Unsoundness and blemishes of horses

Unsoundness and blemishes of horses are explained in this post. The term “Sound” describes a horse that has no problems or injuries that affect its usefulness. Soundness is extremely important because a horse’s usability depends on its ability to move. When you look at a horse, it is important to watch for unsoundnesses and blemishes. The difference between these two terms is in how they affect the horse.

Blemishes are an injury or imperfection which affects the appearance of the horse, but not its usefulness. For example, healed wire cuts, rope burns, and so on.

Unsoundness is an injury or defect which affects the horse’s usefulness. They may cause lameness or, in some other way, affect the horse so that it cannot be used. Horses need to be sound of sight, wind, limb and mind.

While blemishes may not look nice, they don’t affect how useful the horse will be. If your horse has unsoundness it will restrict what you can use it for.

The following is a list and description of common unsoundnesses (U) and blemishes (B) to watch for when selecting or judging horses. Some are classified as both B and U because blemishes may be unsoundnesses, depending on their severity-

Blindness (U)

Blindness (U) is a partial or complete lack of vision in one or both eyes which may be caused by injury, disease or heredity. Blind horses will not react to quick motions near the affected eye(s). Blind horses require special care if they are going to be kept.

Bog Spavin (B, U)

Bog Spavin (B, U) is a soft swelling in the natural depression on the front and inside of the hock joint, usually due to sprain, strain or faulty conformation of the hock joint. For example a horse that is too straight in the hindlegs may get a bog spavin. This rarely causes long term lameness.

Bone Spavin (Jack Spavin) (U)

Bone Spavin (Jack Spavin) (U) is a bony enlargement on the inside and front lower hock where the hock tapers into the cannon bone, usually due to faulty hock conformation, excessively straight hindlegs, cow or sickle hocks, or injury. This usually causes lameness.

Bowed Tendon (B, U)

Bowed Tendon (B, U) is an enlargement of any or all of the tendons and ligaments behind the cannon, caused by excess stretching of the tendon due to stress or faulty conformation such as long weak pasterns or toes that are too long. A bowed tendon may heal enough to return the horse to work, but the scarring leaves a bow that is never as strong as before the bow occurred. This occurs most commonly in the forelegs.

Bucked Shins (U)

Bucked Shins (U) is the inflammation of the front side of the cannon bone. This is characterized by painful swelling. The horse will usually try to rest the affected leg(s). It is seen most frequently in young horses which are subjected to hard, fast work. Lameness is usually temporary if the horse receives adequate rest.

Capped Elbow (Shoe Boil) (B)

Capped Elbow (Shoe Boil) (B) is a soft fluid-filled or firm swelling at the point of the elbow caused by insufficient bedding, kicks and falls, or by rubbing with the heel of the shoe on the elbow, while lying down.

Capped Hock (B)

Capped Hock (B) is a soft fluid-filled or firm swelling at the point of the hock. It is usually caused by lack of bedding; kicking at the sides of the box or trailer, etc.

Club Foot (U)

Club Foot (U) is the abnormally upright foot with high heel and short toe, resulting from inability to straighten the coffin joint. Severely club footed horses are unsafe to ride or drive.

Contracted Heels (B)

Contracted Heels (B) is the heels of the hoof are too close together and too upright. This is most common in the forelegs and is usually genetic, but may be due to improper shoeing. This may be associated with founder or navicular syndrome.

Cresty Neck (B)

Cresty Neck (B) is the crest of the neck is thickened by excess fat deposits. This condition increases the weight carried on the forelegs and may be an indication of laminitis. This condition may be associated with founder.

Curb (B, U)

Curb (B, U) is an enlargement of the ligament found on the upper rear part of the cannon below the hock (the plantar ligament). This is caused by injury or faulty conformation (sickle or cowhocks) and may cause lameness. Usually once healed and permanent, the horse becomes sound again.

Fistulous Withers (B, U)

Fistulous Withers (B, U) is an infection and/or inflammation of the withers that leads to an abscess and is usually caused by bruising.

Founder (Laminitis) (U)

Founder (Laminitis) (U) is an inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the foot. It is often characterized by horizontal “founder rings” in the hoof wall and is usually more severe in the front feet. The horse may stand camped out in front to relieve pressure on the front feet. The most common cause of founder is an ingestion of an excessive amount of feed.

Heaves/C.O.P.E. (Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Emphysema) (U)

Heaves/C.O.P.E. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Emphysema) (U) is a difficulty in forcing air out of the lungs due to a loss in elasticity in the lungs. This is usually more noticeable after exercise as the horse contracts abdominal muscles forcibly to expel air. It is usually accompanied by a chronic cough and a heave line (a thickened ridge of muscle along the lower side of the abdomen). The horse is unsound for strenuous work. This is often caused by dusty, moldy feed.

Hernia (U)

Hernia (U) is a protrusion of an organ or body tissue through the abdominal wall or through another natural or accidental body opening. there are two types of hernias: reducible and irreducible.

