Make smart concentrate choices to help reduce your feed bill. | iStockIf you own or care for horses, you already know hay and feed make up a significant portion of the budget. But you can use a variety of ways to create a cost-effective feeding program without compromising quality or negatively impacting your horses health. Understanding where horse owners commonly overspend can also help you make smarter feeding decisions.Forage FirstCarey Williams, PhD, extension specialist, professor, and interim director of Rutgers University Equine Science Center, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, emphasizes that saving money should never mean sacrificing forage quality. Its an important point to not compromise the quality of hay when looking at cutting costs in your horses diet, she says. As everyone knows, forage-first in the diet, so if you start compromising quality, youre just going to end up spending more elsewhere.Saving Money on HayYou can still reduce costs without sacrificing hay quality. One strategy involves purchasing hay in bulk when possible. If you have the storage facility, buying in larger quantities can help with your cost, says Kelly Vineyard, MS, PhD, equine nutritionist and owner of EquiVine PhD Nutrition, an independent equine nutrition consulting company based in Gainesville, Florida.This applies particularly when youre preparing for colder months, when it can be challenging to find high-quality hay, especially for a lower price. So, it boils down to what your farm situation is and if you have room for storage or if you can afford to purchase a storage trailer, says Williams. Purchasing hay when in high supply with lower prices (usually summer or fall) and storing it for later use can make a meaningful difference in the overall cost of feeding horses throughout the year.When purchasing hay, pay close attention to pricing. I really caution people to not (just) look at the price per bale, because you might run into a situation where its $10/bale, but instead of a bale being 80 pounds, it is now 40 pounds, says Williams.Rather, cost per ton gives a better sense of what youre getting. I think its the most effective way to get the best bang for your buck, she adds.Limiting Hay Waste to Save MoneyAnother effective way to reduce hay expenses is to limit waste. We want to make sure it goes into the horse and not on the floor, says Vineyard. A really good way to reduce waste is by using a feeder. Research has shown that with the hay savings, depending on the type of feeder, the feeders pay themselves off quickly, often within six months.Im a big proponent of actually weighing your hay to get an idea of how much youre feeding, she adds. Even if your horse gets free-choice hay, its wise to weigh your horses hay ration and aim for feeding 2% of his body weight per day. Knowing exactly how much your horse eats will also help you plan for hay expenses.Choosing the Right Forage for Your HorseWhile feeding lower-quality hay is generally not recommended as a cost-saving measure, not every horse needs premium forage. Vineyard recommends feeding your horse a hay that meets his physical needs. If you have a chunky metabolic pony, he may do much better with a mediocre hay that doesnt have the higher costs associated with it like alfalfa or more nutrient-dense varieties, she says. On the flip side, if you have a young growing horse, performance horse, or a pregnant mare, it is probably worth the investment of putting in better quality forage as youre going to end up saving money on your concentrate feeds.Selecting Concentrates WiselyOnce youve addressed forage needs, select the right concentrate to complement the hay. Concentrate options range from performance and senior feeds to ration balancers. The best choice depends on the horses calorie requirements and the nutrients already supplied by the forage.When choosing a concentrate, you are filling the nutritional gaps of that forage, and one of the gaps might be calories, says Vineyard. If they need higher calories, pair a commercial concentrate that includes calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. If they dont need extra calories, I am going to choose a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement.If you dont know which concentrate optimally fits your horses needs, consulting an equine nutritionist can help ensure a balanced and cost-effective diet.Cost-Effective Horse SupplementsHorse owners often turn to supplements to support health or performance, but many horses already receive the nutrients they need from forage and a well-chosen concentrate.Supplements are the No. 1 most over provided thing in the diet, says Williams. Most of the consults I do, about 90% of the supplements are not needed.Horse owners can absolutely save money if they review their supplementation protocol, adds Vineyard. If you focus on a really good-quality forage, and a quality concentrate to fill in the gaps, whether thats a supplement or a balancer, one or two other targeted nutritional supplements may be warranted depending on what youre doing with your horse.Take-Home MessageCreating a cost-effective feeding program starts with investing time in evaluating your horses nutritional needs and comparing it to what hes currently getting. Selecting an appropriate hay and concentrate (and feeding those at the recommended rate), minimizing hay waste, and reviewing and eliminating unnecessary supplements can significantly reduce feeding costs without sacrificing ration quality.

