When Dr. Winter is called out to examine a lame horse, he performs a series of tests. He examines the horse’s legs looking for the presence of a pounding digital pulse, or for any abnormal heat He also uses a hoof tester to check for any soreness that may be present on the bottom of the hoof. It is helpful to watch the horse move, so a flexion test is usually performed. Dr. Winter flexes the horse’s leg for about a minute and then asks the handler to immediately trot the horse off. This lameness exam is helpful in indicating where the lameness is stemming from. Additional tests and treatments will be discussed with clients at the time of their visit.

*CVS has a heated barn and indoor arena to provide a comfortable environment to conduct a lameness exam and evaluation.