Subluxation of pasterns

[Anteup]

My colt was born with a contracted tendon on his left hind, had to be splinted, but was corrected, but he's never been quite right and I didn't know what it was. Well the vet was out to do his first set of shots and surprise, he has subluxation in his pasterns. Vet said that if they didn't get better by June, his 1st B-day, she wants to do X-rays. Anyone have any experience with this? I don't think I've seen improvement at all since he was born. Is he doomed to be a trail horse? I bred him to be a competitive ride for myself, but now I'm worried that strenuous show training and showing will make him sore or that he'll become arthritic early. Any thoughts?

[NancyM]

Any thoughts are not too hopeful for you or your horse. The low pasterns are normally accompanied by straight hocks, it's kind of a syndrome that goes together. It is not something that they normally grow out of, it is usually a perminent problem. Doing xrays will only show the extent of the damage which is obvious from the outside. I have never owned one that came like this from birth, only when it occurs in older horses as a part of the aging process breaking down suspension in the hind end. I have seen some that have been born like this, like yours. I would expect that this horse will be a pasture pet only, or perhaps light riding at slow speeds, at least for a while, until further damage occurs, if you can afford to keep a horse as a pet. Sorry. But since no one else had given you an answer here, I thought you deserved one, even if it probably isn't what you wanted to hear. Don't get taken for a ride by a vet who wants to continue to "diagnose" and take pictures of this, it will only be more expensive for you and do nothing to help your horse. Let your horse tell you how much activity he can participate in, and be pleasantly suprised if he can be ridden much. Good luck. These sorts of dissapointments happen with breeding horses.

[Anteup]

That sucks. Really bad. He does have straightish hocks. Do you have any idea what kind of damage occurs? Is it just arthritic changes or is it actually injury? He hasn't been unsound at all, which kinda gave me hope. I can't believe no one on here has had experience with this :/ So now do I feed him for 3 more years to find that he can't do what I need him to or do I just give him away? This really sucks. Thanks anyway!

[Laurierace]

I personally would start him on rejuvenaide or foal aide asap. May not fix the problem but it won't hurt anything. I have seen that stuff work virtual miracles so its worth a shot.

[NancyM]

Damage may occur anywhere in the hind leg column. With racing prospects I have seen with this problem, there are often OCD problems also. Extra strain on all joints and ligaments that suspend the leg column. Ligament breakdown/tearing. Arthritic hocks, ankles develop due to the strange angles and pressures put on these joints. Breaking a pastern bone is always a possibility. One broke a sesamoid on the hind leg. Often, horses who exhibit this problem early on are simply sold for meat or put down, if the owner is not one who will or can keep a horse as a pet. But if you can afford to do so, he may remain lightly ridable for some amount of time, before there is significant deterioration. Until a problem develops, they do not show lameness. Sorry. You have some hard decisions to make.