navicular disease

navicular disease (uncountable)

1. An inflammation, often rheumatic, of the navicular bone in horses.
   • 1992, Barbara T. Engel, Margaret L. Galloway, Therapeutic Riding Programs:

     Such maladies as osteoarthritis of various joints (spavin in the hocks, ringbone in the pasterns, osselets in the fetlocks, navicular disease in the heels of the forefeet) are very common, as is chronic lower back soreness (coldback) in the lumbar, sacral, and thoracic regions.