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  Discussion on Lordosis
Author Message
New Member:
Dunns

Posted on Monday, Apr 18, 2005 - 5:07 pm:

I am looking for some information on lordosis in younger horses.. I know that this may or may not be congenital, but my question is weather or not it could be conected to other defects. I recently purchased a 6 year old stallion that is a cryptorchid (not sure that I spelled that right) anyway I am aware that this is a genetic trait as I breed quarter horses, I purchased the horse for less than I feel he is worth because of this defect. I am having him castrated to use as a good riding horse. when we got him home the more I look at him the more swaybacked he seems, I have toothed him because I thought maybe he was a LOT older than originally thought, I believe him to actually be only 6, does anyone know of any other instances where lordosis was found in a cryptorchid horse? I also know that lordosis in goats has been found to be linked with a copper deficiency, could this be the same in horses? My curiosity peaked so much because other than his swayback he is in extremely good shape, I can ride him bareback and he doesn't seem to have any discomfort. I am concerned that he will just get worse. I have been raising horses my whole life and have never seen this young a horse be so swaybacked. ANY and all comments would be appreciated.

thanks

Blue
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Apr 18, 2005 - 5:59 pm:

What in the world is lordosis??

Just to throw this out there, I once knew a horse who was born swaybacked. I first saw him as a yearling and was around him for about the next 3 years, in fact I rode him maybe a dozen times also. He was very comfortable at a canter bareback, like sitting in an easy chair. He was some kind of pony cross. Story was the mare had gotten caught up in the bars of the stall right before she gave birth to him. At least that's how I remember it from 35 yrs ago. Don't know what became of him but he was healthy and seemed to be pain free when I knew him.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005 - 7:52 am:

I have not seen an association between crypts and swayback horses Ruth and do not know of a nutritional association.
DrO
Member:
Skeller

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005 - 9:17 am:

There's quite a bit of research going on with lordosis in the Saddlebred industry. Just to give you some names to search on here's a snipit from the newsletter on the ASHA.net web site "Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Dr. Gus Cothran and Dr. Alan Raun will update the membership on the study of Lordosis and Epitheliogenesis Imperfecta (E.I.). Lordosis, also known as swayback, is a genetic trait, where the one or two thoracic vertebrae at the withers are wedge-shaped."
There are two horses I'm aware of in our area with this trait, one very extreme. I've been told they were born that way and it has never gotten worse. Other than having to be creative about saddle pads and saddle fit it hasn't affected their use either.
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