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Miniature Horse Skeletal Issues
Miniature horses suffer from health issues that vets say may be attributable to centuries of
breeding specifically for small size.
Dr. Lisa C. Beagan, DVM, suggests that some deformities are more frequent in miniature horses. From her article in VetCentric Magazine:
"Prospective owners also should be on the look out for physical deformities: improper bites (either overbite or underbite), and irregularly shaped legs, a problem called angular limb deformity—the bottom portion of the limb may angle out, or angle in improperly. Minis can be born with contracted tendons or club feet which may make them unable to walk. Patella luxation, a condition in which the kneecap is capable of slipping irregularly out of place, has also been found more frequently in miniature horses."
Vets say that other common deformities found in miniature horses include:
- Contracted tendons - In some cases a dwarf horse will have a contracted leg tendon causing the hoof to rock backwards.
- Locking stifles - This is a condition characterized by a
peg-leg movement and failure to flex the patella (knee). The
surgery is outpatient and inexpensive with a very high success
rate.
- Shoulder dysplasia - This is the same condition in dwarf dogs such as the bulldog, and the treatment is similar for the dwarf horse.
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