Western Performance Horse Injuries and Problems

Tarsitis (hock inflammation) is a common problem for Western performance horses since they use their hind ends heavily during events such as reining and cutting. Black believes that a large percentage of high-performance Western performance horses have this problem. He said it is hard to keep these horses in training for futurity events since they are worked so hard.
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Attendees of the Western Performance Horse Sunrise Session at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners' convention were greatly interested in lameness problems that plague Western performance horses. Moderators Jerry Black, DVM, past president of the AAEP and a senior partner of Pioneer Equine Hospital in Northern California; and Scott Taylor, DVM, from the Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Center in Gilbert, Ariz.; fielded questions from the audience of veterinarians, technicians, and veterinary students in the informal discussion.

Common Lameness Problems

Tarsitis (hock inflammation) is a common problem for Western performance horses since they use their hind ends heavily during events such as reining and cutting. Black believes that a large percentage of high-performance Western performance horses have this problem. He said it is hard to keep these horses in training for futurity events since they are worked so hard.

Taylor agreed that hind limb problems, especially hock problems, are the majority of his cases, making up 60% of the lameness problems he sees. He said that another 20% turn out to be problems with the stifle, and other problems make up the other 20% of his cases

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Sarah Evers Conrad has a bachelor’s of arts in journalism and equine science from Western Kentucky University. As a lifelong horse lover and equestrian, Conrad started her career at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care magazine. She has also worked for the United States Equestrian Federation as the managing editor of Equestrian magazine and director of e-communications and served as content manager/travel writer for a Caribbean travel agency. When she isn’t freelancing, Conrad spends her free time enjoying her family, reading, practicing photography, traveling, crocheting, and being around animals in her Lexington, Kentucky, home.

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