What to Expect During

DULUTH, Ga. (March 27, 2023) —

Whether a horse “feels off” under saddle or has a noticeable limp, a lameness exam helps to pinpoint the source of the problem and sets the foundation for a treatment plan. Consulting with a veterinarian right away, even in minor cases, decreases lost riding time and increases the chance of recovery.

Start the process with a phone call to your veterinarian’s office. In most cases, your veterinarian will want to examine your horse at their earliest opportunity, which depending on their schedule may be days away. If so, follow their advice for what to do in the meantime regarding giving any anti-inflammatory medications, if the horse can be turned out, or have any exercise. If the horse is unable to bear weight on the leg or seems painful in both front feet as seen with laminitis, those are worthy of an emergency call.

Finding the pain

Identifying the source of the lameness is like a scavenger hunt—it is not necessarily in the part of the body suspected. For example, a right front leg lameness may be suspected when the limp seems worse when circling to the right, but a left front leg issue might be the culprit.

Another example: a rider with a horse that is unable to bring his limb forward in a normal stride believes it is shoulder lameness. However, shoulder issues are rare in adult horses unless it is secondary to trauma. That means the pain could be further down the leg or even in the neck.

That is why it is so important to allow your veterinarian to perform a complete exam, even in horses that have had previous issues localized to one area. The lameness exam informs a veterinarian’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Here’s what to expect when the veterinarian arrives.

Visual and physical observations

Veterinarians begin every exam by visually observing the horse and by palpating or feeling each part of the horse’s body. In this step, veterinarians look for heat or inflammation, flinching at the touch, or a decreased range in motion.

Putting their hands on the horse helps them focus on areas that may be the source of the pain.