Page 487 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
P. 487
Affected animals may find it difficult to walk over poles on the ground. Some will stop
• and appear uncertain where to place the feet.
VetBooks.ir • Some horses will show a high stepping, spastic gait of the forelimbs; this is known as
hypermetria.
• The forelimbs are less commonly affected unless C5–7 have severe lesions. These horses
may cross their forelimbs when walking or move with an abnormally wide or stilted
forelimb gait.
• When led up a slope an ataxic horse will walk on its toes. Coming down a slope such a
horse may show a hypermetric forelimb gait and tend to knuckle over on the hind
fetlocks with the trunk swaying to one side.
• Moderate to severely affected horses may have cuts on the inside of the forelimbs and the
bulbs of their heels from overreach and brushing injuries.
• Neck pain is occasionally, but not consistently, present.
