The shoulder is a “ball and socket” joint (see diagram, right), made up of the distal (furthest) aspect of the scapula, or shoulder blade, which forms a concavity, and the proximal (nearest) aspect of the humerus, which forms a head. What is a horses shoulder called? Withers: the highest point Read more…
The skeletal system of the horse has three major functions in the body. It protects vital organs, provides framework, and supports soft parts of the body. Why are skeletal systems important for animals? The skeletal system (bones and joints) fulfills several needs in an animal. The skeleton serves as a Read more…
The hock joints of your horse are located on the hind legs just above the cannon bones. They are equivalent to the human ankle. What type of joint is the hock? The hock joint is located in the hind limbs and is the equivalent of the human ankle joint. The Read more…
Hock. Tobias Titz/Getty Images. The hock joint is the largest joint on the horse’s hind legs. The joint is made of several small bones, the most prominent being the Os Calsis which gives the hock its angular shape. What is a horse’s thigh called? Each hind limb of the horse Read more…
The fetlock joint is supported by group of lower leg ligaments, tendons and bones known as the suspensory apparatus. This apparatus carries much of the weight of the horse, both when standing and while moving, and prevents the fetlock joint from hyperextending, especially when the joint is bearing weight. What Read more…
Stifle Joint – The stifle is the equivalent of the human knee and it is the largest, most complex joint in the horse. What is the most complex single joint in a horse? The stifle joint or genual (L. genu the knee) joint, commonly referred to as the stifle, is Read more…
Weak flexor tendon in horses is also known as flaccidity or dropped fetlocks. Typical symptoms include not weight bearing on the toe like he should, hyperextension of the leg, and improper hoof placement. The tendon and the muscle in the area lack strength and cause the foal to use his Read more…
Horse hay should be bright green, leafy and fine textured, with a fresh, pleasant aroma. Musty hay or other indications of mold or heating, and dust, weeds and other foreign material in hay can be unhealthy for an animal. Color is an indicator of quality and nutrient content; good hay Read more…
The most common causes of lameness in the coffin joint are synovitis (inflammation of the joint capsule) and osteoarthritis. Other abnormalities include: trauma, ligament inflammation (desmitis), and fractures to the phalanx bones. What does the coffin joint do? In regard to horses with navicular inflammation, the coffin joint provides us Read more…
Even though horses with Cushing’s syndrome are older, feeding a grain diet that is specifically labeled for senior horses is not advised as these feeds are high in sugar. Instead, a horse with Cushing’s syndrome should be fed an all-forage diet consisting of grass hays such as Orchard or legume Read more…