horse hoof will help alleviate the pressure |
| acts lame one day, and then with some rest, he | | | | of the tendon and the bone. |
| is better the next day. And this goes on and off | | | | Equine Navicular syndrome seems to be more |
| for awhile, and then you notice your horse is not | | | | common in Quarter Horses and Paints rather than |
| striding out as nicely as before. He is taking | | | | other horse breeds. Many times these breeds are |
| shorter strides. If you observe your horse | | | | bulked up to 1200 to 1400 pounds with very small |
| standing in his stall, you will probably notice that he | | | | feet. With this type of feet, it is very hard for |
| is standing with his toe pointing out in front of him | | | | them to absorb the shock of the foot hitting the |
| so he does not have to put all the weight in his | | | | ground. With this type of load on the front feet, it |
| heel. This is the classic symptom of Navicular. | | | | can cause undue strain on the bones and tendons. |
| Navicular is bursitis in the bursa capsule that | | | | |