The Equine Back: Conformation and Injuries
Les Sellnow
July 1, 2006
Even a horse with excellent conformation can wind up with back problems if ridden by a rider out of balance or if outfitted with inappropriate tack.
Even a horse with excellent conformation can wind up with back problems if ridden by a rider out of balance or if outfitted with inappropriate tack.
Will physical therapy help my horse become more supple, or can I have the scar tissue removed surgically?
My sister’s gelding has sesamoid problems on both forelimbs. Can the sesamoid bones be removed?
An owner looks for help for a filly that wears down her feet unevenly with turned-out toes.
The foreleg of the horse is, for the most part, a model of good engineering. It is structured in such a fashion that the horse can move slowly or at speed with the concussion of each footfall minimized by a sophisticated shock absorbing system.
Locomotion is at the very heart of what most domesticated horses do for a living. The way a horse moves (specifically) often is taken for granted. Locomotion is directly linked to conformation as it dictates “the way a horse moves.”
Steve O’Grady, BVSc, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine, said a sheared heel is a “created situation” and a “poorly understood phenomenon.” He said the condition was first described by Bill Moyer, DVM, in 1975. “The diagnosis and treatment is th
University of Wisconsin researchers have shown that certain forelimb characteristics in the growing foal are associated with higher birth weights, and a foal’s carpal (knee) conformation is associated with the carpal conformation of both of its
Straight conformation in the forelimb doesn’t necessarily beget a more successful racehorse. This is what a research group from the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine discovered in a recent study. However, the group also
Can coffin bone rotation be improved or corrected in horses that have foundered?
My mare suffered a pelvic fracture five months ago. What timeframe can I expect for starting light exercise?
Developmental and traumatic joint injuries are a significant problem in Thoroughbred foals. These injuries, such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and fetlock joint lesions, often require costly medical treatment or surgical repair.
The Monitoring Committee for the Sales Integrity Program has postponed implementation of the mandatory disclosure of acceptable veterinary practices, says the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
The program’s code of ethics
The horse is an amazing athlete, with great speed and endurance considering his body size and weight. For the past 20 years, researchers have evaluated what makes the equine locomotive system so efficient for racing and other strenuous
Many DNA sequence variations are fine; they just give rise to the broad spectrum of colors, sizes, and other characteristics we see in the horse population. Some variations, however, cause problems. These might range from a genetic predisposition
The monitoring committee for the Sales Integrity Program is taking action to address some consignors’ concerns about how the Thoroughbred auction industry will handle the disclosure of invasive joint surgeries and other procedures designed to
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