:: LAMENESS EXAM
Evaluating The Lame Horse

Stress, strain, or injury can take a toll on any horse, even one with no obvious conformation defects. When lameness occurs, you should contact your Veterinarian promptly. A prompt examination can save you time, money, and frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately, possibly preventing further damage. The goal of such early examinations is to keep small problems from becoming big ones.

LAMENESS DEFINED

EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Radiographs. X-rays are useful in identifying damage or changes to bony tissues. Radiographs should be interpreted only by an experienced and knowledgeable veterinarian, since not all changes are cause for concern. Radiographs provide limited information about soft tissue, such as tendons, ligaments, or structures inside the joints, which are often the source of lameness.

• Diagnostic nerve and joint blocks. These analgesic techniques are perhaps the most important tools used to identify the location of lameness. Working from the foot up, the veterinarian temporarily deadens sensation to specific segments of the limb, one joint at a time, until the lameness disappears. This procedure isolates the area of pain causing the lameness. Blocks can also help determine whether the condition is treatable.

• Scintigraphy (Nuclear scanning). Radioisotopes injected intravenously into the horse are concentrated in inflamed areas. These areas can be scanned with a gamma camera, providing an image of the trouble site.

• Arthroscopy. This procedure allows optical examination of internal joint tissues or tendon sheaths. It requires general anesthesia but may be the only way to define the damage. Some diagnoses can only be made with arthroscopy.

• Ultrasound (Sonography). This procedure uses ultrasonic waves to image internal structures.

• Blood, synovial (joint) fluid, and tissue samples. These samples can be examined for infection or inflammation. Such examinations usually require laboratory testing.

  AAEP LAMENESS SCALE

  Because each horse has unique performance characteristics, evaluating lameness can be challenging. Experienced riders may detect minor alterations in gait before they are apparent to an observer. Lameness may appear as a subtle shortening of the stride, or the condition may be so severe that the horse will not bear weight on the affected limb.

  With such extremes of lameness possible, a lameness grading system has been developed by the AAEP to aid both communication and record-keeping. The scale ranges from zero to five, with zero being no perceptible lameness, and five being most extreme.

  The AAEP guidelines explain the grading system this way:

  1. Lameness not perceptible under any circumstances.

  2. Lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances (e.g., weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surface, etc.)

  3. Lameness is difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line but consistently apparent under certain circumstances (e.g., weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surface, etc.)

  4. Lameness is consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances.

  5. Lameness is obvious at a walk.

  6. Lameness produces minimal weigh bearing in motion and/or at rest or a complete inability to move.

  MORE ABOUT OBSERVING THE HORSE IN MOTION

  The veterinarian should observe the horse on both soft and hard surfaces, since different types of lameness may become apparent with different footing. In addition, lameness may only be apparent when the horse is under saddle, or it may be manifest only at liberty or on a long line when the horse can be evaluated without the influence of the rider.

  A horse's walk and trot may be especially revealing.The slower gait of the walk makes it easier to observe slight deviations that aren't readily apparent at a faster pace. However, the trot is perhaps most useful for evaluating lameness because it is the simplest gait, consisting of a two-beat stride pattern, and because the horse's weight is distributed evenly between diagonal pairs of legs. The speed and concussion of a faster pace may help elicit pain, but identification of the affected limb is facilitated by the slower gaits.

  LAMENESS EVALUATIONS IN RELATION TO PURCHASE EXAMS

  Evaluation for the presence of lameness should be part of every purchase evaluation. While it is impossible to predict a horse's actual performance, the veterinarian can provide information regarding lameness or potential lameness by evaluating conformation, movement, medical history, past performance, and existing medical conditions. The extent of the exam will be determined by the buyer and veterinarian. Value, intended use, and long-term goals may be factors in selecting certain exam procedures. For example, radiographs, sonograms, and other diagnostic tests provide comprehensive pictures of the horse's condition, but they also add to the exam's cost.

  The most important question your veterinarian will ask is: What will you be doing with this horse?

  Your veterinarian will then weigh conformation, movement, and medical considerations against the type and level of performance expected, A horse that is fine for a daily pleasure ride may not hold up under more strenuous activities.

  LAMENESS EVALUATION

  In the purchase lameness exam, the veterinarian will try to determine two things:

  1) Is the horse lame at the present time, or are there existing conditions that deserve a closer look?

  2) What is the likelihood that the horse will remain serviceable for its intended use? Age, health, expected level of activity, conformation, and past use will be considered.

  The veterinarian will inform the owner of the relevant facts and risks, and the owner can then decide whether to Purchase the horse.

  LIMITATIONS OF PURCHASE EXAMS

  It is important to remember that even a favorable report following a lameness exam does not guarantee there are no problems. Many factors can affect a horse's short and long-term ability to perform. Factors in the lameness equation include many variables, such as:

  • Conformation

  • Hoof care

  • Use of protective leg gear

  • Fitting and conditioning of the horse

  • Degree and manner of training

  • Type and level of performance

  • Age

  • Skill, balance, and experience of the rider

  • Type or condition of the sound on which the horse performs

  • Disease or injury

  • Genetic predisposition

  • Others

  In order for your veterinarian to evaluate a horse fairly, the animal should be fit, conditioned, and in training for its intended use. A horse that has been laid off for an extended time will be difficult to evaluate for lameness. One option may be to ask that the horse be returned to training and then re-examined after 30-60 days. Depending on the horse's value, such a request may be reasonable. Ask your veterinarian.

  GOOD STEWARDSHIP 

  Lameness is a complicated condition, With many possible causes. Be a conscientious observer. If you suspect a problem, discontinue riding your horse and seek advice from your veterinarian promptly.

  By identifying even a minor lameness and acting swiftly to correct it, you will minimize the risk of injury to the horse and yourself, and you will be rewarded by better performance and a longer useful life from your horse.

  This brochure was developed By the American Association of Equine Practitioners through a grant from Bayer Corporation, Animal Health.

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