Just looking for anyone who may have had or are currently riding a horse with sidebone?
Looking at purchasing a new mare (currently 6 y/o). Diagnosed with sidebone that required rest as a 4 year old and has been sound ever since (1 1/2 years). No other issues. Horse is meant to be a prospect for the 1.20m - 1.30m ring. Opinions? The vet that I’ve been dealing with (not home vet) isn’t convinced that it will be an issue.
Got xrays? What about it required rest? Any info on the known or suspected cause of it?
What’s he been doing the last 18 months, as in, what kind of work?
I have the previous X-rays from when the sidebone was originally diagnosed and awaiting the “newer” ones. I will also be taking new ones as part of the PPE. Cannot recall what the owner mentioned about suspected cause but it seemed reasonable.
She has been back to work full time, 5-6 days per week and jumping O/F twice a week (max 3’0, still young and green).
I have an 18 year old sport horse and he’s had significant sidebone since he was first x-rayed as part of a PPE as three year old. He’s 1/4 Clyde and my vet says that sidebone is common in drafts. It’s never been an issue for him.
My mare has been diagnosed with it for about 1 1/2 years now. She is 17. She never had a lame day in her life until then. Except for 1 abscess.
One day they were running in the pasture and she suddenly came up non weight bearing. I called the vet asap and X-rays were done on site. After banamine she was walking a little and after shoes/ pads were put on she was immeasurably more comfortable.
I can only speak as to her specific situation. She only has it in her left front. I have no idea why she has it or what may have started it. She has been ridden regularly and moderately by only me and I have owned her since she was a weanling.
She is shod regular ( only fronts) except when the ground is extremely hard and then we add pads. I ride her normally and she does fine but so far she has had 2 flare ups where she has been very lame for weeks.
Both times was when she got excited by something out in the pasture and ran around on hard ground like an idiot. In both cases it has resolved itself with just turnout.
We take things one day at a time.
I bought a 4 yr old w sidebone last year after an extensive horse hunt. My vet, and the consulting radiologist, were unperturbed by sidebone. It’s not usually a problem, but if it impacts soft tissues then… it is.
My big horse developed sidebone. The vets were not concerned. He had a lot of problems but that wasn’t one of them. But it did indicate his feet didn’t handle concussion totally normally, and (living where the ground is cement), I might hesitate on one if you live where the ground is super hard and/or you always jump on synthetic footing that doesn’t allow much shear on landing.
Little update on the situation. Clarified with owner, she supposedly tripped one morning on the lunge and came up lame. Sidebone was what they found as a result. She was on stall rest/small paddock rest for 2-3 months afterwards. Vet confirmed that the tissue has ossified and she has been sound since. Would this change anyone’s opinion? I have a hunch that the lameness may have been caused by something else but the sidebone was what was found.
That makes it sound like the sidebone was incidental - it doesn’t appear instantaneously, so would have developed a decent amount of time before the tripping incident
Sidebone is, by definition, ossified cartilage.
So yes, I am with your hunch, the sidebone was there and only seen because they xrayed to see what happened as a result of the trip.
I believe every horse I own has side bone. I have 7 horses. 6 in work 1 retired (sound). Has not presented as an issue (yet-knock wood).
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