Sidebone prognosis from Un. of Penn.

[guest@endurance.net]

Karen Standefer hrschk@yahoo.com
Site with pics and prognosis for different degrees of sidebone:

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/larad/article/article2/a2sec1.htm

What causes Sidebone:

In a healthy hoof the lateral cartilages are stretched slightly between
the palmar process and the pastern bones when the leg is being lifted to
pick up the foot.  The hoof "rolls over" the toe smoothly and flexibly.
On hard ground, anything that changes the natural breakover and
flexibility of the hoof or causes the hoof to remain on the ground longer
than normal overstresses the ligaments  and consequently deforms the
lateral cartilages.

Karen