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  Discussion on Lordosis
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 22, 1999 - 11:16 am:

I am looking for information on curvature of the
spine (lordosis), especially as seen in
saddlebreds. It seems to be congenital in a few
individuals. Is it more prevalent in horses with
higher withers and sloping shoulders, such as
saddlebreds?

Otis G. E

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 22, 1999 - 11:24 am:

I am looking for information on curvature of the
spine (lordosis), especially as observed in
saddlebreds. This condition is congenital in a
few individuals, but can also develop over time.
I am not referring to the curvature seen in older
multiparous mares. Is this condition more
prevalent in horses with higher withers and
sloping shoulder.

Otis G.

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 1999 - 7:16 am:

Hello Otis,
I have known several sway back (lordosis) horses. They were unremarkable except for their appearence. It never seemed to trouble them which is amazing considering the degree of curvature. Having become acquainted with them later in life, I do not know if they were born that way or if it developed but none seem to worsen over the years I knew them.

Very little work has been done on this condition in horses but it has been found in association with partially formed or malformed vertebrae. The text says the foal can be born with it or it forms over the first year of life.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 1999 - 11:37 am:

Silly question but I have only once seen a young horse with a sway back, now I have seen horses with "good backs" go sway backed as they age. Are you saying that this is due to a malformation from birth and not just normal age related deterioration?


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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 1999 - 6:28 am:

Hello Emily,
I suspect it depends on what your mean by sway back. I think Otis is asking about those with remarkable deformitiy and not those with a little extra curve. Have you ever seen one of those horses where if you layed a board from the withers to the rump would have over a foot of space between the plank and the top line? The are rare but it is hard to imagine they have normal vertebral architecture.

I think most horses develop more curvature as they get older which may be due as much to a decrease in the muscle along the top line as a change in the vertebral alignment. Some change more than others.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 1999 - 11:48 am:

Ahhh, I see. As a matter of fact I have see that.. I had a horse brought to me to sell last year that was the UGLIEST creature... he was Arab/Saddle breed only 9 yo but his back was darn near to his knees! Surprisingly he was easy to sell.. I just told them that he was soo ugly that he HAD to be a good horse cuz someone would have sent him to the canner a long time ago just for not wantin' to look at him! The gal who was selling him had used him as a pony club jumper of all things so I suppose it didn't slow him down any, and he had a good disposition.

"...he's old, lame, blind in the left eye and can't see out of the other,... but the good thing is folks is he's UGLY..."
-overheard at a local livestock auction
;0)

Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 1999 - 11:47 pm:

Definately one to remember
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 30, 2001 - 8:56 pm:

One of our fillies (she is about 5 months old) has recently developed an obvious convexity of her lumbar spine as well as prominence of the hip bones. The foals dam is twenty-one and has a similar shape but we always attributed it to her age. We weaned this foal when she was a little over three months old.

Could this be hereditary or of another etiology? The filly appears fine otherwise. Thank you.

Posted on Monday, Dec 3, 2001 - 7:14 am:

This could be simple weight loss, this will give a sunken back appearance. Is this filly ribbier than her companions?
DrO
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