You might offer a balancer to replace missing nutrients in a forage-focused ration. | iStockMy horse gets hay only. Pasture only. Pasture plus some hay. Concentrate plus hay. Concentrate plus pasture. Concentrate plus pasture and hay. The combinations are numerous. Then theres the question of whether your horse needs a ration balancer or a vitamin/mineral supplement for optimum nutrition.To help decide, Lori K. Warren, PhD, PAS, associate professor of equine nutrition in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, and Janice Holland, PhD, director and associate professor of equine studies at Wilson College, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, provide their expertise.What Makes a Ration Balancer?Holland says a ration balancer, sometimes called a hay or diet balancer, is a typically pelleted feed designed to supply nutrients missing from a horses diet.Ration balancers for horses usually contain a balanced supply of important macrominerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium, and trace (micro) minerals, including copper, zinc, and selenium, along with vitamins, Warren adds. These nutrients support bone health, muscle function, and overall metabolism. Ration balancers also contain feed ingredients such as alfalfa meal and soybean meal so the feed can be pelleted. If included in high enough levels, these additions allow a ration balancer to also supply protein to help meet daily essential amino acid requirements. Ration balancing pellets are similar to (and in some cases, the same as) the nutrient-dense pellets included in many fortified concentrate feeds.In addition, Holland says ration balancers are usually low in calories, thus providing a suitable product for horses not needing extra calories.Warren points out that because a ration balancer adds calories, it should be a consideration when managing an overweight or idle horses intake. Because of the feedstuffs used, owners should follow the manufacturers recommended feeding rate (1-2 pounds per day based on the size and type of horse) to meet the nutritional requirements.When fed at this rate, Warren suggests a ration balancer that contains at least 2% calcium, 1 to 2% phosphorus, 400 parts per million zinc, and 75 ppm copper. If it contains lower mineral concentrations, the feeding rate will likely be higher. Because they are designed to provide a specific amount of nutrients to the horse by weight, ration balancers should not be offered free choice.Vitamin/Mineral SupplementsVitamin/mineral supplements are more like the daily vitamin and mineral pills many people take super concentrated amounts of vitamins and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, selenium, etc.), without additional ingredients, says Holland. While they appear similar to a ration balancer, they typically do not contain a protein source and are designed to be fed in small (ounces per day) amounts. To be effective at this rate, Warren suggests selecting a vitamin/mineral supplement that contains at least 12% calcium, 12% phosphorus, 4,000 ppm zinc, and 750 ppm copper. If the supplement contains lower concentrations, the feeding rate will likely be higher. They should also not be fed free-choice.What Does Your Horse Need?When it comes to selecting what is best for your horse, first evaluate the horses diet to identify any gaps. Dietary requirements depend on the horse in question: his age, workload, health status, body condition, etc. You should always start with an analysis of the pasture and hay the horse is getting and then decide what else it needs, says Holland.Both ration balancers and vitamin/mineral supplements can work with any type of hay or pasture. Some feed companies offer separate options for grass (i.e., feeding with timothy, orchardgrass, teff) versus legume (i.e., alfalfa) hay, with the primary difference being a lower calcium concentration in those products paired with a legume hay, says Warren. Because ration balancers also contain ingredients that supply protein, it can be good to use a high-protein ration balancer (25-32% crude protein) when feeding adult horses grass hay or pasture, or feeding growing horses. Opt for a lower-protein ration balancer (10-12% crude protein) when feeding a legume hay to avoid excess protein.Infographic: Does Your Horse Need a Ration Balancer? Holland adds that horses in good body condition and consuming a legume hay likely get enough protein but might benefit from the vitamin/mineral supplement. A mature idle horse might be fine on grass pasture and grass hay with the vitamin/mineral supplement. However, if this same horse is in work and suffers muscle loss, switching to a ration balancer with amino acids needed to support muscle might be the better option.Do your horses need a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement if they receive a fortified concentrate or unfortified grain?I always tell people to really look at their horse objectively and assess both weight and body condition, says Holland. If the feed tag