Monkey Mouth (U)

Monkey Mouth (U) is a hereditary condition in which the lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw.

Navicular Syndrome (U)

Navicular Syndrome (U) is an unsoundness caused by a degeneration of the navicular bone. The primary causes are strenuous work, concussion, improper shoeing and poor conformation (small feet, steep pasterns and shoulders). It rarely affects the hind feet. The horse may point the most affected foot or stand with the forefeet extended forward. The horse will try to land toe first when travelling to avoid frog pressure and concussion, making the stride short and choppy. No cure exists, but drugs, corrective shoeing and some surgery may be used to ease pain.

Osselets (B, U)

Osselets (B, U) is an enlargement, either fluid-filled or bony, on the front side of the fetlock joint. The horse may travel with a short, choppy stride. It is usually caused by stress and concussion from hard work or faulty conformation. Lameness is usually temporary unless the bone growth interferes with joint mobility.

Parrot Mouth (U)

Parrot Mouth (U) is a hereditary condition in which the lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw.

Poll Evil (U)

Poll Evil (U) is an inflamed area between the ears usually caused by a bruise in the poll region.

Popped Knee (Water on the Knee) (B, U)

Popped Knee (Water on the Knee) (B, U) is a swelling of the front of the knee, usually caused by injury or concussion.

Quarter Crack (B, U)

Quarter Crack (B, U) is a deep crack in the area of the outside or inside quarter, starting at the coronet and running down through the entire wall of the hoof. Requires proper hoof care.

Quittor (B, U)

Quittor (B, U) is a deep-seated inflammation of the hoof which drains pus through the coronary band. This is caused by a direct injury such as puncture wounds, cuts, interference, etc. It is usually only a temporary lameness if treated early.

Ringbone (U)

Ringbone (U) is a bony enlargement(s) (arthritis) on one or more bones and, or joints of the pastern region. It is most common in the forelegs and is caused by injury or faulty conformation such as short, upright pasterns.

Roaring (U)

Roaring (U) is characterized by a whistling or roaring sound when the horse breathes in. This occurs especially with increased respiration from exercise. It is caused by paralysis of the muscles of the larynx, often due to a lengthy respiratory infection.

Sand Cracks (B)

Sand Cracks (B) is a surface or shallow cracks in the hoof wall. They may start at the coronet and go down, or at the bottom of the hoof wall and go up. This is usually caused by improper hoof care or alternating wet and dry conditions.

Sidebone (B, U)

Sidebone (B, U) is a bony enlargement(s) above and to the rear of the hoof, a result of ossification (turning to bone) of the lateral cartilage. It is most common in the forelegs and is usually caused by concussion or faulty conformation.

Splint (B,U)

Splint (B,U) is a bony enlargement, most commonly found on the inside of the front cannon bone. May occur anywhere along the length of the splint bone. It usually is due to strain, injury or faulty conformation. It rarely affects the horse after the initial lameness has disappeared except where it occurs high enough to interfere with joint action.

Stifled (U)

Stifled (U) is when the patella, found in the stifle joint (which corresponds to the kneecap in the human), becomes displaced and locks in an extended position, it is referred to as a stifled condition. It may release on its own or may require manual manipulation. This is seen most frequently in post-legged horses and once this occurs, the ligaments are stretched and the horse will be prone to stifling again. It may be surgically corrected.

Stringhalt (U)

Stringhalt (U) is an involuntary flexion of the hock causing an upward jerking motion during movement. It may affect one or both hind legs. The cause of this is unknown and the action is accentuated when the horse is turned or backed. It is most noticeable after the horse has rested. Severe cases may be corrected surgically.

Sway Back (B, U)

Sway Back (B, U) is a weak, hollow top line. This restricts the ability of the horse to pull its legs forward beneath its hindquarters.

Sweeny (B, U) is atrophy or shrinkage of the shoulder muscles. In advanced cases, the shoulder appears flat and the shoulder blade or scapula is readily visible. Caused by a direct injury to the suprascapular nerve which serves the shoulder muscles. The nerve does not regenerate, so the performance ability of the horse is limited unless surgery is performed.

Thoroughpin (B)

Thoroughpin (B) is a puffy swelling in the hollow above the hock joint. It is moveable by hand pressure from one side of the hock to the other and is usually due to strain injury or faulty conformation. It rarely affects the horse after the initial lameness has disappeared.

Thrush (B, U)

Thrush (B, U) is an infectious condition of the frog of the hoof characterized by a black, foul smelling discharge. It is an anaerobic condition (meaning that it thrives on a lack of oxygen) and usually results from wet and/or dirty conditions. It must be treated.

Toe Crack (B, U)

Toe Crack (B, U) is a deep crack in the toe area of the hoof, starting at the coronet and running down through the entire wall of the hoof. Requires proper hoof care.

Wind puffs (Windgalls) (B)

Wind puffs (Windgalls) (B) is a puffy, fluid-filled swellings at the fetlock joint. It is usually a result of heavy work or stress to an unconditioned horse.