Page 1034 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

1000 Chapter 9

RIDER # NAME
VetBooks.ir CHECK #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6
ARRIVAL TIME

PR TIME
PULSE

OUT TIME
Mucous Membranes
Capillary Refill
Jugular Refill
Gut Sounds
Skin Tenting
Anal Tone
Muscle Tone
Back Withers
Tack Galls
Wounds
Gait
Impulsion
Attitude
Overall Impression

COMMENTS
Heart Rate Recovery
#1
#2
Examiner
B.
Figure 9.42. (Continued)

trast to examinations during competition, the BC exam working environment for practitioners who are sports
often includes limb palpation and mild flexion. Similar medicine enthusiasts.
to the routine exams during competition, horses are As indicated above, lameness examinations during
evaluated for lameness at a trot. In addition, during the competition are typically limited to observation from
BC lameness examination, horses are also frequently a distance, with the exception of the foot evaluation.
evaluated in a circle in both directions. Performance‐ While limb palpation and joint flexion are used dur­
enhancing medications are not allowed during endur­ ing the BC exam, this depth of examination during
ance competitions, and both the FEI and AERC competition is typically reserved for horses that are
governing bodies use random drug testing for prohib­ eliminated to direct further diagnostics and treat­
ited substances. ment. If a soft tissue injury is suspected in horses with
only a grade 1 or 2 lameness at a vet gate, the flexor
surfaces are frequently palpated when considering
THE LAMENESS EXAMINATION elimination. Consistent examination of the foot also
is important in these horses because removing a rock
It is not uncommon for an individual to perform sev­ lodged in the frog sulcus or replacing a lost, displaced,
eral hundred lameness exams during any given ride, or bent shoe may resolve or improve the lameness and
depending on entries, ride distance, and number of ride allow the horse to continue (Figure 9.44). Thus, riders
veterinarians. This provides a great training ground for have the option to re‐present for lameness evaluation
students and new graduates as well as an enjoyable after farriery.