says feed 5 pounds a day, and you are only giving 2 pounds because the horse is heavy, then you are giving less than the recommended amount on the feed labelprobably giving less than the daily nutritional requirements. In this instance you need to add a vitamin/mineral supplement to the diet. If the horse consumes legume hay or grass hay with a high legume percentage along with an unfortified grain such as oats or an alternative feed such as beet pulp, a vitamin/mineral supplement might be a good option. If the horse is on grass hay and an unfortified grain or beet pulp, then a ration balancer would be a better choice.Adding a ration balancer also offers a way to satisfy a horses hunger at feeding time when surrounded by horses that get bigger concentrate rations. He doesnt know hes only getting a ration balancer; he just knows he gets something at feeding time, too. So, depending on the management situation, Holland says you can feed a ration balancer to your horse and this can keep him happy while his paddock mates finish their concentrate meals.When should you not add a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement to your horses diet?Warren explains that horses fed good-quality forage along with a fortified concentrate in amounts recommended by the manufacturer (usually a minimum of 4-5 pounds per day for an average-sized horse) might not need a vitamin/mineral supplement or ration balancer. Concentrates already supply vitamins and minerals, but these feeds must be matched to the horses lifestyle/workload and, again, fed in adequate amounts to meet the horses micronutrient needs.It also might not be appropriate to add a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement if the horse also receives a lot of supplements containing these micronutrients. Holland says working with an equine nutritionist is a great way to ensure you feed what your horse needs and not too much or too little of anything. She adds that it is easy to buy additives without really evaluating what is in the serving. Horse owners need to be cautious about not throwing nutrients out of balance. Some exceptions exist, best determined with veterinary help, where you might need to give some sort of vitamin and mineral supplement, but dont give it without a legitimate reason.Can you overfeed a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement?All minerals and most vitamins can be toxic to the horse if overfed, though the tolerance levels vary between individual minerals and vitamins, says Warren.So many of us believe that if a little is good, a lot would be better, but that is not true with nutrition, says Holland. Nutrients can interact in the digestive tract, blocking absorption of each other. In some cases oversupply of one can create a deficiency of another. For example, if calcium and phosphorus get out of balance, problems with the skeletal system can develop. For that reason, vitamin/mineral supplements make sense only when forage and/or concentrates fail to meet a horses daily micronutrient needs.Whatever you provide, make sure the horse will eat it. Sometimes vitamin and mineral supplements can have a metallic or bitter taste. On the other hand, ingredients in ration balancers improve palatability, so be careful about the horse not eating more than the manufacturer-recommended ration.Take-Home MessageRation balancers are a great way to supplement an all-forage diet, says Holland. Vitamin/mineral supplements suit horses that need daily nutrient requirements met but without additional calories or protein. Analyze your horses forage, feeding program, and workload to determine which option best fits your situation.This article is from the Spring 2026 issue ofThe Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. We at The Horse work to provide you with the latest and most reliable news and information on equine health, care, management, and welfare through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Your subscription helps The Horse continue to offer this vital resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels. To access current issues included in your subscription, please sign in to theAppleorGoogleapps ORclick herefor the desktop version.

On March 5, a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Marquette County, Michigan, tested positive for strangles. The gelding developed bilateral nasal discharge on Feb. 23. He is now recovering.One additional horse is suspected to be positive, and two horses have been exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

On March 9, a 19-year-old Thoroughbred gelding at a boarding facility in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). The gelding was euthanized.One additional horse is suspected to be positive for EHV-1, and 29 horses have been exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.EHV 101Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected.In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse.Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.

