As many horse owners know, identifying and treating lameness in horses can be a frustrating and expensive process. Lameness has been categorized as any alteration in the gait of a horse and can be caused by any number of issues and can manifest itself in many ways… from subtle lameness to complete loss of mobility.
Horse being walked out for a lameness check
Lameness has been categorized as any alteration in the gait of a horse and can be caused by any number of issues and can manifest itself in many ways.
© 2013 by Mark Sellers New window.
Equine's Tool of the Month is its Lameness Lab which covers the complexities of horse anatomy, movement, and tendency toward lameness.
Did you know?
Horses carry 60-65% of their weight on their front limbs
Most lamenesses are in the front legs due to higher stress and strain from concussive forces
90% of front limb lamenesses are in the knee or below
Hind limbs:
Are used for propulsive force needed for galloping and jumping
80% of hind limb injuries are in the hock and stifle
Is your horse at a higher risk of becoming lame?
For an answer go to Equine Guelph's Tool of the Month Lameness Lab to see the causes of lameness and what to look for to help determine a horse's tendency to lameness. This graphic tool is an important one for horse owners and enthusiasts to have available whenever purchasing or caring for their horses.
Press release provided by Equine Guelph