Lameness in horses is one of the most worrying signs for a rider or owner. It almost always indicates pain, imbalance or musculoskeletal damage, ranging from a simple muscle spasm to a more serious injury.
Understanding where this pain occurs and why it arises allows you to act quickly, avoid complications and help the horse move more healthily.
The areas most affected by lameness in horses
Horses are athletes with a complex balance: each stride involves constant interaction between muscles, tendons, joints and bone structure. Certain areas, which are more stressed than others, are more prone to lameness.
1. The front legs: the supporting pillars
The forelimbs support nearly 60% of the horse's weight. With each transition, landing or change of balance, significant forces are exerted on:
• the tendons,
• the fetlock joints,
• the structures of the foot.
This area is therefore particularly prone to lameness, especially in cases of intensive work, uneven terrain or unsuitable shoeing.
The most common causes:
• Tendinitis (superficial flexor, perforated)
• Fetlock joint problems: sprain, early osteoarthritis
• Foot pain: laminitis, abscess, seime, navicular syndrome
The slightest tension in a tendon or muscle can alter the entire locomotion, because everything is interconnected. A simple discomfort can create a lasting compensation pattern.
2. The hind limbs: the engine of propulsion
While the front legs carry the weight, the hind legs push.
They mobilise a powerful set of muscle groups: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps… and complex joints such as the hock, which is heavily used in:
• upward transitions,
• collected work,
• jumping,
• climbing.
Hind limb lameness is often less obvious, but just as troublesome. It manifests itself in:
• a lack of impulsion,
• difficult transitions,
• a hollow back,
• a horse that ‘drags’ a hind limb or engages poorly.
Among the most common causes are:
• Hock problems: spavin, sprains, bone cysts
• Contractures of the gluteal muscles and semitendinosus
• Muscular imbalances between the pelvis and topline
This type of lameness is often confused with a back problem, as compensations can quickly spread throughout the entire muscle chain.
3. The topline: the centre of locomotion transmission
From the neck to the croup, the topline acts as a veritable elastic chain. It transmits propulsion, absorbs shocks and coordinates the entire movement.
However, it is often overlooked in the analysis of lameness. Back pain can cause false lameness, as the horse seeks to protect itself, thereby altering its
support.
The most commonly observed causes:
• Long dorsal muscle contracture
• Blockages in the withers muscles
• Pain in the trapezius or splenius muscles, often linked to an ill-fitting saddle
Discomfort in the topline immediately affects the forelegs and hind legs. This is why a strictly localised approach (looking only at one limb) sometimes misses the true cause of the lameness.
To go further: Top 10 most important muscles to know about in horses
Lameness in horses: how to respond?
When a horse shows signs of lameness, the first instinct should be caution. Delayed intervention or insufficient observation can aggravate the situation.
1. Stop work immediately
There is no point in ‘seeing if it goes away’.
Each additional stride may:
• aggravate an existing injury,
• increase inflammation,
• create muscular compensations that are difficult to correct.
2. Calmly observe the symptoms
Take the time to assess:
• local heat,
• swelling,
• digital pulsations,
• asymmetry of support,
• horse favouring a limb or refusing to engage.
Also note the circumstances:
• return from a ride,
• intense effort,
• change of shoes,
• hard or slippery ground,
• demanding jumping or dressage session.
This observation greatly helps the vet to make a diagnosis.
3. Call in the right professionals
Depending on the situation:
• The vet will carry out a locomotor examination, X-rays, ultrasounds, flexion tests, etc.
• The farrier will check the balance of the foot and detect any podal causes.
• The biomechanics or equine osteopathy practitioner will restore muscle balance and compensation.
Lameness is almost never an isolated problem: it affects the entire locomotor system.
4. Do not neglect muscular compensations
Even when the main injury has healed, certain muscles remain:
• contracted,
• weakened,
• unbalanced,
• overworked.
These residual tensions can cause recurrence. Hence the importance of understanding muscle chains and their interactions.
Why does understanding muscles help prevent lameness in horses?
In many cases, lameness originates from a tense or poorly used muscle chain. Knowing how to recognise these areas allows you to:
• anticipate imbalances,
• adapt your work,
• prevent injuries,
• better understand your horse on a daily basis.
And for that, nothing can replace a good knowledge of equine myology.
The essential book for understanding locomotion:
Myology of the horse, muscle by muscle
To take things further, Julia Prével offers a unique work: ‘Myology of the Horse, Muscle by Muscle’
A comprehensive book that allows you to:
• identify each muscle,
• understand its role,
• visualise its interactions,
• link anatomical theory and equestrian practice.
With its clear and artistic anatomical illustrations, it is a valuable tool for:
• better interpreting lameness,
• supporting rehabilitation,
• optimising training,
• observing your horse more closely in the field or at work.