An unsoundness is any condition that interferes or is apt to interfere with the function and performance of the horse.  A blemish is unattractive but does not interfere with a horse's performance.  Often times unsoundnesses are cause by a conformation fault and tend to be a consistent problem throughout the horse's life.  Please look up pictures of these faults.  You will have a good chance of having to ID these from pictures.

Parrot Mouth (Unsoundness):  When a horse's top jaw is overshot.  It is inherited.  It can interfere with wearing bits comfortably and eating properly. 

Capped Elbow/Hock (Blemish):  A fluid filling or thickening of the skin at a given point (elbow or hock).  Usually due to bumping of the hocks or rubbing of the elbow while horse is laying down. 

Fistulous Withers (Unsoundness):  This is an inflammation of the withers.  It must be treated immediately.  It can be caused from ill fitting tack or trauma to the area.  It can get infected, and the swelling can errupt.  It can be straw colored to begin with in color, then it will turn white.

Poll Evil (Unsoundness):  When the poll becomes inflamed, infected, or swollen.  This is usually due to some form of trauma to the head.  The area will be tender, and you will not be able to work with the horse until it is treated and healed.

Sesmoiditis (unsoundness):  Inflammation of the two sesamoid bones at back of fetlock joint.  Often times happens when a horse has a sloping pastern, causing the ligaments and tendons to rub more across the bones.  Also more intensive sports such as racing, hunting and jumping can cause sesmoiditis.  Best treatment is rest.  If due to poor conformation, you may want to look into corrective shoeing to avoid it.

Cracked Hoof/Dry Hoof (Unsoundness):  Dry hooves are when the hoof starts to chip away.  This is due to exposed to dry conditions.  It can lead to cracked hoof, where a crack forms in the the hoof running from top to bottom.  Cracked hoof can also form from trauma to the area.  Dry hoof can be treated by putting oil on it.

Thursday Team Problem

1.  Your pregnant mare is about to give birth.  She was fed fescue during the third trimester.  Describe how this will affect her, and what steps you need to take to ensure a live foal. 

Hint:  If you need to be aware of when she will give birth, you may want to look for signs.  What are those signs?  Don't just give the bare minimum answer.  Really get the root of the issue.

2.  Your mare has gone into the 1st phase of labor.  Describe the 3 phases and what must happen in each.  What kinds of difficulties may occur, and what should you do to correct them?

Thursday Practice

We started off practice reviewing tack parts by looking at real saddles.  So if you just want to go back through and review the parts...you got this!

Hoof Structure

Please make sure you know the structure of the hoof.  You may have to identify the different parts.