Conformation Clinic Part 3
but they are more common on the front legs.
On either side of the main cannon bone are two small bones (called splint bones) that serve no useful purpose. Some believe they are what is left of the toes that prehistoric horses are believed to have had. Splints occur when there is a tear in the ligaments that bind the splint bones to the cannon bone. It is very common and be caused by any type of stress, over exercise, improper shoeing or orthopedic diseases. They usually develop in young horses. The area is very painful and swollen when it is first injured. Afterward, the horse will be sound, but the swollen area of scar tissue will remain permanently. Sometimes calcification takes place and may interfere with the other ligament requiring surgical correction.
Bowed tendons can be found on the back of the leg. The tendon gets over extended and is left with a permanent bow shape pulling away from the leg. When the injury first occurs there is heat, pain and swelling. The tendon is permanently scarred which causes the bulging appearance. Bows are described as high, middle, or low in relation to where they are on the cannon. Some horses are able to resume work after bowing a tendon, but the tendon is forever compromised and the horse is likely to go lame or bow the tendon again if worked too hard.
It never ceases to amaze me when I run my hands down a nice clean leg. The way my fingers slip into the groves of the cannon and splint bones. The leg is so slender my fingers almost touch together as I run one inside and one outside the leg. Watching a horse gallop, the full force of his weight bearing down on those slender legs and the springing action of the fetlock and pastern absorbing the impact is truly remarkable.
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