Some sects suggest a palmar angle of 0 degrees as an ideal, while the widely accepted normal range lies between 2 – 7 degrees. What is negative palmar angle horse? Simply stated, the negative palmar angle results from a loss of the soft tissue structures (especially the digital cushion) in Read more…
The lower surface of the hoof, from the outer walls and the inner frog and bars, is covered by an exfoliating keratinised material, called the ‘sole’. Just below the coronet, the walls are covered for about an inch by a cornified, opaque ‘periople’ material. What is horse sole made of? Read more…
These bones are on the lower part of the leg, and run between the knee and the fetlock joint below. Bucked shins are more common in 2- to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that are just starting to train or race. It is estimated that up to 70 percent of these horses have Read more…
The metatarsal bones are typically five long bones at the distal end of the pelvic limb. Does a horse have metatarsals? The second and fourth metatarsals of the horse are two splint bones which run down the sides of the cannon bone (third metatarsal and the largest bone in the Read more…
Rendering/Carcass Disposal: Vendors who will pick up and remove deceased horses from an owner’s property and dispose of the carcass. Please note: Many vendors serve large geographic areas, some of which cross multiple states. What does it mean to render a horse? Rendering is a process that converts waste animal Read more…
A calf knee, or a knee that bows back, is a serious flaw that puts stress on the back of the knee, often resulting in tearing of the flexor tendons. “It puts severe stress on the soft tissue running down the back of the leg.” Conversely, horses who are over Read more…
Draft animals are used for work, and being cow-hocked helps pull a load because the animal can more easily get it’s feet under themselves to aid in pulling. However, when severe cow-hocks are present, the leg’s bony column doesn’t line up, and the limb’s ability to handle loading forces is Read more…
Cow-hocked This flaw – a result of the medial section of bones of the tarsus growing more quickly than the lateral part – causes the hind legs to be narrow at the hocks and base-wide from the hocks to the hooves. Can you correct cow hocks in horses? The deformity Read more…
June 1, 2020 /in Horse Health / Angular limb deformities (ALD) occur in foals and if left untreated may result in lameness and poor performance as adults. These deformities can be present at birth or develop as the foal ages. What is ALD in foals? Young foals can commonly have Read more…
Genetics, a twin birth or inadequate nutrition during gestation may be factors. If a horse develops it within a few weeks after birth, suspect a nutrition issue, excessive exercise or trauma as possible causes. What causes windswept legs? What can cause a windswept deformity? Windsweeping is often seen in individuals Read more…