The coronet band, also called the coronary band, is at the top of the hoof at the junction of the wall and the leg’s hairline. About 70 percent of new hoof growth generates here. To support this growth, the coronet band has a large supply of blood vessels. What body Read more…
Without a steel shoe, a hoof has the opportunity to develop calluses, a very important one being the sole callus. Why do horses get calluses? These are a thickening of the skin, like a callus, on the point of the elbow or point of hock. They’re most commonly caused by Read more…
The warts can be gray/white in color and cauliflower-like in appearance including short stalks attaching themselves to the skin. They can be as small as 1 millimeter up to several centimeters. How do you get rid of warts on horses? The warts can simply be surgically removed. This treatment is Read more…
In addition, scabs may form on the legs as your horse tries to scratch the itch. Do not wait too long and treat preventively, especially if your horse suffered a mite infection the year before. How do you treat a horse with scabs? Applying a layer of zinc-oxide based cream Read more…
Splints are hard, bony deposits that are typically found on the front legs and are one of the most common types of blemishes. Why does my horse have bumps on his legs? Skin lumps and bumps are common and can be tumors, cysts, abscesses, infections, healed flap wounds, granulomas, foreign Read more…
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a type of skeletal maturation problem that affects joint cartilage and also often involves the subchondral bone just beneath the cartilage surface. The cause of OCD has generally been considered a defect in bone mineralization at the joint surface. Can OCD in horses be cured? Once Read more…
One carrot contains about 230 milligrams of potassium. (source) Due to this relatively high potassium content, carrots are not suitable for horses with HYPP. You should never feed them carrots or any treats that contain potassium. Are carrots harmful to horses? Almost any fruits, and many vegetables, are safe treats Read more…
Stifle – Found on the hind legs only, the stifle is equivalent to the human knee joint. Located between the femur and the tiba, the stifle is below and behind the flank swirl. Knee – Also called the carpus, the horse’s knee is anatomically similar to the human wrist. Do Read more…
left side. The left side, also called the “near side,” is considered the proper side for mounting and dismounting a horse. What is the near side on a horse? leftThe horse’s left is his near side, the right his off side. We lead horses, do up their tack, and mount Read more…
Fetlock is a term used for the joint where the cannon bone, the proximal sesamoid bones, and the first phalanx (long pastern bone) meet. The pastern is the area between the hoof and the fetlock joint. What two bones form the fetlock joint in a horse? (a) The fetlock joint Read more…