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Originally submitted to The Right Lead in 2000. For original article, see Archives 2000 - May issue, scroll down to Stable Cues.
Warning for Novice and first time breeders: Angular Limb Deformity (ALD)
We had a little bundle of joy just one short month ago, today we do not. We had to put her down at an equine hospital. She was precious to us, as I am sure you know yours would be. She was windswept and had one bow leg in the front. Within one week, the back went straight but the front bow worsened so we called the vet. He told us give her more time, which we did. We kept the little one confined because with Angular Limb Deformity (ALD) you have to or they make the matter worse. We called the vet out again over swelling in the knee and he said it was common- digital flexor tendon- no problem unless it gets worse. He never x-rayed and on his word we kept her stalled. I finally sent a video to our old vet who now lives far away from us, and he called me to set the appointment to probably put her down. The surgical center said her tendon did not develop and the leg was now knock-kneed looking- they gave us 0% chance- she’d had a 30-40% chance IF we’d got her to them within twenty-four hours of the rupture.
ALD in the front legs I now know CAN rupture. We were told not to cast it because casting causes sores and white hairs- I would take that over my lost baby horse. I don’t blame the vet as much as I blame myself for not acting on gut feelings. Within a week get the legs x-rayed if they are not straight! I would cast now, regardless of all the cosmetic stuff and sores. We truly miss our baby horse and hope this doesn’t happen to anyone ever.
ALD, Angular Limb Deformity, can be present at birth- like in windswept foals, or can happen shortly after. The first instance can be genetic, so I checked the stud side, this foal was not our mare’s first so I know it wasn’t her. Second, it can be diet, especially the last ninety days (of pregnancy)- copper is very important. ALD is common in Thoroughbred racehorses so it will show up in breeds infused with TB blood more often than in those who are not. REAL QUIET, the ’98 Kentucky Derby winner, was an ALD foal and they waited a long time to fix it so it can be fixed- it depends on the degree of angulation.
I think it is our moral duty to check for genetic problems and breed them out if possible. Some vets will not cast legs for fear of secondary rub marks on legs and the resulting white hair. In ALD foals, with just a small deviation, that could be advisable, BUT, in severe ALD cases like mine, I have to think the cast would have helped my horse.
Another warning! A mare can be checked "negative" in foal and the check can be wrong- the mare can be carrying a baby and not show;please if you sell a mare that was covered but shows no sign of pregnancy, warn the next owner! They may not watch for pregnancy signs and could starve a baby horse and cause ALD. I know of many people who have bought a horse, rode it hard only to find one cool morning they have another set of eyes looking at them from the stall. Anyhow, ALD is on the web so you can get lots of information. DO use a good vet and get the foal x-rayed if the legs are not straight. If bones are missing, it is more than just ALD.- WWWHOA from Arizona, on-line.