A behaviour change is any shift in your horse's normal attitude or responses, such as reluctance, tension, resentment or feeling less willing. It does not prove lameness, but discomfort can sometimes show as behaviour before an obvious limp appears.
Biometric gait analysis uses specialist systems or sensors to measure how evenly a horse moves. It can help detect small movement differences that are hard to judge by eye, especially in subtle or complicated lameness cases.
A bone scan, or nuclear scintigraphy, is a specialist imaging technique that helps identify areas of increased bone activity, sometimes called hot spots. It can be useful when the source of lameness is hard to pinpoint.
A bounding digital pulse is a stronger-than-normal pulse felt near the fetlock or pastern. It can be a clue that there is pain or inflammation in the foot, such as with a hoof abscess or laminitis.
This quiz is educational, not diagnostic. It helps you check what you already know and learn what vets often ask owners to look for.
Owner-first guides to help you notice patterns, reduce worry and feel prepared for your next vet visit.
Treating without diagnosing can work. But it can also mean months of time, money and effort spent managing a problem rather than solving it, while the underlying cause quietly becomes harder to treat.
Treating without diagnosing can work. But it can also mean months of time, money and effort spent managing a problem rather than solving it, while the underlying cause quietly becomes harder to treat.
Proximal suspensory injuries are a common cause of lameness and poor performance in horses. Clinical signs can vary depending on whether the forelimbs or hindlimbs are affected, and a thorough lameness examination is essential to localise the source of pain.
