What is ring bone in horses

Question

What is ring bone in horses

Answer 1

This is just the Wikipedia entry, but I think it explains it pretty well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringbone

Ringbone, in short, is basically just extra bone growth in the horses leg. In some cases, it is less severe and the horse can still be ridden on its good days. But in severe cases, the horse is permanently affected and is retired from work.

I just experienced this problem with a horse I leased for several years. I am not sure how severe his case was, but they decided to retire him and now he lives as happily as any horse in a friend's pasture.

Answer 2

Ringbone is calcification (a build-up of calcium, what bones are made of) of the joints of the horse's lower leg, caused by an injury or repeated stress to the joint.  We call it ringbone, because it can look like a ring around the horse's leg when the condition is well-advanced.

High ringbone refers to calcification of the pastern joint, and low ringbone is found at the coffin joint.

In the early and middle stages of the development of ringbone, the horse can be quite painful, because the rough edges of the calcium deposits can scrape against sensitive tissues.  In the final stages, the joint can fuse (stop moving at all).  At this point, the joint may no longer be painful.

Ringbone cannot be removed, reversed, or otherwise "fixed", but its progress can be slowed with the help of your veterinarian.

Answer 3

I think ring bone is a disease that horses get that effects the bones in their legs. It usually means they can't jump anymore but they can still do dressage and stuff. Hope this helps!!