Definitions

Splints: A splint is a calcification or bony growth, usually occurring on the inside of the cannon or splint bone area.  Splints are a result of trauma but can also have many other causes, such as slipping, running, and jumping, getting kicked, or receiving a concussion from hard surfaces.  Occasionally a fracture of the splint bones is possible.

Sore or Bucked Shins:  A bucked shin is an enlargement on the front of the cannon between the knee and the fetlock joints.  This enlargement, which usually occurs in the front limb, is due to trauma to the periosteum, most often caused by concussion.

Bowed Tendons or Tendonitis:  A bowed tendon is an inflammation and enlargement of the flexor tendons at the back of the front cannon.  The general cause of bowed tendons is severe strain.

Sidebones:  These are calcifications of the lateral cartilages of the third phalanx or coffin bone.  Sidebones are considered an unsoundness in a young horse because the premature ossification of the lateral cartilages will result in contracted heels and abnormal foot growth.

Ringbone:  Ringbone is an exostosis of the pastern bone in the form of a raised bony ridge usually parallel to the coronary band.  The classification of ringbone as high or low describes the location of the new bone growth, according to whether it occurs on the lower part of the first phalanx above the pastern joint (high) or the lower part of the second phalanx at the coronary band (low).

Suspensory Ligament Unsoundness:  This type of lameness is common in racehorses.  The suspensory ligament attaches to the back of the cannon bone just below the knee, travels downward, and splits above the sesamoid bones into two parts, each attaching to a sesamoid bone.

Wind Puffs or Wind Galls (Road Puffs or Road Galls): Wind puffs are soft, puffy, fluid-filled swellings that occur around a joint capsule, tendon sheath or bursa.  They are the result of excess synovia and can be found above the knee but usually are on the fetlock and pastern as a result of trauma.

Capped Elbow or Shoe Boil:  A capped elbow is a bursitis or swelling at the point of the elbow and is usually caused when the horse irritates the elbow bursa with the shoe or hoof of the front foot when lying down.

Sweeney:  Atrophy of the muscles of the shoulder due to paralysis of the supracapsular nerve is called a Sweeney.  The condition is usually caused by direct injury to the point of the shoulder and subsequent damage to the nerve.

Stifled or Upward Fixation of the Patella:  A particular type of stifle inflammation, in which the patella locks and causes the leg to remain in the extended position, is referred to as the stifled condition.  The stifle and the hock are unable to flex and the foot is dragged, but the patella can be released by manipulating the leg forward or backing the horse several steps.

Stringhalt:  Stringhalt is an exaggerated lifting and forward motion of one or both hocks that is spasmodic and involuntary.

Capped Hock:  A capped hock is one of the most common blemishes of the hind limbs.  It is a firm enlargement at the point of the hock that reflects an inflammation of the bursa.  Capped hock is caused by trauma to the hock, usually as a result of kicking a wall, trailer gate, or some solid object.

Curb:  A curb is a hard enlargement on the rear of the cannon immediately below the hock that develops in response to stress.  It develops as an inflammation and subsequently thickening of the plantar ligament on the posterior of the hock.

Thoroughpins:  A thoroughpin is a soft, fluid-filled enlargement in the hollow on the outside of the hock.  The swelling can be pushed freely from the outside to the inside of the hock by palpation.

Bog Spavin:  A soft distension on the inside front portion of the hock joint caused by an inflammation of the synovial membrane of the hock is known as a bog spavin.  Faulty conformation (such as straight hocks), strain (resulting from quick stops), and rickets (caused by a nutritional deficiency) may be predisposing causes that result in inflammation of the bursa and an increased production of synovial fluid.  It rarely interferes with the usefulness of the horse.

Bone Spavin or Jack Spavin:  A bone spavin is a bony enlargement on the lower interior surface of the hock joint that may result in limited flexion of the hock.  Faulty hock conformation, excessive concussion, nutritional deficiencies, and hereditary predisposition are considered causes of the bone spavin, but a traumatic event, such as jumping or vigorous training, is usually required to cause its development.

Quittor:  A chronic, purulent, inflammatory swelling of the lateral cartilage resulting in intermittent subcoronary abscesses is called quitter.  The condition may be caused by a trauma, puncture, bruise, or laceration near the coronary band.

Seedy Toe:  Another problem of the white line of the hoof is seedy toe, a condition where the hoof wall separates at the toe.  Good hoof-trimming practices and proper first aid will usually correct or control the condition.

Unsoundness:  The majority of the unsoundnesses in the horse result in lameness.

Cracked Hooves or Sand Cracks:  Cracked hooves, usually found on the feet of unshod horses, indicate neglect in the care of the foot.  They may be called quarter crack, toe crack, or heel crack, depending upon their location on the hoof.  Hoof cracks vary in length and depth.  When a crack reaches the coronet or the sensitive laminae, lameness usually results. 

Contracted Heels:  Contracted heels is a condition in which the frog is narrow and shrunken and the heels of the foot are pulled together.  The foot may become smaller at the ground surface than the coronary band.

Grease, Grease-heel, or  Scratches:  An inflammation of the back of the pastern is called grease, grease-heel, or scratches.  It leads to a chronic dermatitis that results in scabs, skin cracks and eventually granulation clusters.  While the case is unknown, constant moisture, mud, manure and long coarse hair in the region all encourage its onset

Thrush:  Thrush is an infection of the frog of the foot that is quite common in stabled horses.  It is caused by an anaerobic organism that causes necrosis of the tissue of the frog and a foul, blackish discharge.  Extreme cases can lead to lameness and may require veterinary attention. Generally, when treated early and if proper sanitation is followed, the condition can be easily controlled.

Gravel:  Gravel is an infection that penetrates the white line of the sole and travels under the hoof wall between the sensitive and insensitive laminae until it abscesses at the coronet.  The term “gravel” arises because a piece of stone is sometimes the causative agent but any wound, crack, bruise, or infection to the area can have similar symptoms. 

Navicular Disease:  Navicular disease is any injury of the navicular bone of the front foot.  Faulty conformation and injuries are the most important causes of navicular disease.  A straight pastern and shoulder or a small foot will increase the concussion on the navicular bone, thus forcing it against the flexor tendon and causing excess friction and possible damage.  Horses worked repeatedly on hard surfaces are predisposed to the disease, which often affects horses during their prime years (ages 6 to 10).  The disease usually begins as an inflammation of the navicular bursa.  The term “navicular disease” is also applied to the chipping or fracture of the navicular bone which may or may not be caused by earlier navicular disease damage.  As a last resort, permanent relief from pain can be accomplished by a posterior digital neurectomy (nerving), but other complications can then arise.  A horse that has had a neurectomy is considered unsound even if there are no outward signs of pain or lameness.