My horse is lame or moves badly

Hooves & Musculoskeletal

Lameness, poor hooves, a stiff gait, back problems — movement is the interplay of many factors.

Bone spavin is a progressive, degenerative osteoarthritis of the small, tight hock joints (lower tarsal joints). Over time the affected joint surfaces can fuse, which often reduces the lameness again in the long run. It usually develops insidiously and frequently affects older horses or those heavily used over years.

Chronically progressive connective tissue disorder in which proteoglycans are pathologically deposited in tendons, ligaments and further tissues (hence also Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation, ESPA). Unlike a single tendon injury, DSLD is systemic and typically affects the suspensory ligament of several limbs. The disease occurs in familial clusters (among others Peruvian Paso), but the exact mode of inheritance is not conclusively clarified; DSLD is not curable.

Hereditary skeletal/connective tissue disorder of the Friesian through a mutation in the B4GALT7 gene (disturbed build-up of proteoglycans of the cartilage/connective tissue matrix), inherited autosomal-recessive. Affected foals show shortened limbs with relatively normal trunk/head size as well as overextensible joints. Only homozygous animals are affected; carriers are unremarkable.

In a hoof abscess, pus accumulates within the non-expandable structures of the hoof capsule and creates painful pressure — typically a sudden, often severe lameness. Dramatic as it looks: after professional opening and drainage, the condition usually improves quickly.

Hereditary disorder of hoof wall formation in which the wall separates from the pedal bone along the white line and breaks away. The cause is a recessive variant in the SERPINB11 gene; only homozygous animals are affected, carriers are healthy. Changes usually appear in the first year of life. Described above all in the Connemara pony.

Hereditary dysfunction of a sodium channel of the skeletal musculature (SCN4A) that leads to episodic muscle weakness up to paralysis. The trait originates from the Quarter Horse stallion line Impressive and is inherited autosomal-dominant, so even heterozygous (N/H) horses can show symptoms. A high potassium content in the feed is a central trigger of episodes.

In kissing spines, the dorsal spinous processes of neighbouring thoracic/lumbar vertebrae lie too close together or touch, which can cause irritation and back pain. Important: a radiographic finding alone does not necessarily mean discomfort — the overall picture of imaging and clinical signs is decisive.

Podotrochlosis is a chronic complex of changes to the navicular bone, bursa and deep flexor tendon in the navicular region, often leading to a shifting forelimb lameness. The causes are considered multifactorial (e.g. load, hoof shape, biomechanics); the syndrome is usually not curable but can often be managed for a long time.

Degenerative, progressive wear of the joint cartilage with an inflammatory and painful component. Common in older or heavily worked horses.

Hereditary muscle metabolism disorder with abnormal glycogen storage; manifests as exercise-related muscle problems (tying-up).

Damage to tendons (e.g. superficial/deep flexor tendon) or ligaments (e.g. suspensory) through overload or acute trauma. Tendon tissue heals slowly and scars with inferior, less elastic replacement tissue — relapses are common, so consistent, controlled rehabilitation is decisive.

Thrush is a bacterial (often anaerobic) decomposition of the frog horn, arising mainly in wet, dirty conditions and with poor hoof hygiene. It is recognised by black, greasy deposits and a putrid smell in the frog clefts; with superficial involvement it is usually well controlled through management.

Poor horn quality with brittle, splitting horn and shoeing problems. Grows only slowly (~6–9 mm/month) — patience needed.