*Photo by Emerson Miller

 

Dr. Keith Latson is one of the most respected names in equine orthopedics. From legendary racehorses like California Chrome and American Pharoah to elite western performance horses and barrel racers, his expertise spans disciplines. As the co-founder of 6666 Equine Supplements, we sat down with Dr. Latson to talk about what truly goes into supporting equine joint health and long-term soundness

Q: Dr. Latson, how would you define the word “orthopedic”?

A (Dr. Latson): Orthopedics encompasses everything related to the musculoskeletal system from bones to cartilage, ligaments, joints, tendons, and muscles. It’s not just about isolated structures; it’s about how they all work together to create movement.

While many people think about limbs first, orthopedic issues can also involve the spine, sacroiliac region, pelvis, and more. When a horse has a problem, we look at both the primary issue and any secondary or compensatory issues that may have developed around that. 

What are some of the most common causes of lameness in horses? 

Honestly, the list is long. Something as simple as a sole bruise from stepping on a rock can turn into an abscess and cause dramatic lameness. On the other end of the spectrum, you have catastrophic injuries like sesamoid fractures, which can threaten the horse’s life if the limb’s support system fails.

In between are chronic conditions like navicular syndrome and osteoarthritis. Arthritis, for example, often starts subtly with little nagging pains that come and go, and leads to joint inflammation and excess fluid. Over time, the joint capsule becomes less elastic, leading to decreased range of motion and compensatory lameness in other limbs. This is when diagonal lamenesses can show up.

The earlier we can identify these issues, the better. Prevention is key, but I use that word cautiously. Many horse owners turn to supplements once the fire is already burning. Ideally, we support the horse with nutritional interventions before signs of disease emerge, extending the life of their joints and overall soundness. 

Does the risk of lameness differ based on the horse’s lifestyle or use? 

Absolutely. Most horses are going to contend with lameness at some point in their lives, but the type and intensity definitely change based on their use. 

The weekend warrior horse, for instance, may be at greater risk for soft tissue injuries because their joints and muscles aren’t consistently conditioned. Meanwhile, horses in regular training with consistent stress and strain tend to adapt and strengthen over time. It is definitely a balance and we have to be aware of what the risks are for each horse in their respective lifestyle.  

What percentage of performance horses typically face orthopedic issues? 

I actually looked this up recently to get some statistics and keep my own bias in check, and here is what I found:

• In show jumpers, about 77% of their lost training days are due to orthopedic issues.

• A study in Michigan found that at least 7.2% of horses across their population had a new case of lameness during just a 2-year monitoring period. 

When I consider all of the issues that horses can face, from digestive health to respiratory health, to have almost 80% of lost training days due to orthopedic issues is significant. It’s also alarming to think that 1 in 10 horses has a new case of lameness within 2 years. 

And these are just just the obvious cases. Many horses have low-grade, intermittent lameness that only shows up under specific conditions — after flexion, on a circle, or on soft ground. These subtle signs often go unnoticed until they worsen.

What injuries are most common by discipline? 

It’s always a good idea to think about the mechanics of each sport and consider what horses are being asked to do. For example, barrel, cutting, and reining horses generate explosive power while twisting and pivoting, from a low, almost-squatting position. That motion automatically places stress on the hocks, stifles, and suspensory ligaments.

Jumpers bear the full weight of their bodies on their front limbs as they land, so we naturally have to talk about tendon, ligament, and suspensory injuries. 

Working cow horses are consistently turning patterns, which can predispose them to uneven stress on their front limbs. They are at risk for ringbone, as well as tendon and ligament injuries.

What do horse owners say that makes you cringe when evaluating a lame horse?

Not warming up the horse properly is a big one! 

The phrase “rode hard and put up wet,” comes to mind. Warming up provides time for blood flow to get moving and for the different joint structures to become accustomed to being stretched in the way that they are going to be used at the peak of that training session. The cool down phase is really important too. 

Another issue is inconsistent farrier care. If a horse is trimmed every 6 weeks one cycle, then 10 the next, I get nervous. It throws off the balance of the foot, and the saying “no foot, no horse” rings very true. A coordinated approach between vet, farrier, and owner makes a huge difference for keeping the horse at its best for its specific discipline, conformation, and pre-existing conditions.

In your experience, what was the secret of trainers or barn managers who had the fewest joint-related issues in their horses? 

Among professionals that I have worked with, the trainers who allowed young horses, especially, the opportunity to adapt and develop into what they were being asked to do, had horses with longer careers than those that were pushed too hard too early on. 

The thing is: There is no recipe. Every horse is an individual. How fast a horse adapts and how early they mature is very specific to each horse. Trainers with consistently sounder horses were always the ones who looked at each horse as an individual vs. those who had a programmatic approach for every horse. 

