A medial splint seen on the inside of the cannon bone below the knee. This horse has bench knee conformation meaning the cannon bone is placed to the outside of the knee forming a “bench” above and to the outside of the knee forcing the horse’s weight to come down the inside of the cannon bone. This added load causes the injury. Note the more vertical inside wall of the hoof while the outside wall slightly flares out. Also note the uneven coronary band. The hoof changes are a reaction to the uneven load top the hoof caused by the bad conformation of the cannon to the forearm.
A medial splint seen on the inside of the cannon bone below the knee. This horse has bench knee conformation meaning the cannon bone is placed to the outside of the knee forming a “bench” above and to the outside of the knee forcing the horse’s weight to come down the inside of the cannon bone. This added load causes the injury. Note the more vertical inside wall of the hoof while the outside wall slightly flares out. Also note the uneven coronary band. The hoof changes are a reaction to the uneven load top the hoof caused by the bad conformation of the cannon to the forearm.
6 yr old Hanovarian that received staple surgery as a foal to correct a varus limb deformity in the left front limb. Also, this LF limb has a “bench knee” where the cannon bone is offset relative to the radius (upper forelimb). This places increased weight on the medial aspect of the cannon bone and medial splint and is the leading cause of medial “splints” in horses. Also note the splaying out of the lateral wall of the hoof as it is less vertical than the medial wall. This indicated that the weight is being carried by the medial side of the hoof which can lead to hoof capsule deformity as well as future lameness. It is important that the hooves be trimmed so that the horse lands as equally as possible to prevent splints and future lameness.
6 yr old Hanovarian that received staple surgery as a foal to correct a valgus deformity in the RF and a varus deformity in the LF. This is known as a "wind swept" foal because the limbs curved at the knee as if a strong wind had blown from the left in this picture to the right. Note that they are both still slightly angular as the surgery did not completely correct the angular limb deformity of the RF and overcorrected the deformity in the LF (leading to "Knock knees").
6 yr old Hanovarian that received staple surgery as a foal to correct a valgus deformity in the right fore limb. This RF limb also has a “bench knee” but the hoof capsule is not as deformed as the LF.
