Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Construction of a Realistic, Whole-Body, Three-Dimensional Equine Skeletal Model using Computed Tomography Data
Published on: February 25, 2021
Retrospective analysis of lameness localisation in Western Performance Horses: A ten-year review
Sherry A Johnson1, Josh R Donnell2, Alan D Donnell2
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Background:
Similar to other high-level athletic disciplines, the western performance horse experiences a variety of orthopaedic conditions as a result of rigorous sport-specific physical demands. While musculoskeletal injury rates have been quantified in other equine disciplines, these data are lacking for the western performance athlete.
Objectives:
To identify the most common anatomical regions of lameness in western performance horses being evaluated at the nation's largest sanctioned shows over a 10-year study period.
Study Design:
Retrospective review of clinical records.
Methods:
Records of diagnostic analgesia of western performance horses competing at nationally sanctioned shows were retrospectively reviewed over a 10-year period to identify affected limb(s) and lameness localisation patterns.
Results:
A total of 2267 lameness examinations on 2512 horses were included. The average lameness grade was 2.21/5 with 1504/2267 (56%) cases being primarily forelimb in origin while 1173/2267 (44%) were hindlimb related. Forelimb lameness localised to the distal limb in 40% of cases. The proximal metatarsus/distal tarsus was an identified source of lameness in 16% of cases, followed by the stifle in 9% of cases. All-around western performance horses most commonly presented with a single hindlimb lameness (315/1188, 26.5%) in contrast to reining horses that presented with a single forelimb lameness (135/616, 22%).
Discussion:
Determining the source of lameness through diagnostic analgesia remains challenging, but the continued assessment of response to diagnostic analgesia may help characterise discipline-specific injuries in western performance horses.
Main Limitations:
Retrospective review of subjective responses to diagnostic analgesia.
Conclusions:
The distal forelimb and distal tarsus/proximal metatarsus were the two most common anatomical regions of lameness based on response to diagnostic analgesia.
