By Christy Cable, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, and Michael Ball, DVM

Lameness problems in horses are an ever-growing concern for horse owners. With a rising demand for top performance, the challenge is for veterinarians to keep up with improved diagnostics and treatment modalities. Furthermore, many work-ups today are related to improving performance, not just solving an obvious lameness issue, as subtle pain can hamper performance in any discipline.

It also should be mentioned that many of today’s top performance horses compete year-round without a break. This is tough for any athlete, and keeping horses comfortable and competing at a top level can be a huge challenge for any veterinarian