Ringbone and sidebone are two conditions that afflict horses. They're regularly wrongly said to be one and the same ailment. Actually , they're not.
They are alike in that both derive from excessive calcification of the bones or limb joints of a horse. That's where the similarity ends.
Ringbone often influences the areas at the hoof top and the hairline. It is most frequently caused by injury and concussion, as also from bad form in conformation. Ringbone occurs naturally among more aged horses, and appears to have a hereditary connection.
Sidebone frequents the hoof capsule's quarters area. It is caused by the solidification of lateral cartilage, in the inside areas of the hoof. This condition seems to be inherited on occasion and particularly troubles horses used with carriages or other vehicles due to carelessness during unharnessing and lowering of the carriage shafts. If the shafts are regularly dropped onto the horse's foot on the outside and around the quarters, with time they can create this condition by seriously damaging the lateral cartilage.
Ringbone
'Ringbone' is a condition due to excessive deposits of calcium (also called bone deposits) round the lowest part of the horse's legs.
Over working of the horse is one the major causes of ringbone, leading to unnatural ligament and/or joint strain. Other reasons behind ringbone include cuts from wires, for instance, and even constant knocking of the horse's feet against a tough surface over a stretch of time. Horses with poor conformation, like 'base wide' horses, are prone to develop ringbone.
Ringbone comes in 3 varieties:
- 'false ringbone', where calcium amasses at the sides and regularly the front of the bones known as long pasterns.
- 'high ringbone', which occurs when calcium amasses at the bottom of the long pasterns and the upper short pasterns. These deposits can progress to cover the joint area between these 2 bones.
- 'low ringbone', the commonest of the ringbone manifestations. Low ringbone looks like high ringbone, but affects the lower short pasterns and the higher coffin bone. Low ringtone can be the most serious of the 3 manifestations.
Sidebone
I must explain that sidebone really does not afflict bones. This condition is specific to tissues, the lateral cartilages in the capsule of the horse's feet. Sidebone is the result of the 'calcification' (or hardening) of these cartilages.
Because typically soft tissue is converted to something bone hard, sidebone can be highly painful. Because of the growth inside a limited space, sidebone is akin to pushing an eleven size foot into an eight size boot.
The suspension of all work and complete rest are the best methods to treat these conditions. Lots of trouble must be taken over keeping the feet properly balanced, so the horse's weight is uniformly distributed. Further, the heels must get some trimming that leads to release of most, or all, of the frog pressure.
X-rays can usually establish that easy fractures haven't been confused with ringbone or sidebone.
They are alike in that both derive from excessive calcification of the bones or limb joints of a horse. That's where the similarity ends.
Ringbone often influences the areas at the hoof top and the hairline. It is most frequently caused by injury and concussion, as also from bad form in conformation. Ringbone occurs naturally among more aged horses, and appears to have a hereditary connection.
Sidebone frequents the hoof capsule's quarters area. It is caused by the solidification of lateral cartilage, in the inside areas of the hoof. This condition seems to be inherited on occasion and particularly troubles horses used with carriages or other vehicles due to carelessness during unharnessing and lowering of the carriage shafts. If the shafts are regularly dropped onto the horse's foot on the outside and around the quarters, with time they can create this condition by seriously damaging the lateral cartilage.
Ringbone
'Ringbone' is a condition due to excessive deposits of calcium (also called bone deposits) round the lowest part of the horse's legs.
Over working of the horse is one the major causes of ringbone, leading to unnatural ligament and/or joint strain. Other reasons behind ringbone include cuts from wires, for instance, and even constant knocking of the horse's feet against a tough surface over a stretch of time. Horses with poor conformation, like 'base wide' horses, are prone to develop ringbone.
Ringbone comes in 3 varieties:
- 'false ringbone', where calcium amasses at the sides and regularly the front of the bones known as long pasterns.
- 'high ringbone', which occurs when calcium amasses at the bottom of the long pasterns and the upper short pasterns. These deposits can progress to cover the joint area between these 2 bones.
- 'low ringbone', the commonest of the ringbone manifestations. Low ringbone looks like high ringbone, but affects the lower short pasterns and the higher coffin bone. Low ringtone can be the most serious of the 3 manifestations.
Sidebone
I must explain that sidebone really does not afflict bones. This condition is specific to tissues, the lateral cartilages in the capsule of the horse's feet. Sidebone is the result of the 'calcification' (or hardening) of these cartilages.
Because typically soft tissue is converted to something bone hard, sidebone can be highly painful. Because of the growth inside a limited space, sidebone is akin to pushing an eleven size foot into an eight size boot.
The suspension of all work and complete rest are the best methods to treat these conditions. Lots of trouble must be taken over keeping the feet properly balanced, so the horse's weight is uniformly distributed. Further, the heels must get some trimming that leads to release of most, or all, of the frog pressure.
X-rays can usually establish that easy fractures haven't been confused with ringbone or sidebone.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers read more
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