1. LAMENESS Predisposing factors:
Immaturity for hard work (racing 2-year olds)
Faulty conformation
Poor condition or conditioning
Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances
Fatigue - tendon and ligament sprains
Improper shoeing
Illness
Local leg infections

2. LAMENESS WARNING Change In Posture Performance Clues
Chronically uncomfortable horses
Change in Posture
Does he point a foreleg or hold a leg slightly off to one side?
Does he rest a leg on the toe rather than bearing weight on the full perimeter?
Does he lean forward or backward?
Performance Clues
Clumsiness, tripping & gait irregularity
Rapid deceleration in turns
Leaning on one rein during turns
Rough upward and downward transitions
Tracking to the inside or almost crossing legs
Refusals, run-outs & other uncooperative behavior
Chronically Uncomfortable horses
Slight depression
Appetite loss
Restlessness or unease
Changed resting habits
Difficult in rising after resting or rolling

3. LAMENESS
General Signs: Head bobbing, dropping hip, pointing, strong digital pulse
Soft swelling - Inflammation or reduced circulation
Thickening of the tendons - Strain
Hard limps - trauma or calcification
Elevated surface temp. - Usually occurs with swelling, inflammation
Digital pulse - Sever inflammation or infection
Higher up
Sensitivity in jaw, neck, withers or shoulders
Abnormal enlargements and hollows in muscle masses
Lightly press fingertips down both sides of spine. Horse should flex (hollow) back but not flinch
Press on croup, about 2/3 of the way from sacroiliac to the tailhead. Horse should swing his hips or dip his tailhead. No movement or excessive movement could indicate pain if the horse is not normally ticklish.

4. LAMENESS Increased heat Changes in shape or size
Discolored spots on sole
Abnormal wear patterns
Soft swelling
Thickening of tendons
Hard lumps
Soft swelling - Inflammation or reduced circulation
Thickening of the tendons - Strain
Hard limps - trauma or calcification
Elevated surface temp. - Usually occurs with swelling, inflammation
Digital pulse - Sever inflammation or infection
Higher up
Sensitivity in jaw, neck, withers or shoulders
Abnormal enlargements and hollows in muscle masses
Lightly press fingertips down both sides of spine. Horse should flex (hollow) back but not flinch
Press on croup, about 2/3 of the way from sacroiliac to the tailhead. Horse should swing his hips or dip his tailhead. No movement or excessive movement could indicate pain if the horse is not normally ticklish.

5. LAMENESS BACK PROBLEMS Poor shoeing Cold water on a hot back
Poorly balanced diet
Turning out a fresh horse
Inadequate dental care & bitting problems
Improper training, riding techniques
Cold water on a hot back
Inadequate warm-up & cool-down
Poorly fitting saddle &/or dirty padding
Leaving the cinch too tight for too long
Inadequate grooming

6. LAMINITIS - FOUNDER Prognosis 30% return to soundness
10% intermittently lame
10% permanent severe lameness
50% death

7. ACUTE LAMINITIS Sudden Shifting weight Stilted, shuffling gait
Fore feet extended – hind feet under the center of the body
Reluctant to move

8. ACUTE LAMINITIS Resists lifting feet Elevated heart rate Sweaty
Distressed
Strong digital pulse

9. CHRONIC LAMINITIS
Pressure on the sole from a rotated or sunken pedal bone
Breakdown of the hoof wall-pedal bone bond
Permanent changes in blood supply to the hoof wall

10. CHRONIC LAMINITIS More susceptible to: Sole bruises Abscesses
Flaring & separation of the wall at the toe
Infection beneath the separated wall
Hoof wall cracks
Degeneration of the tip of the pedal bone
Chronic lameness
Slowed hoof wall growth

11. LAMINITIS – FOUNDER Contributing Factors
Bacterial Toxin
Colic
Colitis
Potomac Horse Fever
Pleuropneumonia
Endometritis
Water founder
Postoperative colic
Black walnut wood shavings

12. LAMINITIS – FOUNDER Contributing Factors
Carbohydrate overload
Severe dehydration or shock
Corticosteriods
Pituitary gland dysfunction in older horses
Extreme load
Repeated concussion (“road founder”)
Stress related

13. LAMINITIS - TREATMENT Prevent or limit coffin bone rotation
Frog support
Wedges & trimming
Reverse shoes
Deep bedding
Restricted exercise
Surgery

14. LAMINITIS TREATMENT Relieve the pain Improve blood flow in feet
Medications
Poultices
Nerve blocks
Improve blood flow in feet

15. Navicular Syndrome

16. Tendon by eroded cartilage
Navicular Syndrome
Weight Bearing
Activates navicular bone
Compression of navicular bone
Tension of supporting ligaments
Navicular
Bursitis?
Abnormal increase
In bone density
Fracture?
Cartilage degeneration,
Especially on flexor surface
Abrasion of flexor
Tendon by eroded cartilage

17. Navicular Syndrome Weight Bearing Activates navicular bone
Compression of navicular bone
Tension of supporting ligaments
Ligament strain &
Inflammation, especially
At bottom
Tearing of
Ligament(s)?
New bone
Production at
Sides (“canoeing”)
Compensation from
Vessels at upper edge
Reduced blood flow
To & from navicular
bone
Increased blood
Pressure within navicular
bone
Loss of bone
Density around
vessels
Cavities (“flasks” or
“lollipops”) along lower edge

18. NAVICULAR SYNDROME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Foot shape
Long toes, low heels
Narrow, upright feet
Improper trimming, shoeing
Activity

19. NAVICULAR SYNDROME Signs Appears slowly
Lameness gets progressively worse
Horse tries to land toe first
Intermittent lameness
Heels contract & rise

20. NAVICULAR SYNDROME Treatment Shoeing Training Drugs
Vasodilators
Anti-inflammatory
Surgery – Palmar Digital Neurectomy

21. LAMENESS PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Icing & cold hosing Massage
Stable wraps
Topical preparations
Braces
Poultices
Sweats
Liniments
Icing and cold hosing
1st 48 hours after an injury.
Decreases bleeding and/or initial swelling
Immersed in tub of ice or ice water or cold hosed for ~20 min at a time.
15-20 min of cold therapy should be alternated with periods of hand walking.
Foot bruises and draining abscesses respond well to alternate tubs of hot and
cold water along with hand waling.
Massage
Massage in upward direction to help move blood and fluids out of leg.
Stable wraps - Standing bandaged can increase circulation to legs by creating warmth.
Topical preparations
Braces - Astringent liquids that reduce heat and minor puffiness.
Poultices - Reduce heat and acute swelling of lower legs. Applied in thin layer and covered with plastic wrap
Sweats - mildly irritating preparations for use with chronic swellings. To soothe a sore back, can be amplified by cover of warm towels, topped y a ripped open plastic bag and a cooler
Liniments - Strongest of superficial irritants to increase circulation and heat in sore, stiff muscles.