Why can't horse's legs/ankles be reinforced if they break?

Question

Why do they have to be euthanized?

Answer 1

That was so unfortunate what happened at the Derby yesterday.  Horses are so heavy, when they run as fast as they can, most of the weight is put on their ankles.  When they break, the horse can't really put any pressure on them, so they'd be cooped up in a stall for several months to a year. Look at Barbaro, they tried so hard to save him, but things aren't going to get better. They don't always necessarily have to be euthanized, but it's for the best.  The quality of life of a horse with broken ankles isn't too great, so it wouldn't be fair.

Answer 2

Animal is too heavy - bone structure too weak.

Answer 3

They do that because they are a lot larger, and their legs and ankles are stiff. If one of those gets broken, it's torture for the horse. It would be difficult to help a large horse be steady.

Answer 4

That was heartbreaking, seeing that. Unfortunately, racehorses are bred with very thin bones that defy healing when set. The poor horse is in so much pain, that it the only humane thing to do is to put them down.  I'm not a big fan of horse racing....they don't get a choice.

Answer 5

When a horse breaks a leg, it is very hard for them to stand on just 3. I causes stress and pain on many other parts of thier body. they must have all 4 legs, or it causes many other problems. It is sad.

Answer 6

the only way that i can explain it is like this: imagine that you have abroken arm. then, you are forced to lift a sevnty pound weight. it is going to hurt really bad and probably break again. it is the same with horses exeot they are carring 1000 poundfs. they can not lie down for a long tin=me because their weight will crush their organs. ot os really sad, but they did the best thing possible for eight belles yesterday by putting her down on the spot. it is really sad, but their only other optoin would be to wait a few hours then euthenise her after she had gone through a lot of pain (her bones in her ankle were sticking out through her skin.) : (

I hope i explained it well.

Answer 7

Because when horses favor their other legs, it causes infections.

Answer 8

Not all horses are put down when they get injured but most of the occasional accidents that happen in horse racing are to the extent to where if a horse has two broken ankles they wont heal the right way and the horse will be in so much pain that its just the right thing to do at the time for the horse. I own a Ex-Racehorse that won many races but couldnt race anymore because of a broken ankle..But he is a great horse today..It just depends on the break and how bad it is. =D

Answer 9

It's extremely painful for them.

Answer 10

the horse will become lame on all feet as the weight dispersion is too mutch for 3 legs while the 1 leg is healing. It will be very painful for the horse, causing trauma.

Answer 11

omg did u watch the kentucky derby, is that where ur question came from? That was so sad, that horse came in second and had to pass. Im not too sure y they cant fix them but i know they cant live without standing.

Answer 12

I think the question that needs to be asked is, "Why didn't they reinforce her legs for the race?"  Her legs were not wrapped.

Answer 13

One of the reasons is the anatomy of the horse.  It's a 1,200 lb animal.  It also requires standing to eat for it's digestion and circulatory systems.

It would be extremely difficult to care for a horse and have it stay healthy through the process.  Infection and internal issues become an extreme factor against the recovery.

It's so sad really.

I only hope we are not pushing these magestic animals too hard, too soon, before they have matured.

Answer 14

the use of cobalt steel mesh, (circa 1985) was used successfully to hold bones in place on horses and fix broken legs.

at issue is the zone of the break.  horse legs are very slender and vessels and nerves can be damaged in a break.

although the mesh is so inert that bone matrix will grow into it and the bone becomes very strong, not all horses are canidates for this proceedure.  there are a lot of variables.

horses also like to kick at things on their legs and thus they would destroy the work that was done by the surgeon.

although no one wants to see these magnificant animals destroyed, it happens.

perhaps someday our technology in medicine will make this a think of the past.