Like all professional athletes, your horse will have its share of aches, pains, minor injuries and, sometimes, major injuries as a result of training and competition.
Obviously if your horse is sound, it will require fewer treatments than an unsound horse. If your trainer is one who does not rely heavily on medications or veterinary consultation, the monthly cost to you will be considerably less than one who does. Nevertheless, it seems that at one time or another nearly every horse will go through a period of serious illness or injury that will cost a lot of money to treat.
As an owner, you can protect yourself against unnecessary costs by education and communication. You should try and understand, as much as possible, the purpose and cost of each treatment, procedure or medication performed on or given to your horse. Also, communicate by having a discussion with your trainer in which you learn the trainer’s philosophy concerning the extent to which a vet is going to be used, setting a dollar limit beyond which your trainer must consult with you before ordering treatment and keeping in contact with your trainer so you are prepared for any unusual medical outlays.
Common Medications and Injections
Adequan: A common anti-arthritic medication used to stabilize articular cartilage. It is also used prophylactically to prevent day-to-day loss of cartilage components.
Banamine (flunixin meglumine): Like aspirin and bute, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is available in injectable and tablet form. It is commonly used to treat colic.
Clenbuterol: A bronchodilator used to treat respiratory disease. Its trade name is Ventipulmin. It works by relaxing smooth muscle tissue in the airways, returning constricted air passages to normal size.
De-worming: Given at least four times per year. If an oral paste is used, trainers may administer it themselves.
Flu and Rhinopneumonitis Vaccinations: Given to prevent respiratory infections.
Furosemide (trade name Lasix): A diuretic used for the prophylactic treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH or bleeding), which is believed to work by lowering pulmonary-arterial pressure.
Gastrogard (omeprazole): An oral paste used to treat equine ulcers.
Gentamycin: A broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Hyalronic Acid: Also known as hyalronate or hyalronan, is the natural lubricant in the joints. It is injected into the joint, sometimes with cortisone, to reduce inflammation.
Penicillin: An antibiotic.
Phenylbutazone (bute): A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is available in injectable and tablet form.
Vitamin “jug”: Usually a mixture of vitamins and electrolytes in ½ to 1 liter of fluids administered after strenuous exercise.
Common Injuries and Ailments
Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), commonly known as bleeding
Bowed tendon: An inflammation and enlargement of the flexor tendon at the back of the front cannon bone. The general cause is severe strain. Back at the knees, long, weak pasterns, a long toe and low heel and improper shoeing are all predisposing causes. The bowed appearance is due to the formation of fibrinous tissue. Bows are classified as low, medium or high depending on location. Treatment usually requires long periods of rest; six months to a year on the farm is normal.
Bucked shins: An enlargement on the front of the cannon bone between the knee and the fetlock joints. This enlargement is due to trauma to the periosteum (thin sheathing which covers the bone), most often caused by concussion. Generally, the condition is confined to soreness, but if a periostitis (calcium deposit) occurs new bone growth can result that gives one the perceived look of a “bucked” shin. This injury occurs most often in young horses in heavy training.
Splint: A calcification or bony growth, usually occurring on the inside of the cannon bone or splint bones. It typically results from a tear of the interosseous ligament that binds the splint bone to the cannon bone, but can result from any inflammation of the periosteum. This condition is most commonly caused by concussion with a hard surface.
Torn Suspensory Ligament: The suspensory ligaments run from the top end of the back side of the cannon bone (and knee or hock) down to the sesamoids and the pastern bone. These are among the most stressed of all tissues in the racehorse’s body, and are therefore one of the most common sites of injury.
Bone chip in the knee or ankle: Pieces of broken bone off the knee or ankle (usually from racing stress). If chips remain attached they may not interfere with the action of the horse’s leg, but can be extremely painful and usually require removal by arthroscopic surgery.
Slab fracture: A break in the knee whereby the “slab” of a carpal bone splits and the front part becomes detached. This can often be repaired surgically. While a slab fracture does not necessarily mean the end of a horse’s career, it is a serious injury.
Condylar Fracture: A fracture of the condyle of the cannon bone. The condyle is the bulbous bottom or distal end of the cannon bone that fits into the fetlock joint.
Sesamoid Fracture: The sesamoids are two small, delicate bones located at the back of the fetlock, held in place only by ligaments. These little bones located just behind the pastern serve as pulleys over which the deep digital flexor tendons pass. A fracture to the sesamoids usually involves an injury to the suspensory apparatus.
Curb: A hard enlargement on the rear of the cannon bone immediately below the hock. It begins as an inflammation of the plantar ligament and the inflammation leads to a thickening of the ligament.
Grabbed Quarter: While running, the horse “grabbed” one of its front hooves with a rear hoof, tearing skin and tissue.
Quarter Crack: Under stress, or if improperly shod, the hard substance of the hoof (similar to the human fingernail) can crack and become a source of pain – sometimes including the development of an infection in the exposed soft tissue underneath.
Colic: Colic is a general term used to describe pain in the gastrointestinal tract of a horse. Colic can happen any time to any horse and has many causes.
Hoof Care
Flat Steel Training Plates: These shoes are used primarily for horses in light training.
Queens’ Plates: Aluminum, and thus, light-weight training plates without a toe grab. Horses occasionally run in these shoes when ease in the break-over of the foot is important.
Egg-Bar Shoes: Generally, these special shoes are used for horses with quarter cracks, broken coffin bones, sore or under-slung heels, etc. Egg-bar shoes distribute weight over a larger circumference, and thus are useful whenever stability of the foot is necessary.
