b'Common causes of lameness in the hind end and how to diagnose and treat themAMY K. DRAGOOHIND-LIMBEnigmasCHRIS WHITE, DVMT he general public might assume that a 1,200-pound horse is a pretty robust creature. Horse people, however, have learned from experience that this is not necessarily true. At risk of suffering wounds, sickness, or lameness, horses can be surprisingly fragile animals. Anyone who has ever owned a horse has likely dealt with subtle and frustrating lamenesses. While forelimb lamenesses are fairly common, hind-limb issues can be less obvious and even underdiagnosed. Identifying the IssueWhat exactly does a hind-limb lameness look like? Many owners are familiar with front-end issues, which are often easier to detect with the naked eye. A head bob, or a dramatic raising of the head when the lame leg bears weight, is a telltale sign of forelimb lameness. But what hind-limb indicators does your veterinar-ian look for during a lameness exam?Lameness in the hind end can present in a couple of ways. When Im doing a lameness work-up, I like to incorporate both longeing on a circle and trotting in a straight line to try to determine where the lameness appears. Sometimes having a rider work the horse under saddle can accentuate subtle issues. Excessive hip TheHorse.com|The HorseAugust 202015'