Thriving After Going Barefoot: A Navicular Disease Case Study

Equine Podiatrist: Sian Hilbourne

Horse: Tom, 20-year-old cob

Background

Tom is a 20-year-old cob. Tom was diagnosed with navicular disease at 10 years old, with bony changes to the perimeter of the navicular bone and widening of the foramen within the bone. In the 9 years that followed he was shod with various interventions including wedges and heart bars, but Tom’s way of going was not optimal, and his owner was concerned about his longevity and soundness. She researched the benefits of being barefoot and asked me to assist. I removed his shoes in November 2025.

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Right Front November 2025 pre and post trim and post trim September 2026:

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Knowing that transition would involve boots and pads, we were prepared on the first visit with some boots to try on and to lend out while the client bought some. For transitions such as this, where we want to build the structures at the back of the foot (frog, digital cushion, lateral cartilages), I would generally recommend a Cavallo boot with a therapeutic pad.

The client used boots and pads diligently for a year, and over that time the frog has widened, the digital cushion has strengthened and the back of the foot has de-contracted and is now providing the cushion to help hold the pedal bone at the optimal angle.

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Left Front November 2025, pre and post trim and post trim September 2026:

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Tom is out having fun, hacking, going on fun rides, showing and jumping… living his best life in his twenties with a much better way of going, longer stride and a “spring” in his step.