Limb Deformities, Blemishes, and Unsoundness

forelimb, front view faults

base wide, base narrow, knock knees, toe narrow, toe wide

base wide

distance between center of front hooves is wider than the shoulder points

base narrow is conformationally associated with

narrow chest

base wide horses are predisposed to

ring bone, side bone, splints (typically medial), navicular disease, and medial strain

base narrow

distance between center of front hooves is less than shoulder point

when moving, base narrow horses land

on lateral side of hoof wall, can lead to repetitive stress injury

base narrow horses are predisposed to

osteoarthritis

Bow legged

knees are too far apart

knock knee

knees are too close together

knock knees and bowleggedness are

angular limb deformities

knock knees and bowleggedness are caused by

in utero positioning, can be corrected but not always successfully

horses that are bowlegged or knock kneed are predisposed to

knee strain, excessive carpus and ligament stress

toe narrow

front of hoof points inwards

toe wide

front of hoof points outwards

pigeon toed

same as toe narrow

splay footed

same as toe wide

pigeon toed horses movement pattern

paddle outward

splay toed horses movement pattern

wing inwards

side view forelimb faults

camped out, camped under, calf knee, buck knee,

camped out

leg angle is set forward of a bisecting line (point of shoulder downwards)

specific athletic movement camped out horses struggle with

collection, difficulty bringing legs underneath

camped under

leg angle directed behind a limb bisecting line

typical sign of camped under horses when moving

stumble, can appear clumsy

specific concern with camped under horses

leg interference from the hind to the front leg, decrease in distance between fore and hind limbs

calf knee

knee behind the bisecting line

concern with calf knee

excess strain on knee joint

buck knee

knee set forward, in front of the bisecting line

concerns with buck knee horses

stumble, can appear clumsy

other names for buck knee

goat knee, knee sprung

hind leg side view faults

post legged, sickle hocked

sickle hocked

cannons are forward of the bisecting line, too great of an angle

sickle hock causes

uneven hoof wear and hock strain

horses with sickle hock are predisposed to

curbs, thoroughpins, bog spavins

post legged

overly straight cannons, no definition of the hock

specific athletic concern with post legged horses

lack hind leg drive, cannot collect hocks under body

hind leg front view faults

base wide, base narrow

base wide

hooves too far apart, rarer

base narrow

hooves too close together, can result from excessive muscling

base narrow athletic concern

interference between hind legs, rubbing of hooves and pasterns

unsoundnesses that can become blemishes

bucked shins, capped elbow/shoe boil, splint, capped hock

bucked shin

temporary inflammation of periosteum on the front of the cannon extensor tendon

primarily found in racehorses

bowed tendon

severe strain or wear/tear of either the deep flexor or superficial flexor tendons

typically mid cannon or below

how can a suspensory ligament injury and bowed tendon be differenciated

location, suspensory ligament branches at mid cannon so it is unlikely to have swelling at mid cannon or below

ring bone/extosis

new bone growth on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd phalanx

classified by location

severe ring bone

likely to be performance ending, but mild ring bone can be tolerated for performance

capped elbow/shoe boil

soft, flappy swelling caused by irritation of the bursa at the elbow joint

typically caused by hard surface trauma

splint

abnormal/bony growths on the cannon or splint bones, breakage of the splint bonesw

windpuff

enlargement of the fluid sac around the pastern or fetlock

typically medial

osselets

inflammation around a fetlock joint

typically to front of joint

popped knee

spraining or straining of the ligaments that hold the patella in positions

sesamoiditis

inflammation of proximal sesamoid bone at back of fetlock joint

causes significant fetlock drop and swelling

mud fever/scratches

inflammation of superficial layers of skin with discharge

treatment of scratches

clipping and reducing moisture in that area

side bone

ossified lateral cartilage immediately above the hoof

contracted heels

typically forelimb

drawing in or contracting of the hoof wall at the heel bulb

contracted heels causes predisposition to

thrush

locking stifle

patella displacement in stifle joint

stringhalt

involuntary flexion of the hock during forward movement

thoroughpin

puffy condition in the hock area

caused by trauma or tendon strain

typically doesn’t cause lameness

bog spavin/tarsal hydrathrosis

filling of the depression found in front of the hock with fluid, causing distension of the joint capsule due to chronic synovitis

capped hock

enlargement at the point of hock

curb

swelling of hind legs just below the hock due to plantar tarsal ligament inflammation

typically seen with hard/strenuous work

blood spavin

abnormally swollen vein in the front of the hock

causes lameness, heat, and swelling

bone spavin/jack spavin

distal tarsus and head of cannon bone interactions forming osteoarthritis

can be caused by mineral imbalances, concussion forces, and overworking

hoof crack types

grass, sand, bar, toe, quarter, quittor

grass crack

superficial, start from the ground and moves upwards

no unsoundness

sand crack

superficial, start at coronet band and move down

no unsoundness

bar crack

found at heel of hoof, typically caused by trauma

unsoundness

toe crack

front third of toe wall, can be caused by overloading of the toe in movement

quarter crack

appears at the coronet band and moves downward, typically caused by uneven footlanding patterns

unsoundness can occur

treatment of quarter crack

corrective shoeing and casting

quittor crack

deep sore that drains at the coronet band

not the same as an abscess

navicular syndrome

inflammation at or around the navicular bone or bursa of fore hooves

could be degenerative

can cause unsoundness

laminitis types

overeating, road founder, water founder, postpartum, grass, other

overreating laminits

typically from excessive grain in diet

road founder

caused by concussion forces from hard surfaces

water founder

hot horse drinking excess amounts of cold water

postpartum founder

retained placenta

grass founder

overeating grass, especially sugary spring grass

other laminitis causes

viral respiratory infections, drug side effects, eating black walnut tree shavings, beet top overeating, severe injuries