Lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances (e.g., weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surfaces, etc.) Lameness not perceptible under any circumstances.The American Association of Equine Practitioners has developed a lameness scale that ranges from zero to five, with zero being no perceptible lameness, and five being extremely lame: Also, does the problem originate in the leg, or does it originate in the horse's neck, or back?īecause each horse has individual characteristics, evaluating lameness can be challenging. Your objective is to determine which leg is affected or if more than one leg is affected.Note any abnormal head movement, including a bobbing of the head as steps are taken, hip hiking as the horse walks or trots, reduced arc of foot as the limb is flexed, a shortened stride, or abnormal foot placement such as landing toe first.As you observe from the side, rear, and front, try the horse on soft and hard surfaces, as well as up and down inclines.Now, check the horse's gait on a level, even surface with several maneuvers including a walk and a trot, in a straight line and in a circle.
As you move your hands over the horse's neck and back, notice any indications of swelling, pain, heat, inflammation, or loss of muscle tone.Note any areas that are inflamed, as evidenced by heat and swelling.Ĥ Check the neck and back for symmetry, posture, and contour.Flex and extend the joint to observe range of motion and to check for pain.A horse may have a bone chip floating in the joint.Horses can suffer from arthritis and other degenerative diseases.Check the joints carefully for heat and swelling Look for wounds or injuries to the lower legs.ģ.Note any abnormal stance such as favoring one leg, pointing the toe, or a dropped fetlock.The horse may have an injured tendon or ligament.Check the lower legs for heat and swelling that might indicate inflammation. Is one hoof warmer than the others? Do you find a pounding pulse? If so, these are indications of injury or possible abscesses.Ģ. Move the heels, tap the hoof wall, and use hoof testers if you have them.Look for cracks, and check to see if the hooves have been trimmed too short, if a nail is close to the sensitive structures of the hoof, or if the shoe doesn't fit properly.Look for dark spots that might indicate a bruised sole.Pick the horse's feet and make sure no rocks are wedged into crevices.Begin with the feet, since many cases of lameness begin here.
Most lameness problems involve a structure in or below the knee or hock, so, as you move forward with your observations, pay close attention to the legs and feet of your horse. What you can do to assess and treat lameness Using your eyes and your hands as you examine your horse and observing your horse in action, may help you to locate the cause of the lameness. The anatomy of the equine with fine legs and a large body, puts the horse in a precarious position, and, as a horse owner, taking prompt action when it comes to any indications of lameness can save time and money and possibly your horse's life.Įverything from glue-on horse shoes, to foot impression film, to nerve-blocking diagnosis to lameness locator technologies are being developed to help horse owners and their medical advisers more quickly diagnose and treat lameness.įor the horse owner discovering a lame horse, careful observation is the key to identifying what is causing the lameness. Important sign of lameness - Hoof held off the ground