How does the physiological trim help horses with navicular sydrome and navicular disease?
Dr. Robert Bowker’s work has shown us that a toe first landing caused by heel pain creates the improper mechanics that then lead to the injury of the tendons, ligaments, and bones of the foot. It is important to know that not all horses with this sort of damage are lame, and also that many horses showing NONE of this damage are frequently diagnosed with “navicular syndrome”…heel pain leading to the toe first landing. While not all horses with dramatic bone loss and injury to the internal structures can be returned to 100% soundness, many of them can be made much more comfortable with good, physiological barefoot hoof care. That generally includes trying to find the cause of the heel pain. In a HUGE number of “navicular” horses, chronic frog infection is the culprit. You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, but if the heel is contracted and the frog is thin and atrophied, soaking to heal the frog can make a drastic improvement in the horse’s comfort level. Boots and pads also can make a