Horse Lameness Examination

Gathering Information About Your Horse’s Medical History and Lifestyle

Information about your horse’s medical history and lifestyle can help our vet accurately diagnose the cause of the lameness. The staff at Sibley Veterinary Clinic will ask you questions specifically related to lameness, such as when it first began.

We’ll acquire information about your horse’s age and breed. Horses are more likely to develop certain issues as they age while some breeds are more prone to certain problems. During this part of the lameness examination, Dr. Berkland will ask about your horse’s training regimen and any information about riding. We’ll also ask you for information about when your horse was last shoed.

About the Physical Examination

The second part of your horse’s lameness examination consists of a physical examination. Dr. Berkland will assess your stallion or mare at rest to check his or her balance and ability to bear weight. Dr. Berkland will look for any obvious signs of an injury or stress at this point as well. The physical exam may also include watching your horse walk. By analyzing your horse in motion, our practitioner can look for signs of a problem, such as gait deviations, short strides, unusual weight shifting, stiffness, etc.

Dr. Berkland will also perform a hands-on exam by checking your horse’s tendons, muscles, bones, and joints for any evidence of swelling, pain, or other abnormalities. A joint flexion test consists of our veterinarian holding your horse’s limb and bending it. When your horse moves afterward, our vet evaluates his movement for irregularities and signs of pain.

At the appointment, our practitioner may use a hoof tester, which is a device that applies pressure to the bottom of your horse’s feet. It evaluates the soles for sensitivity and pain.