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Navicular Syndrome
synthesis

Steel Egg Bar Shoe

This poney is comfortable thanks to a reverse shoe applied on a pad giving a frank support to the frog

Strait bar shoe - Fer à traverse alasonière

Navicular syndrome is a critical problem with the riding horse. Navicular syndrome is suspected when the horse is showing pain in the caudal aspect of its foot.In presence of the pathology, the rider will not only have to revise the horse's work but also plan veterinarian examination, medical treatments and deal with an appropriate shoeing techniques.
Diagnosis differentiates three primary forms of the lameness:

The Articular form
The Ligamentary form
The Tendonous form

Precise diagnosis requires highly involved medical evaluation, because several of the noted forms might be combined in the same case. Regarding farriery, the diagnosis of which of the three types of lameness, together with the balance of the limb will determine the type of shoeing to apply and eventually the correction to achieve.

Sagittal section showing navicular area (coffin joint)

Trimming the foot: in treating this syndrome, the most important task is to trim the toe short on the solar surface, respecting the medial-lateral balance of the foot. A long toe drastically increases the pressure on the navicular bone, especially during the breakover phase. During this phase of locomotion the pastern will be upright, the deep flexor tendon will make a sharp angle at the level of the navicular bone, significantly increasing the effort within that zone. When shoeing a flat foot or underrun heels, the shoeing must improve the balance.

The different types of shoes used for horses suffering from navicular syndrome are:

Heel wedge shoes,
Egg bar shoes,
Straight bar shoes
Full rolling shoes.

HEEL WEDGE SHOES: unfortunately overloading and flaring the heels, might be useful to relieve the deep flexor tendon but only for some applications. Indeed: the deep flexor being relieved will quickly shorten losing the desired effect.
THE EGG BAR SHOE: is justified if the horse has a flat foot and/or underrun heels. This shoe will give good caudal support on all types of ground surfaces. Quarter clips will be useful not only to support an excessive flaring of the hoof wall but also to allow setting the shoe back on the hoof. Finally, a rolled toe will ease the breakover.
THE STRAIGHT BAR SHOE: may be used by some specialists to give extra support by means of the frog bearing on the bar. Others will use the shoe to protect the frog from concussions with no weight bearing at all!
THE FULL ROLLING MOTION SHOE (equi⁺) allows the foot to roll easily in any plane. This type of shoe is preferred with horses responding positively to the coffin join anesthesia.
The use of protection pads such as leather, felt, etc. protects the sole from direct pressures on hard or rocky ground. Some materials are able to absorb a part of the concussion impact.