You want your horse to be sound and stay sound. But calling the vet out for a thorough workup every time your horse stumbles or acts stiff can get costly, and waste your veterinarian’s valuable time–especially if those problems turn out to be training troubles in disguise. On the other hand, leaving a sore horse untreated might exacerbate the current problem or create a snowball effect, leading to additional pains and discomfort throughout the horse’s body. Once that happens, you’re almost guaranteed a longer layup and more costly treatment than if you’d simply had your veterinarian out at the first sign of real trouble.

So, how do you know when to call for help in time to handle real lameness issues before they get out of hand, without wasting your money and your veterinarian’s time on non-physical problems? Start by knowing your horse’s physiology and normal behavior thoroughly, then learn the basics of lameness detection.

Inspect Daily

It’s easy to say, “Just check your horse for unusual swellings, stiffness, or sensitivity.” But, says Bill Moyer, DVM, a lameness specialist and head of the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, “Things like heat and swelling are only obvious if you’ve looked at your horse enough to know what’s normal.”

A daily inspection will do the trick, and it doesn’t have to be an intense, hour-long ordeal. Just be observant as you groom, handle, ride, and hang out with your horse.

For instance, with your horse standing still, get to know what’s normal in areas such as:

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  Symmetry of muscles, joints, and hooves. It’s not unusual for one hoof to be shaped slightly differently than another or for one pastern to be slightly “puffier” than another.

  
  
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  Wear patterns on hooves (or shoes, if the horse is shod).

  
  
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  Sensitivity to brushing. For instance, some horses normally flinch if you brush too hard over their loin; others flinch only if they’re sore.

  
  
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  General attitude and related habits, such as ear-pinning or tail-swishing, or, on the opposite extreme, falling asleep in the cross-ties or mooching for treats. Any change from normal behavior might signal a health problem

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