Graham
Graham was saved in April 2025 along with several other horses in danger of entering the slaughter pipeline. It was clear that he had lameness issues, but because they were “overall”, he was likely neurologic.
His initial veterinary exam findings include: Graham walks stiffly and irregularly. When walked over uneven footing, being led in a serpentine or “tight” circles, both of his hind legs exhibit hypermetria, abnormal and uncertain foot placement. Also noted was an abnormally hard ground-strike, “floating” prior to placement of a foot on the ground, and with strong evidence of proprioceptive deficits.
Graham’s thoracic limbs were also similarly affected, but to a lesser degree. He presented with generalized ataxia, worse in the pelvic limbs, with mild truncal sway. The bilateral forelimb coffin joints are palpably effusive.
While there is some difficulty in separating moderate to severe neurological deficits with signs of pain. However, hock pain can be strongly suspected due to hypermetria in the hind limb(s), also creating a mild pause when the limb is in greatest ambulatory flexion, then an extension cranially, a mild pause and “float”, then an overly-hard stomping placement.
X-rays were taken of Graham’s right front and right hind to determine arthritic (or other changes). Evidence of caudal heel pain and navicular bone changes in the forelimb along with significant OA (osteo-arthritic) changes in the hindlimb’s most distal (but low motion) hock joints were all present.
Also noted was a prominent DIRT (OCD) lesion at the base of the trochlear ridge in the highest motion joint (often seen in some performance horse breeding lines).
Because of Graham’s neurological deficits, he’s clearly unsafe for any “work”, but also unsafe to himself if kept with a herd or in an open space situation. His radiographs clearly show the signs of progressed inflammation and osteoarthritic lesions.
As with so many horses, Graham was used up, broken down and cast off to a grim fate. We were thankful to have the chance to intervene on his behalf, but angry at those who refused to give him the peaceful, humane ending when needed.
More About Graham
- In Assessment
- Dark Bay
- Gelding
- 2008
- QH
- Colorado