Sydney
Sydney was rescued in April 2025 with several other horses found in a high risk situation for ending up in the slaughter pipeline. She is approximately 15 years old with lameness issues.
Per her initial veterinary exam and evaluation, Sydney has prominent remodeling that is visually obvious to both cranial carpi (front legs). The left knee is bowed laterally, creating a C-shape which may be attributable to a windswept foal phenomenon from birth or due to osteoarthritic changes in the joint.
Both forefeet have abnormal wear patterns, indicating chronic dragging the toe and an inability or discomfort during flexing the limb to clear the ground in the non-weight bearing advancement stage of any ambulatory gait.
The left knee is almost frozen in the extended position, with a 90% reduction in ROM. There is a palpable softer, squishy center to the baseball-sized hard swelling on the cranial aspect. Further flexion pressure applied to the carpus elicited a pain response.
There is also an old, healed wound on the left hind canon bone region on the medial aspect.
X-rays revealed severe arthritic remodeling of the left carpus, most significantly in the high ROM, most proximal joint (meaning constant, chronic pain). There is a cystic radiolucent cavity best shown in the DLPMO view of the distal radius, and indicating either an OCD lesion or blunt-force trauma (which aligns with the previously mentioned soft/squishy central spot in the palpable bony lesion).
Due to compensation elsewhere, Sydney was lame “overall” with varying degrees of soreness, compromised function and chronic pain. After careful review of quality of life, a lack of means to offer pain relief/comfort for Sydney’s lameness condition due to the advanced stage of deterioration in the front left, she was humanely euthanized.
Like too many other horses, Sydney was used up, cast off when too injured for more use, and in imminent danger of entering the slaughter pipeline. The treatment of horses as disposable trash must be ended!
More About Sydney
- In Assessment
- Chestnut
- Mare
- 2010
- QH Cross
- Colorado