Courtesy CVSThe British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has reviewed and updated its Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Insured Horses. The guidance will help practicing veterinary surgeons ensure good welfare is prioritized throughout the necessary euthanasia of horses insured for mortality (all risks mortality cover).Developed in response to a need for updated clarity and consistency in matters potentially involving euthanasia, the review was conducted by BEVA, incorporating the expertise of vets as well as representatives from the insurance industry. It retains the welfare of the horse firmly at the centre of all veterinary decisions.The guidelines have been specifically written as a practical resource for vets working in the field. However, it is anticipated that it will also be a valuable reference document for horse owners, insurers, trainers, and event and race organizers seeking to better understand potentially complex scenarios.The structure of the guidelines notably the List of Conditions, reflects updates in veterinary science and clinical knowledge over the past 15 years. It covers examination procedures, protocols for definite and suspected grounds for emergency euthanasia, as well as defining where there may not be grounds for emergency euthanasia. It also addresses the management ofcases of chronic disease and/or pain with negligible prospect of recovery. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, it aims to include all the scenarios which are likely to be encountered by vets working in equine practice in the UK.Ian Beamish, who led BEVAs guidelines working group said the veterinary surgeons primary responsibility is undoubtably to ensure the welfare of the horse, regardless of whether the horse is insured.The new guidelines are a modernized version of the outdated 2009 guidelines, with a carefully revised List of Conditions and their prognoses, updated language, and revised protocols on grounds for euthanasia.It is important to note that whilst we may advise euthanasia, we may not advise on the insurance policy conditions; this is a matter for the insured and insurer to discuss.We are grateful to the vets and insurance industry representatives who contributed to the development of the guidelines. Their input has been invaluable in helping to create a modern, practical, welfare-focused resource for the profession.While written specifically for vets, the new guidelines have been approved and adopted by the members of the Equine Insurance Providers Group and may be referred to (verbally and in policy documents) by these insurers.The new guidelines can be found here:https://www.beva.org.uk/euthanasia-guidelines-for-insured-horses.

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The arrows in this X ray point to sidebone, ossification of the ungular cartilages. | Courtesy Dr. Elizabeth AcuttSidebone refers to ossification of the collateral cartilages of the coffin bonealso known as the distal phalanx (P3) or pedal boneappearing as upward-extending bony growths. This ossification happens during a process in which the cartilage mineralizes, explains Brian Beasley, DVM, CJF, Dipl. ACVSMR, podiatrist at Grand Prix Equine, a veterinary practice in Newtown, Connecticut.Essentially, a flexible structure becomes progressively rigid, adds Carlos Carvajal de la Cerda, MVZ, CF, an instructor of equine podiatry at Colorado State Universitys Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins. Beasley and Carvajal de la Cerda share their insights into sidebone, from potential causes to best-practice solutions.Form Follows FunctionTo better understand sidebone its important to review the anatomy and function of the collateral (or ungular) cartilages, says Carvajal de la Cerda, highlighting key points:Collateral cartilages can be found above the palmar and plantar processes of the coffin bone (the winglike extensions at the rear of the coffin bone in the forelimbs and hind limbs, respectively). From there, the collateral cartilages extend dorsally to just above the coronary band.The collateral cartilages can be seen and/or palpated in the caudal (toward the rear) region of the hoof.These cartilaginous structures are highly vascularized (rich in blood supply) and, again, flexible under normal conditions.The importance of the ungular cartilages lies in their nature, explains Carvajal de la Cerda. They are designed to aid in shock absorption, along with other structures such as the digital cushion, frog, corium, sole, and hoof wall. When we examine a venogram or dissect a foot, we observe that the back part of the hoof is richly vascularized, forming a perfect hydraulic system to absorb and dissipate impact forces.The balance of these structures within the hoof ensures optimal function. The equine foot possesses a great mechanism to absorb the significant impacts that occur with every stride, Carvajal de la Cerda says. The faster a horse moves, the greater the forces on its limbs. Ground reaction forces (transmitted from the ground through the hoof and up through the bony column) also play a role and vary depending on the footing or surface the horse is working on.Disruption of this balance could explain why collateral cartilages ossify. The exact cause of sidebone is not fully understood, but several contributing factors have been proposed, says Carvajal de la Cerda, including:Repeated concussion or trauma to the collateral cartilageConformational imbalances that lead to increased stress on