This article has been edited and approved by
Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.
Lameness in horses is well recognised, but interpreted differently by different people. It describes the horse’s gait being adversely affected by pain or a restriction in the normal range of movement and should never be ignored. This pain or restriction can originate in the hoof, in the leg or elsewhere in the horse’s body, such as the back or neck.
Lameness can range from a subtle change in gait, which is often missed by the untrained eye, to the horse being unable to carry any weight on the affected limb.
Lameness has been identified as the most common reason for older horses to be put down¹.
Lameness in horses [609 words]: Causes | Diagnosis | Prognosis
Causes of lameness in horses
Causes of lameness in horses are wide ranging and include, but are not limited to, the following conditions:
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MA VetMB CertEP CertVA MRCVS
Our equine veterinary expert has more than 30 years experience in practice. She is an FEI vet and has attended the past three Olympic and two World Equestrian Games in her role. She has a particular interest in anaesthesia, pre-purchase examinations, ophthalmology and dermatology amongst other clinical concerns. She has been Horse & Hound’s official veterinary advisor since 1991. Karen is part of the Bell Equine team.