Page 367 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

horse jumps or stops quickly.

• The tendency to develop the condition may be inherited in Icelandic horses.
VetBooks.ir • The type and level of difficulty of work may be a factor.

•
Bone spavin may be a sequel to a specific injury.

Figures 8.10a–e Hock conformation: a) normal conformation side view: a line dropped from the point of the buttock (tuber
ischii) is parallel to the cannon bone; b) normal conformation rear view: a line dropped from the point of buttock bisects the
limb; c) cow hocks: the hocks are close together and the feet are wide apart and turned outwards; d) straight behind: this
horse has an abnormally straight hind limb, there is too little angulation of the hock and stifle joints; e) sickle hocks: there is
an excessive angle of the hock joints

CLINICAL SIGNS

Change in hind limb action

The horse is uncomfortable flexing the hock, so the height of the hind foot flight arc is

reduced. The hind limbs take shorter strides and the horse tends to land on its toe sometimes
with a ‘stabbing’ action. Some affected horses swing the limb towards the midline as it is
brought forward and then move it laterally and land on the outside edge of the foot. The toe

may be dragged causing abnormal wear of the shoe. Irregular rhythm or dragging of the toe
may be noticed or heard when riding on a hard surface and in the school the surface may be

scuffed by the hind feet.

Lameness

• Lameness which is usually gradual in onset.

• As the condition is often bilateral, the horse may show hind limb stiffness rather than a