one side of the footAs for which horses the condition affects most, sidebone is relatively common in larger breeds such as draft horses, Friesians, and Warmbloods, says Carvajal de la Cerda. It may also occur in horses with angular limb deformities. While it is more frequently seen in older horses, young horses are not excluded.Sidebone is often discovered during radiographic examination for another reason. | Courtesy Dr. Sue DysonDiagnosis and Next StepsIn my practice, sidebone is most often an incidental finding discovered during radiographic examinations performed for other reasons, says Carvajal de la Cerda. He further explains:The extent of ossification can usually be observed in radiographs on the lateromedial (taken from the side, toward the horses midline) projection and evaluated more precisely on the dorsopalmar/dorsoplantar (front to back) view.Occasionally sidebone can also be seen or felt above the coronary band.In more complex or severe cases advanced imaging such as MRI or CT can help determine the lesions severity and assess if there are active changes.From there, the possible origin of the condition guides treatment, says Carvajal de la Cerda. Therapeutic shoeing that enhances shock absorption and provides omnidirectional breakover helps minimize further stress and improves comfort, he explains. Using radiographs to guide our shoeing allows us to set up the foot in a position where the horse can move more easily from a mechanical perspective, so we reduce the forces acting on it. If sidebone is determined to be the main reason for lameness, a short course of NSAIDs combined with stall rest may help alleviate inflammation and pain.More Complex ScenariosBeasley says sidebone is a common and generally inconsequential finding, particularly in large-breed horses. When it does lead to lameness, it usually reflects secondary effects rather than the ossification itself.Ossification of collateral cartilage compromises the ability to dissipate concussion during loading, explains Beasley. However, he notes lameness as a direct result of this ossification usually only occurs when ossified cartilage impinges on sensitive tissues, such as one of the stabilizing ligaments located within the hoof capsule, or when fractures of the ossified cartilage occur.In my own practice I will often block the medial (closer to the horses midline) and lateral (away from it) side of the foot independently to determine if an ossified collateral cartilage has the potential to be blamed for the lameness, he says. To confidently diagnose impingement of soft-tissue structures, advanced imaging techniques such as MRI are often necessary, as ultrasound is unable to penetrate the hoof wall.Beasley further explains that fracture of an ossified collateral cartilage likely results from internal trauma during the stance phase of the stride. Once ossified, they are no longer able to flex with the hoof capsule and around the coronary band as they extend proximally (toward the horses body), he says. As the bony column presses down on the digital cushion and frog, and ground forces press upward, the proximal part of the ossified collateral cartilages may collide with the inside of the proximal hoof wall and coronary band.When ossified collateral cartilage fractures, basically a local inflammatory cycle causes lameness, Beasley adds. These generally heal well, although occasionally theyll heal with a fibrous union, so there isnt a complete resolution of the fracture line. This can make the recheck radiographs a little tricky, but generally radiographic signs of bone healing are visible.A fracture misdiagnosis can occur, says Beasley, when ossification develops in both the distal (further away from the body) and proximal parts of the collateral cartilage. This will present as ossification adjacent to the coffin bone, a space that is actually still cartilage, and then ossification above, he says. This is often misdiagnosed as a fracture but is, in fact, the ossification process at two different locations.Researchers looking at more serious cases found:In a study1 of 462 horses in Britain, researchers used nerve blocks, radiographs, and MRI imaging to examine associations between the degree of collateral cartilage ossification and injuries in other hoof structures (see sidebar on page 45). The team concluded: Extensively ossified cartilages of the foot are significantly associated with collateral ligament or distal phalanx injury.In a 2015 retrospective study,2 also conducted in Britain, scientists examined radiographs of 271 cases of ossified collateral cartilages from 2005 to 2012, determining the following:They most commonly found fractures in cartilages with ossification grades of 4 or 5, best seen in flexed oblique (an angled X ray view with the limb slightly flexed) images.Cases with cartilage ossification grades of 4 or 5 were more likely than those with lower ossification grades to have modeling/adaptive changes.Abnormally shaped cartilages were more likely to have modeling/adaptive changes than the normally shaped cartilages.Likewise, in a 2020 British study3 of 929 images from 589 horses, authors said the following in their video abstract: New bone formation on the proximal and distal phalanges (long pastern, short pastern, and coffin bones) was seen more commonly in horses with Grades 4 or 5 ossification of the ungular cartilages compared to those with Grades 3 and below. In addition, there was a higher risk of new bone formation associated with lateral ungular cartilage