Cortni Volkman
AGR 315
Equine Lameness and Biomechanics
Proper evaluation of equine lameness is a coveted and valuable practice to maintain the health and integrity of working horses at any level in any discipline. However, lameness can be a tricky to pinpoint and treat, and it takes years of practice to become skilled in lameness evaluation. Dr. Hicks is a well-qualified veterinarian from Paducah, KY, with the reputation and proven skills to be able to successfully diagnose lameness and offer several treatment plans and options. He is also trained in acupuncture and chiropractic treatment.
The horse used for evaluation was Pablo, a 15 year old Thoroughbred gelding used mostly for jumping and hunt seat riding. He was presented to be assessed …show more content…
Having a quality management of the genetics and conformation of both broodmare and sire helps lead to less conformation faults that can cause lameness or the susceptibility to lameness. Next, it is important to use proper training protocols, such as warming up and cooling out, building up slowly to harder movements and obstacles, and giving breaks where breaks are needed. It is very important, especially in proper barn management, to keep a consistent footing to work on. If you are riding outdoors, being keen to the ground texture and softness should be done every ride to prevent injury or lameness. Lastly, proper horsemanship should always be practiced with proper hoof care and feed maintenance to allow for proper movement, metabolism, and overall function of the working horse …show more content…
Proper management involves keeping a light work load to help reduce inflammation but avoiding harder work, as well as anti-inflammatories if it is desired by owner or veterinarian. Ringbone is an unsoundness of the fetlock area which has the defined characteristic of ossification of certain fetlock articular joints or non-articular areas. This is caused by repetitive concussion, a trauma to the area, or poor hoof care. Treatments depend on the case and usually don’t reverse the process, only slow it down. Some possible treatments could be proper shoeing with shoes that support the heels and offer an easy breakover, anti-inflammatories, joint injections, and also a surgical fusion of two bones in the pastern to eliminate instability of the joint, known as arthrodesis. Stringhalt is an unsoundness associated with a neurological disorder caused by consumption of flatweed or false dandelions. Treatment is dependent from case to case but generally, removing the horse from the field infected with the weed (Porr). Once removed, the condition may go away on its own or improve with time, up to 12 months. There is also a prescription medicine Phenytoin which can be mixed with the B-Vitamin Thiamine that