Through the years, horses have proved themselves to be one of the most helpful domestic animal known to man. If dogs are used for hunting wild animals, horses have been used for transportation services and other means of travel. Equines are also used to control herds. They are even used in police force in pursuit of a criminal back when police cars were not yet thought of.

Today, the most popular quadruped has taken on a different purpose for the public. They are, at present, used for shows, competitions and just for a leisurely walk around very spacious open areas. Superior pedigree quadrupeds are up for the admiration of a swooning crowd during horse dressage. All these gallops, trots and walks can put the hooves on a strain, and can result to navicular disease in horses.

This particular disease is brought about by the inflammation of the navicula, the bone which is located right in the middle of the hoof. This little piece of bone is located snugly on top of the deep digital flexor tendon of each foot. The bone itself is degenerating, and may cause lameness if not treated well and right.

There surfaces to be educated guesses made by equine experts as to why this malady exists. One most popular hypothesis revolves around the issue of overexertion. Horses are out on their feet the whole day, so all the pressure just gathers at the hoof which has to support the horse day in and day out. Unregulated horse weight can also add strain on the navicular bone, which can just lead to compression on both the bone and the tendon underneath.

Before, most people believe that only old horses can be diagnosed with the said disease, which both right and wrong. While it is true that old horses suffer due to normal wear and tear, this illness is said to have been manifested by an equine as young as three years old. Most cases involve beast that are only seven to nine years old, the age where an equine is considered to be in his prime.

The metal fixes on the hooves of most horses can also alleviate the said condition. Horse shoes are believed to be causing irregular blood flow to the certain part of the body of the horse, leading to complications. The hoof is supposed to contract and expand along with the horse as it grows, so the wrong fit will inhibit the hoof to do that.

If the horse normally travels on areas that are too rocky and could possibly uneven, the chances of developing navicular disease also increase. Steep hills and sloped ranges cause the horse to give more effort, resulting in hoof disorder. Make your horse work or travel along areas that are conducive for trotting along. For those who are participating in equestrian sports, all the high jumps and gallops that a horse makes will also affect the navicula negatively.

If the beasts are showing signs of lameness, then that could be a giveaway that there is something wrong with its body. The first plan of action an owner should do is to have the shoe examined. It should be adjusted so that it will be more comfortable for the quadruped to walk. Others even suggest putting in a small pad to increase the measure of the angle.

You can also try a more medically inclined concept for the said problem. It is found out that most anti inflammatory drugs can somehow help. Just make sure that these do not contain steroids, in adherence to the rules laid out by AHSA.