27/08/2024
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Variations in the spinal column of the equine skeleton seem to have a profound effect on biomechanics, a shock to some and a no s**t moment for others.
What does that mean? I have found in my dissections that the majority of biomechanical dysfunction and early break down of joints appears to happen at a transition between vertebrae along the spinal column. Cervical to thoracic, thoracic to lumbar, lumbar to sacrum. In the cervical to thoracic region we get ECVM (equine complex vertebral malformation) which presents in many different ways. There is plenty of information on ECVM on the internet from people studying the issue. Some horses seem to cope fine with ECVM and for others it’s debilitating. As Tami elkenham said last week, eventually gravity wins and I agree. From the thoracic spine onto the lumbar we can get transitional ribs, these also present in many different ways. They can be onesided or on both sides and present as either a rib with no facet joint or a transverse process with a facet joint. The problem I have found with these is their lack of orientation with the rest of the ribs. I often find them pointing backwards into the flank area causing discomfort in bending. They also make saddle fit a challenge because they aren’t a true rib often.
What I am seeing allot in the horses/pony’s that present to me for dissection is sacralised lumbar. These horses always seem to have a stiff hind end gait and trouble rotating the pelvis for canter work. The lumbosacral junction is pushed further back into the pelvis, the ilium of the pelvis is wider and the sacroiliac joint is set further back. Generally it’s the hind end that has broken down in discomfort early that they end up being put down. This week I dissected two young horses with this issue, a 5 year old purebred QH who had a sacralised lumbar and already broken down, inflammation in the sacroiliac joint, broken down cartilage, bruising of the lumbo sacral junction and all hind joints full of inflammation in the synovial lining.
The other was a 2 year old gypsy cobxTB who never recovered from a viral infection and had compromised lungs. Her owner reported weird hind end action and very stiff movement. She already at her young age had serious joint issues by way of inflammation in the joints and break down of cartilage. She had a sacralised lumbar limiting her range of hind end motion adding to her problems. Both of these horses had a depressed feeling about them, I do not recommend paddock mates for dysfunctional horses. It’s my personal preference to release them from their faulty meat suits.
There are serious issues creeping into bloodlines that most people are not aware of their implications.
So much more research is needed to get a handle on breeding practises and optional conformation of skeletal form. Every variation has an impact on form and function. A good skeleton is the foundation of which great horses are developed on.
The photo below shows the normal anatomy in the top picture and a sacralised lumbar in dissection below it.