Successful trainers prioritize adequate rest and turnout time. Turnout is like cross-training; it gives the horse the opportunity to move in ways they don’t during training. This provides different stresses and strains to the body. There is even a study showing that 1 in 2 horses experienced a performance-limiting injury on an annual basis, particularly if they were turned out for less than 12 hours a day. 

Finally, they build recovery time into their program. For example, if you are on the tail-end of competition season, these trainers are making accommodations for horses to recover. As they move into competition season, they are thinking about how much preparation each horse needs. It’s not just about building fitness, it’s also about building durability in the horse’s musculoskeletal structures. 

So, to sum it up, the three things that will assist with longevity in a horse’s career are: Treating each horse as an individual, integrating regular turnout time, and allowing for adequate recovery time between training sessions. 

What are your top tips for preventing equine joint issues and maintaining soundness?

#1: Have the foundation set up. This means consistent farrier care, a structured, progressive fitness program, and proper warm-up and cool down protocols. 

#2: Maintain optimum body weight. If the horse is carrying an extra 50 or 100 pounds, that's a lot of excess weight coming down onto such a small foot that is carrying the weight of the entire body. Tendons and ligaments will have to work to disperse those forces so that it is not just concussion on the bone. 

#3: One of the best things that horse owners can do is to learn how to evaluate their horses' tendons, ligaments, and joints on a daily basis to see if anything has changed. As training intensity increases, so too does the risk of a musculoskeletal injury. Putting our hands on the horse’s legs every day is really important. Is there just a little bit of heat somewhere that's different on the left front than the right front? Is there a little bit of pressure in the left stifle vs. the right stifle? 

Becoming really familiar with what is normal for your horse, in my opinion, has the potential to take people a long way towards longevity, early identification, and prevention for their horses. 

Most of us walk out to our horse’s stall and look at the pile of manure that they left overnight to see whether it is normal. Oftentimes, that is the sentinel chicken for something bigger that might be going on in the digestive tract and similarly, minor changes in the joint, tendon or ligament structures can signal what’s going on in the musculoskeletal system. 

One of the things that I loved about working with Thoroughbred racehorses is that there was typically 1 groom for every 3 to 4 horses. Those grooms were so attuned to those horses and knew their ‘normal’ so intimately, that if there was ever so much as a little bit of heat somewhere, they would let us know. This early detection gave us the opportunity to assess it right away and understand how we needed to modify the horse’s program. 

Given all of the other care measures we can take as horse owners, are joint supplements worthwhile? 

Yes, especially if they are used early on before clinical signs of joint damage. 

Equine athletes are being asked to operate at the edge of their biomechanical capacity. Supporting their joints proactively with a supplement that costs less than a Starbucks a day, seems worthwhile to me.

If your horse is your partner, you want them to be at their best for as long as possible. And if you pass them on to another owner one day, you want to hand over a healthy, sound horse. 

How can horse owners choose the best joint supplement? 

I recommend using the ACCLAIM system:

A: It should be an acknowledged company with credibility. 

C: There is clinical experience behind the formula. 

C: The supplement is cost-effective per serving.

L: It has label accuracy (not label dressing), meaning that there are research-supported levels of ingredients. 

A: It should be an appropriate formulation, designed specifically for the horse’s physiology.

I: It should be independently tested by a third-party to verify its contents.

M: The supplement should be manufactured with the highest quality standards.   

Don’t just choose a supplement based on the brand. Make your decision based on science and formulation. 

Are there horses that do not need joint supplements?

Horses living out in pasture who are used very lightly often take care of themselves well, and may not need supplementation. 

But, any horse in training or athletic endeavor, to me, is a candidate for joint support. The level of support might change as workload changes throughout the year. You might use maintenance doses during off-season, and ramp up to a training dose during competition season, but always optimize their entire nutrition program, and start early. 

In summary

Orthopedic issues often creep in slowly, and by the time you see clinical signs, damage has already taken root. Instead of thinking about joint health as something we fix later on in a horse’s life, let’s shift the perspective: Can we prevent? Can we identify early and intervene?

The goal is not just a sound horse today, but a sound horse in 1 year, 5 years, even 10 years from now. While some bumps in the road are inevitable, we have a much better chance of long-term athletic performance if we invest in our horse’s joint health early on through the right nutritional support, daily hands-on assessment, and a dedicated care team.

Your horse is your partner. Let’s give them every chance to stay strong, comfortable, and performing at their best, for as long as possible.

→Our veterinarian-formulated Joint Health Pellets were designed for horses that work hard and train hard, day in and day out. Add to your horse’s program today for less than a cup of coffee!←