Lame horse meaning how to#

When the horse has pain in one of his front feet, he will try to take the pressure off it by leaning more on the other foot. The typical sign of forelimb lameness is head bobbing.

Lame horse meaning how to#

In the following section, we’ll discuss the signs of forelimb and hindlimb lameness and how to assess a horse for each one. Moreover, mild lameness might only show up in trot or canter, while the horse will appear normal in walk. Keep this in mind when your horse seems “lazy” or unmotivated during exercise as he might actually be in pain. In the early stages, lameness can also manifest as a reduced willingness to work. Hence, any pain in these tissues will become more obvious on one of these surfaces. Hard surfaces put more pressure on bones and joints, while soft surfaces have a greater effect on tendons and ligaments. When looking for signs of lameness, it’s a good idea to examine your horse on both a hard and soft surface. Lunging also helps detect lameness as it magnifies any pain in the inside legs. Ask an experienced person to watch your horse as you walk and trot him up and down a straight line on a level surface. The best way to tell if a horse’s lame is to perform a simple lameness exam. Therefore, it’s our responsibility as horse owners and riders to learn the signs of lameness and call the vet if necessary.

In this article, we look at lameness and what you should do if your horse is lame! How Can You Tell a Horse Is Lame?Įarly detection of lameness can significantly speed up a horse’s recovery. Non-weight bearing lameness should be treated as an emergency as the horse cannot stand on all four feet. We can distinguish two types of lameness in terms of severity: weight-bearing and non-weight bearing. Lameness is usually either in the front or hind feet, but in rare cases, it can be in both. You might notice the horse trying to put less weight on a certain foot, but early signs of lameness are more subtle. When a horse is lame, they are compensating for musculoskeletal pain by altering their stance or gait.

Learning more about the causes, prevention, and diagnosis of lameness is the first step towards making sure your horse receives the best possible care should the problem arise. Lameness is a common problem in all horses and ponies and can become serious if ignored.