Blemishes and Unsoundnesses part 1

Blemishes and defects in form but not function, they don't effect a horse's soundness. Unsoundnesses are defects in form and function, so they so effect a horse's soundness. Bones can break, fracture, gain, and lose bone. Tendons tear, rip, get strained, contract, and swell. Ligaments tear, sprain, and separate from bone.

Arthritis can occur where ever there is a joint. It is overstressing of cartilage over time. There are many names for it depending on which joint(s) are involved. Unsoundness.

From the Shoulder Down

Bicepts bursitis is inflammation of the bicepts bursa. It occurs when the bicepts muscle gets strained. The horse will point the effected leg and hold it away from them to ease the discomfort. The best thing to do is ice it, let the horse have a good long rest, and an anti-inflammatory drug may help. Unsoundness

Radial Nerve Paralysis is damage to the radial nerve. The horse will drag his leg and the condition is irreversible.

Capped Elbow Blemish

Popped (capped) knee occurs when something happens to irritate the synovial fluid in the joint capsules of the knee. There is an increase in synovial fluid. If this only happens once the swelling can go down, but if it happens too much the joint capsule can be permanently stretched out. Causes include trauma to the knee, OCD, epiphysitis, or being back at the knee. This is only a blemish as long as the joint capsules don't get so big that they interfere with movement.

Splints

Bucked shins (shin splints) are hard swellings on the front of the cannon bone. It is the result of stress fractures of the periostium (a thing layer of tissue which covers each bone). This happens when a horse is worked when young and unfit. If the stress is removed then the remodeling may reverse. This is an unsoundness until the new bone finished setting, then it doesn't hurt anymore and it is simply a blemish.

Bowed tendon is a tearing of the superficial flexor tendon. It tears from the inside out. Swelling of the tendon sheath occurs because of an increase is synovial fluid. This happens when the tendon is overstretched by jumping and/or galloping/racing, perhaps in soft, deep footing. Initially the swelling is very hot so it should be iced, after 24 hours the tendons should be supported, and the horse must be rested completely for 6-12 months. It was once thought that the recovery time was shorter, but ultrasound shows that is takes even longer for the injury to be completely healed. The horse's tendon will always be weaker so he can never return to his previous work load. This is because a horse's body cannot grow new tendon. The new tissue is scar tissue, which is why a previously bowed tendon will still have a slight bow in it, and it does not have as much elasticity.