compared to the medial. They further concluded: New bone formation on the proximal and distal phalanges may contribute to pain and lameness in horses with Grades 4 or 5 ossification of the ungular cartilages.In a 2011 U.S. study,4 researchers considered the difficulty of identifying abnormalities resulting from ossified collateral cartilage on radiographs and, thus, utilized MRI in 22 horses to characterize and grade ossified collateral cartilage presenting with a fractured coffin bone. From these cases the authors concluded: Ossified ungular cartilages may lead to fracture of the palmar process of the distal phalanx and injury of the ungular cartilage ligaments.Potentially Unrelated FindingsBeasley cautions that in cases in which a radiograph shows ossified collateral cartilage in a clinically lame horse, but a nerve block has not been performed, dont assume the ossification is causing the lameness, he says. It could be a red herring for something completely unrelated.Breed Type vs. PathologyTo better understand a possible farrier perspective, Beasley explains that in horseshoe forging competitions, farriers produced a handmade shoe with a medial heel wedge, rolled from the medial toe to the heel, for horses with sidebone. Historically, farriers crafted such shoes for draftier breeds that may be wide-chested and toed-in, putting more weight on the outside of the foot, he says. Farriers may have also felt and seen the ossification of the collateral cartilage. If somebody made that shoe, they were basically shoeing for the horses conformation.Because of this, Beasley speculates that there could be some disconnect between the farrier and veterinary communities (about) whether sidebone is pathologic or not.Along these lines, researchers on a 2014 Scandinavian study5 evaluated radiographs combined with sports data from 649 Swedish-Norwegian cold-blooded trotting horses. The authors acknowledge sidebone as a highly heritable condition within this breed but, based on their findings, ossification of the ungular cartilages does not cause decreased performance in cold-blooded trotters and is therefore most likely not a cause of clinical or subclinical lameness in this breed.SafeguardsBecause the exact cause of sidebone remains unclear, true prevention remains difficult, says Carvajal de la Cerda. Still, practical management aimed at reducing concussion and trauma to the hoof could help protect the collateral cartilages and limit ossification. He notes that providing appropriate footing and managing workload can help minimize repeated impact on the foot.Early intervention can also help prevent problems. Evaluating foal conformation from birth and applying corrective trimming (and shoeing when appropriate) can also reduce angular deformities, he says. This will result in better conformation of the adult horse, so the impacts can be more evenly distributed in the foot.Take-Home MessageOverall, the prognosis for horses with ossified collateral cartilages remains favorable, says Carvajal de la Cerda, and depends on factors such as the extent of ossification, the horses age and intended use, and whether lameness is associated with the finding.In my experience it is rare for sidebone to be the sole cause of lameness, he explains. Typically, it coexists with other pathologies that can be treated, while the sidebone itself remains an incidental finding. Overall, the long-term prognosis is good, especially if we apply the shoeing goals that I mentioned before. Long-term success also depends on collaboration. I would like to add that sidebone, as any other podiatry issue, needs efficient teamwork between your veterinarian and farrier, says Carvajal de la Cerda. It is only when we bring the two professions together that we can have real success.References1. Dyson S, Brown V, Collins S, Murray R. Is there an association between ossification of the cartilages of the foot and collateral desmopathy of the distal interphalangeal joint or distal phalanx injury? Equine Vet J. 2010;42(6):50411.2. Jones LE, Dyson SJ. Radiographic characterization of ossification of the ungular cartilages in horses: 271 cases (20052012). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;247(7):80111.3. Tivey M-EL, Van Dijk J, Dyson S. Extensive ossification of the ungular cartilages and other osseous abnormalities of the proximal and distal phalanges. Equine Vet Educ. 2020;32:2530.4. Selberg K, Werpy N. Fractures of the distal phalanx and associated soft tissue and osseous abnormalities in 22 horses with ossified sclerotic ungual cartilages diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2011;52(4):394401.5. Hedenstrm UO, Wattle OS. Significance of ossificated ungular cartilages regarding the performance of cold-blooded trotters. Acta Vet Scand. 2014;56(1):74.6. Ruohoniemi M, Tulamo RM, Hackzell M. Radiographic evaluation of ossification of the collateral cartilages of the third phalanx in Finnhorses. Equine Vet J. 1993;25(5):453455.This article is from the Spring 2026 issue ofThe Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. We at The Horse work to provide you with the latest and most reliable news and information on equine health, care, management, and welfare through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Your subscription helps The Horse continue to offer this vital resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels. To access current issues included in your subscription, please sign in to theAppleorGoogleapps ORclick herefor the desktop version.