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Discussion on Preventing future unsoundness...
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 10, 1999 - 11:40 am:
Hi all,
I have an Azteca filly that will be comming in to her 3 year old year. For those not familiar with the breed they are a very late matureing breed, commonly not ridden untill 4 years old, and sometimes still polishing off development into 6 and 7 years. My question is:
I have been considering haveing her knees and shoulders xrayed before I put her under saddle to ease my mind that her bones are closed so as to try to reduce possible injury and future unsoundness. Has anyone done this? Was is informative? What specific joints should be viewed to get an accurate perception of development stage (Dr. O)? Is there a better alternitive or additional exam that would assist this?
Cost is not the concern, but getting an accurate perception of development is.
Thanks-
Emily
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 10, 1999 - 12:34 pm:
Hello Emily,
As long as you start slow (avoid a lot of lunging early) and give plenty of time to mature (when the horse looks mature, he is) I see nothing to be gained from radiographing the legs of a otherwise normal horse. I know of no scientific correlations between the findings on these type radiograhs and future unsoundness.
More important is good nutrition, appropriate body condition (not too fat) and careful observation of the legs for early signs of stress: wind puffs, swelling in the pasterns and cannons, stiffness the day after exercise, becoming increasingly unhappy during exercise, etc.
DrO
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