The Equinist: Articles and Commentary by Susan Kauffmann

No Perfect Horse: Carpus Valgus (“Knock Knees”) On a normal leg, the yellow line would drop straight down through the middle of the knee and continue on through the middle of the hoof. The knee of the horse is a complex structure consisting of eight carpal bones that connect to various other bones, as well as muscles, ligaments and tendons.  With so many parts needing to fit and function as one, its not surprising that the knee has a whole host of possible conformation faults associated with it. One of the most common is carpus valgus, also known as “knock-knees” or being “in-at-the-knee”.  In a horse with this conformation, the horse’s knee (carpus) falls to the inside of the plumb line, creating what is called an “angular deformity”, because there will be an unnatural angle where the knee connects to the forearm (radius) and/or the third metatarsal (cannon) bone. It is common to see some degree of outward rotation of the cannon, fetlock and foot associated with ...

IN A FIX: Causes and Treatment of Upward Fixation of the Patella If you’ve ever seen a horse with a severe case of upward fixation of the patella (UFP) or “locking stifle”, you know it’s a condition that is impossible to miss. The horse is periodically or permanently unable to flex the affected hind leg(s), which will then stick out and drag behind the horse in an obviously abnormal manner. However, in horses with the far more common but less severe forms of this condition, symptoms can be so subtle that they are often misdiagnosed or overlooked altogether. Partial or intermittent upward fixation of the patella, sometimes called “catching stifle”, can manifest as a mild to moderate hind limb lameness that may mysteriously come and go. Fortunately, both severe and mild cases of UFP usually respond well to treatment, and new developments are making it easier to treat even the most extreme cases. UNDERSTANDING UFP When in a standing position, all horses have the ability to temp...