Lameness in Horses

Horses, just like all other animals and even humans, are prone to contracting diseases and infections which can sometimes cause deformities and lameness. No horse owner wants to have a lame horse for reasons he can reasonably avoid. This is why it is always advisable to take great care of your horse to maintain their good horse health and keep them active rather than have them end up being confined and incapacitated because of something that could have been avoided.

Lameness in a horse is very visible when your horse is walking around. It is also very easy to know which foot is affected since you will see your horse avoid putting any pressure that may cause it pain on that particular foot. A horse owner should have a keen eye, and always take time to observe their horse. Early detection of some problems can help curb them before they become aggravated over time.

What to Do

Never ride a horse that is lame since you may end up aggravating the problem. First, you should start by looking where it is that your horse is hurt and the possible causes. It could be a simple thing such as a stuck piece of stone to more serious things such as infections. It could also be a wound that needs medical attention.

Check the Feet

By lifting your horse’s feet you will be able to see if there is anything lodged in the crevices of its hooves which could be causing the lameness. Pay particular attention to spots which appear darker than normal, as they could indicate that a sole is bruised. Cracks are also culprits in causing lameness, so be aware of those too.

At times, hooves that are trimmed very short might cause them to be sensitive to pressure, causing pain. If this is the case, let your horse be on softer grounds until the hoof grows to an appropriate level.

Check the Lower Leg

If a horse has injured a ligament or a tendon, it will have a swollen lower leg which could be hot. This can be taken care of by allowing your horse to rest for a longer period in order to let the leg heal. It is the same thing as spraining an ankle in humans.

Joints and the Back

A horse can have lameness if for instance it has arthritis. When the joints are affected, they may make it hard for the horse to move normally because of pain. Sore backs are also important to look out for in riding horses. If you feel it needs veterinarian attention, seek one as soon as possible to save your horse from a lot of pain.