Boney spurs on pasterns

[mischamoo]

Hi all,

I've had my mare for about 3 months now and this issue never became worryingly apparent as maybe naively on me I didnt pay much attention to it or recognise what it was, but my sharer (for my other horse) was picking my mare's feet out and pointed out these hard boney lumps which are either side of each pastern on both front feet.

It wasnt a surprise to me that she said she felt these boney lumps as I've always felt them since I've had her but as they've never really caused an issue for the mare - i.e. as yet no lameness that I've not thought to much of it. She's happily in work jumping/hacking/hunting and doesnt experience any stiffness/lameness.

My sharer suggested it could be ringbone - the mare is a 7yr old TB, doesnt have fantastic confirmation up front and does slightly dish on one fore leg - does anyone know what these boney lumps could be? I only full loan her, however if i decide to proceed with the purchase I assume this would be picked up in a vetting?

 

[be positive]

They sound like sidebone, they usually cause no problems once formed but best to get her vetted before buying anyway so she can have a proper check over.

 

[HeresHoping]

Ringbone or sidebone, by the sounds of things - if you're worried, you should get it checked out, though. They are not true bone, but caused by ossification of the cartilage from the coffin bone. They can develop if your horse is worked consistently on hard ground, or, more likely, if she hasn't got great conformation and is a little upright through the pastern and narrow through the foot. If they are fully formed, they shouldn't cause any problems; they often cause lameness when forming. If they crack - from a knock, in many instances, they can be quite painful but once the calcium product starts reforming, recovery will be quite quick. I had a mare who had sidebones on all four feet. She cracked one by standing on it when someone's washing flew in her face, causing her to rear. She was crippled for about 6 weeks and then lame for the next four months. However, she seemingly literally went from lame to sound within a day once it had healed.