A REVIEW OF HINDLIMB LAMENESS IN THE
SPORTHORSE
Michael Schramme
VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy L’Etoile, Rhône-Alpes, France
Introduction
A careful and logical approach to the examination of a lame horse is
required if the clinician is to arrive at an accurate diagnosis of the cause or
causes of the lameness. The development of such a system depends on
an appreciation of the way in which the individual aids to diagnosis
complement each other. This paper outlines a protocol which maximizes
the information obtained from each part of the lameness examination, in
the hope that standardization will lead to more consistency both in the
examination of the lame horse and also in the examination of the horse for
purchase.
Gait Evaluation
The aim of this part of the examination is to identify:
1. The presence or absence of a gait abnormality.
2. The limb or limbs involved.
3. The character of any abnormality present.
4. The degree of abnormality.
This part of the examination involves close scrutiny for any asymmetry of
gait and head ca rriage which might indicate the presence of lameness,
and the leg or the legs which are affected. Initial evaluation should be
performed at the walk to identify those horses which are markedly lame
where trotting may be hazardous. Variations in foot placement and limb
movement, e.g. shortening of one phase of the stride on one limb, are
generally most easily appreciated at the walk when limb movement is
slower. In addition, mechanical and neurological causes of lameness are
often more apparent at the walk.
The trot is the most consistent and easily graded as it is a symmetrical 2beat gait. The horse should be observed moving in a straight line and at an
even pace from in front, the side and behind. Hindlimb lameness is best
observed while the horse is trotted away or past and away from the
examiner. Observation from the side is easier if the observer is on the side
of the lame limb. Pelvic movements are key to the recognition of hindlimb
lameness.
Hindlimb lameness can be observed clinically in different ways, according
to clinician preference:
By assessing the vertical movement of the entire pelvis throughout the
stride and comparing this vertical movement during both halves of the
stride
15-‐18
February
2016
East
London
Convention
Centre,
East
London,
South
Africa
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