What are conformation flaws in horses?

What are conformation flaws in horses?

Any conformational flaw causes deviations in where the horse absorbs concussion. Conformational defects affect the horse’s way of moving and can also lead to future lameness due to excessive stress placed on certain areas of the body during athletic movements.

What causes dropped fetlocks?

Suspensory injury is common in athletic horses placing a lot of strain on their lower limbs. Geriatric horses may experience slow dropping of the fetlock as the suspensory ligaments become stretched with age.

What can cause hind end weakness in horses?

One common cause of hind limb weakness, or paresis, is Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. EPM is caused by Sarcocystis neurona, a microscopic protozoa, that migrates randomly through the spinal cord and brain. It can affect any limb and the signs may vary; muscle atrophy is a common finding in horses with EPM.

Why do horses stand camped-out?

Camped-out horses have their hind legs set out behind the point of the buttock posterior to the imaginary line. This fault prevents the horse from getting its hind legs under itself to move collected. These horses tend to jab their legs into the ground and are unable to lift their bodies sufficiently to be good movers.

What causes a horse to be over at the knee?

Camped-out horses exert excessive concussion and stress on their knees, fetlocks, and hoofs. They are also prone to develop navicular disease and laminitis. Over at the knees is the most common of two structural deviations that exist in the knees of horses when viewed from the side.

What is splay footed in horses?

Horses that have toes that point outward (toed-out) are called splay-footed. These splay-footed horses travel with an inward hoof flight path referred to as winging or dishing in. Another structural deviation in the front legs is that in a horse that is base-narrow.

What is suspensory Desmitis in horses?

Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) or high suspensory disease, is a common injury in both the forelimbs and the hindlimbs of athletic horses and may occur in one limb or in both the forelimbs or both the hindlimbs at the same time. LAMENESS EXAMINATION.

Can horses with DSLD be ridden?

Although horses with DSLD should not be ridden, they can benefit from regular, light exercise. Try to keep them turned out as much as possible. Movement reduces stiffness and can decrease lameness. As a degenerative and progressive condition, DSLD can be challenging to manage.

What are signs of wobblers in horses?

A horse with wobblers may stumble, wear his toes abnormally, over-reach and clip the heels of the forelimbs, ‘bunny hop’ when cantering, or show excessive knuckling of hind legs. Most horses with this condition show more pronounced signs in the hindlimbs.

What are the symptoms of wobblers in horses?

Horses with wobblers syndrome will trip often and be stiff and uncoordinated when they move. They may appear to lurch as they canter, have difficulty halting smoothly, and collide the hind with the front feet. Walking up and down hills may be difficult.

What does it mean when a horse is over at the knee?

Over at the knees is the most common of two structural deviations that exist in the knees of horses when viewed from the side. This condition is commonly referred to as buck-kneed. This is a forward deviation in which the knee is set too far forward in relation to the leg.