There are many people that believe that the only great horse is a perfectly healthy horse. For the past few months I have been assisting my mother-in-law in finding a good horse for her. So far the perfect horse is an imperfect horse. :) 

When purchasing a horse you are usually not lucky enough to get a lot of history. You take a risk and pray that the horse you think is great isn't going to turn up lame or having a serious health issue that you didn't know about. 

Is it Crazy to purchase a horse that you KNOW has issues? 

I don't believe it is. We have been blessed with the opportunity to meet the needs of both horse and rider. She needs a very safe, been there done that kind of horse and this horse needs a loving, caring and financially able individual to help maintain his soundness. 

In the case of this imperfect horse Navicular is his imperfection. However he is far from being done! The vet has cleared him for riding with the proper shoeing and care. 

For many in the horse world Navicular is a four letter word that everyone runs from.

I have seen horses with this disease continue to very wonderful and productive lives, from trail rides to Jumping! Do they require more attention for their condition? Yes! Do they require a financial and emotional commitment? Yes! Can they be great and imperfectly perfect? YES!

Please make sure when considering a horse to look at all the perfections and imperfections on an individual equine basis.