D-Bar Shoes: Similar to Egg-Bar shoes in that they can relieve frog pressure which helps to relieve the soreness of navicular disease.
Half Aluminum Bar Pads: These shoes are used to relieve pressure from the heel portion of the foot. They aid horses with sore heels, as well as those with navicular disease, broken cofin bones, and bruised frogs.
Glue-On Shoes: Unlike, shoes, which are nailed to the hoof’s outside wall, glue-on shoes are adhered to the hoof using a very strong bonding agent. They are useful on horses with thin hoof walls, and horses which are chronically sore in the soles of the feet.
Bonded Shoes: Bonded shoes contain an additional rim pad which many believe absorbs shock. They can be useful since the rim pad acts as a “spacer,” keeping the soles of the foot up and off the ground.
Outer Rim Shoes: Outer rim shoes are mainly used for horses running on the turf. They are best explained as having a continuous toe grab running along the outside perimeter of the shoe. This “outer rim” assists in keeping the shoe and hoof more equally balanced.
Toe Grab: A toe grab acts as a “cleat” on the toe of the shoe, providing additional traction. Like most “cleats,” they are available in both a small and large grab. Aluminum shoes with toe grabs are the most common shoes used on racehorses.
Quarter Horse Grabs: Larger than the regular toe grabs, they are primarily used on the hind feet for added traction.
Jar Calks: Jar calks are cleats in the rear portion of the shoe that provide added traction in the mud.
Outside Sticker: These shoes have a cleat on the outside branch of the shoe that is commonly used in the mud for traction, as well as on horses that “hit” (interfere with) themselves while running. It is important to remember that this shoe may take the foot out of balance and thus create additional problems.
Blocked Heels: This shoe has two cleats placed at the farthest portion of the heel on the inside and outside of the shoe for added traction especially in the mud. Blocked heel shoes are placed only on the hind feet, and they may also be used on horses that run down (burn their heels), or overextend themselves behind as the cleats reduce sliding.
Conformation
Like a human athlete, a horse’s physical conformation comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. There is no perfect horse. Remember that in examining a horse the purpose is to exclude those with physical faults that your advisor(s) considers unacceptable.
Overall Considerations
- Balance – Is the horse well proportioned? Does the frame suit its muscle?
- Bone – Does it appear to be substantial—not too fine/light?
- Intelligence – Does the horse seem in control, aware of its surroundings, alert?
- Athleticism – Does the horse look physically fit and capable?
Lateral or Side View
Feet – A horse’s hooves must be able to withstand a great deal of pressure. Consider proportion, substance, and size of the hoof. The underside of the hoof should have a round, slightly oval shape with some depth. Some believe that larger feet indicate an aptitude for turf.
Pasterns – The pastern should be at a 45-degree angle. Its length should be proportionate – too long a pastern could indicate weakness and tendon strain, while if too short it may absorb too much concussion thus stressing the bone structure.
Ankle – As with the pastern, the ankle joint size should be proportionate to the rest of the leg.
Cannon Bones – Ideally, the cannon bone should be short, strong and have mass.
Knee – Bones in and leading to the knee should line up in a balanced manner – not tilting forward (“over at the knee”) or back (“back at the knee”).
Shoulder – The shoulder should have the same slope or angle as the pastern. Stride length is largely determined by the shoulder.
Neck – A horse’s neck should be sufficient in scope so as to provide adequate wind for the horse, and be well tied in at the withers, while not being too low or “ewe necked”. In short, does the neck fit the rest of the body?
Head – Nostrils should be of adequate size. The head should be broad enough to permit adequate air passage. Generally, the distance from the back of the jaw to where the head ties into the neck should be about the size of a fist.
Eyes – The eyes should be big and bright. Look for an “intelligent,” keen, alert eye.
Back – The distance from the withers to top of croup or hips should match the length of the horse’s neck from the poll to the withers.
Hip/Buttocks – The croup or hip should have a gentle slope – not too steep or flat. The gaskin should depict strength.
Hocks – A horse’s hocks should not be straight as a post, nor curved so deeply as to be sickle hocked, or behind the body like a German Shepherd Dog. The horse should be standing balanced and straight.
Front View
Feet – Look for balanced feet on both sides and symmetry. Avoid misshapen, dished, or cracked feet.
Cannon Bones – From the front, the cannon bones should appear straight and of the same length.
Knees – It is best if the knees are set squarely on the top of the cannon bones, not off to one side or another – “offset knees.”
Chest – A horse’s chest should be broad, and appear powerful. Narrow chests or slab-sided horses are said to lack power.
Shoulder – Look for balance and symmetry.
Rear View
Hocks – From the rear, the hocks should appear to point straight at you, and not turn in or out — “cow hocks.”
Hip/Buttocks – Note that much of the animal’s athleticism and power comes from behind. Definition and development are key attributes.
Front/Rear view – The horse should move straight toward and away from you. Observe whether the horse toes-in or toes-out as it walks.
Side view – Check for the overstep, meaning do the hind feet reach beyond the front hoof prints? Observe the horse’s head. Be certain it does not bob unusually when walking as this may indicate soreness or lameness.
Walk – Look for a smooth long stride.
Final Impression
Remember, every horse has some physical “fault” with regard to pedigree and conformation. The art or science of evaluating a horse is deciding which of those faults are less likely to adversely impact the intended use of the animal. Everyone has different thresholds with regard to what constitutes acceptable faults. Establish you own thresholds, but be realistic considering your budget.
