We cannot give you a prescription for shoeing this particular horse other than to say that typically we would want the toes to be short and the heel more upright (increased hoof angle) than might be expected for the average horse. There are many types of shoes and relatively new products that can be used to increase the comfort level of the horse or even keep the horse in work. Anything you may consider doing should be in consultation with the veterinarian who diagnosed the navicular syndrome and your farrier. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has been used orally. The potential use and dosage should be determined by your veterinarian. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been reported experimentally to improve some horses for a time but not permanently. Again, you should consult the diagnosing veterinarian concerning ESWT.

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