Page 166 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Some types of lameness and neurological problems are most easily appreciated when the

horse is walking uphill or downhill. In these cases the vet will assess the horse on a slope.
VetBooks.ir Rectal examination

On occasions a rectal examination will be performed. If, for instance, a pelvic fracture is
suspected then the vet will palpate the bones making up the pelvis from within the rectum.

The horse may be walked along or gently rocked from side to side to help determine if there
is a fracture.

Auscultation

A stethoscope is sometimes used to listen for crepitus while a limb is being manipulated. If
the humerus or femur is fractured it may not be immediately obvious as the bone is held

together by the large and powerful overlying muscles. The horse will be severely lame or
even non-weight-bearing on the affected limb and this technique can aid prompt diagnosis.

Sway test

If the vet is suspicious that the horse may be a wobbler, the sway test is used to check for
hind limb weakness. The horse is asked to walk forwards and the vet will hold its tail to one
side and gradually increase the pull. A normal horse will resist this but a horse with wobbler

syndrome is easily pulled to one side.

Dental inspection

If a horse is uncomfortable in its mouth and constantly trying to evade a contact, this may
lead to tension and ultimately pain in the temporomandibular joint, the neck and back.
Lameness can develop as a result.

Checking the weight of the rider

Recent studies have shown that the weight of the rider can affect the performance of a horse
and temporary lameness can be caused if the rider is too heavy. There are many other factors

to be taken into consideration (e.g. the age, conformation and fitness of the horse, the fit of
the saddle and the balance, height and skill of the rider), but as a guide for general riding

activities, the bodyweight of the rider should be no more than 15% of the bodyweight of the
horse. A figure of 10–12% is optimum for high-performance horses competing at top level.