How To Tell If Your Horse Is Lame
Is my horse lame?
Trainers often hear this question from their students or clients. Sometimes it is because the horse owner has noticed the horse limping or head bobbing as he makes his way across the pasture. More often, it is because the horse just feels "off" under saddle.
Here are a few tips for determining whether your horse is lame, and if so, which leg (or legs) is the problem.
How is your horse standing?
A lame horse will usually avoid placing weight on the leg (or hoof) that hurts. The horse might stand with hoof tipped up on the toe like this
Trainers often hear this question from their students or clients. Sometimes it is because the horse owner has noticed the horse limping or head bobbing as he makes his way across the pasture. More often, it is because the horse just feels "off" under saddle.
Here are a few tips for determining whether your horse is lame, and if so, which leg (or legs) is the problem.
How is your horse standing?
A lame horse will usually avoid placing weight on the leg (or hoof) that hurts. The horse might stand with hoof tipped up on the toe like this
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Or she might stand pointing the hoof forward. If a horse is foundering (laminitis) or is suffering from navicular disease, she might try to point both feet like this
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(You can read more about these diseases here.)
Whether or not your horse is showing these signs of lameness, the next step is to walk, trot, and gently longe your horse in hand on a hard surface. Watch the horse carefully. Look for head bobbing, short-striding in one or more leg, and any differences in the way the shoulders and hips move.
Your horse is lame in front
Fore leg lameness is more common than rear lameness because the horse carries over 60% of his weight on his forehand. Horses also use their head and neck to control the amount of weight delivered to the front legs, so head movement is a good indicator of lameness.
If the horse is lame on a front leg, he will dip his head down as the sound leg hits the ground and bob his head up as the sore hoof or leg hits the ground. The easy way to remember this is "down on sound".
As they say, one picture (or video) is worth a thousand words, so here are some clips of horses that are lame in front. View these to train your eye to notice front end lameness.
Here is a horse that is lame in the right fore. This video includes a slow motion section that really helps you see the lameness in action.
Whether or not your horse is showing these signs of lameness, the next step is to walk, trot, and gently longe your horse in hand on a hard surface. Watch the horse carefully. Look for head bobbing, short-striding in one or more leg, and any differences in the way the shoulders and hips move.
Your horse is lame in front
Fore leg lameness is more common than rear lameness because the horse carries over 60% of his weight on his forehand. Horses also use their head and neck to control the amount of weight delivered to the front legs, so head movement is a good indicator of lameness.
If the horse is lame on a front leg, he will dip his head down as the sound leg hits the ground and bob his head up as the sore hoof or leg hits the ground. The easy way to remember this is "down on sound".
As they say, one picture (or video) is worth a thousand words, so here are some clips of horses that are lame in front. View these to train your eye to notice front end lameness.
Here is a horse that is lame in the right fore. This video includes a slow motion section that really helps you see the lameness in action.
Here another one showing left fore lameness in walk and trot.
Your horse is lame in back
Lameness in the hind legs or hooves is usually more subtle, but you can train your eyes to notice it. The trick is to watch the pelvis and hip points. Asymmetrical movement in the pelvis and hips is a sign of hind lameness. The side that shows more up and down movement is usually the one that is lame. Also watch for stride length. The leg that shows a shorter stride is usually the one that is sore.
Here are some videos to watch to help you train your eyes to notice and diagnose hind lameness.
Your horse is lame in back
Lameness in the hind legs or hooves is usually more subtle, but you can train your eyes to notice it. The trick is to watch the pelvis and hip points. Asymmetrical movement in the pelvis and hips is a sign of hind lameness. The side that shows more up and down movement is usually the one that is lame. Also watch for stride length. The leg that shows a shorter stride is usually the one that is sore.
Here are some videos to watch to help you train your eyes to notice and diagnose hind lameness.
Test Yourself!
Now that you've seen lots of examples of lameness, try your hand on these tests. See if you can diagnose the lameness, then see what the vet has to say toward the end of each video.
Now that you've seen lots of examples of lameness, try your hand on these tests. See if you can diagnose the lameness, then see what the vet has to say toward the end of each video.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins October 6, 2017; updated May 30, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
Photo Credits:
Opening Photo: Woman shoes safety boots to a horse ID 10403320 © Mariya Kondratyeva | Dreamstime
Horse Pointing Toe: Image from page 147 of "Elements of hippology" (1908)
Foundered Horse: farriervet.com
