Equine Lameness and Sports Medicine in Palm City, FL
Lameness is the most frequent source of sub-par performance in equine athletes. At Harbour Ridge Equine, our objective is to identify the cause of lameness or poor performance and design an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plan. Whether you have a top competition horse, a trail partner, or a beloved retiree, our veterinarians combine a careful history, hands-on examination, and advanced diagnostic imaging to pinpoint the problem and get your horse moving comfortably again.
request an appointmentComprehensive Lameness Evaluations
Every lameness evaluation begins with your horse’s history and the owner or rider’s reported complaint. Our veterinarians then perform a comprehensive physical exam, gait assessment, flexion tests, and diagnostic nerve or joint blocks to localize the source of discomfort. We may also use imaging techniques such as digital radiography and ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Our team then brings all of this information together to formulate a plan tailored to the individual horse and rider or owner.
While we can diagnose most lameness cases at your farm, haul-in cases are encouraged from our local clients and from horse owners outside our practice area. Our air-conditioned clinic provides a controlled environment for imaging, sterile joint injections, and hospitalization when needed.
Lameness can also be connected to other areas of your horse’s health. Hoof disease such as laminitis, dental pain addressed through advanced dentistry, and joint restrictions treated with equine chiropractic can all affect how your horse moves and performs.
Why Digital Radiography?
Our state-of-the-art digital X-ray system provides excellent image quality. We assess bone structure and joints to accurately diagnose the cause of lameness and determine prognosis. We also use X-rays to follow the progression of an injury or disease process, and radiographs give your farrier valuable information for corrective trimming and shoeing.
Why Digital Ultrasound?
Digital ultrasound uses noninvasive sound waves to form an image of soft tissue structures and bony surfaces. This allows us to identify tendon and ligament injuries, determine prognosis, and monitor healing during the course of rehabilitation.
Ultrasound is also used to accurately inject cervical (neck) and thoracolumbar (back) facets, sacroiliac joints, and soft tissue injuries with the appropriate therapy.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool in equine performance evaluations. We offer both upper airway and gastric endoscopy, which allows us to accurately assess your horse’s airway function or diagnose gastric ulcers. An upper airway endoscopy can help identify common performance-limiting conditions such as laryngeal hemiplegia (commonly known as “roaring”), dorsal displacement of the soft palate, epiglottic entrapment, and guttural pouch disease. Learn more about our internal medicine diagnostics.
Lameness Treatments
- Therapeutic joint injections
- Ultrasound-guided sacroiliac and thoracolumbar injections (back)
- Ultrasound-guided cervical facet injections (neck)
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
- Mesotherapy
In addition to traditional options, we are excited to offer orthobiologic therapies for the treatment of osteoarthritis, joint, and soft tissue injuries. These treatment options allow us to treat your horse with cells and proteins produced by the horse, minimizing the use of medications such as steroids.
Orthobiologic Therapies Offered by Harbour Ridge Equine
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
PRP consists of platelets and proteins found in your horse’s bloodstream. The platelets and proteins promote healing of injuries, most commonly soft tissue injuries in tendons or ligaments. PRP results in better repair of injured areas, increasing the chance of returning to previous levels of work and decreasing the chance of reinjury. We draw blood from your horse and spin it in a centrifuge to isolate the desired product, which is then injected into the injured area.
Prostride or ACT Solution
Autologous cellular therapy, or Prostride, is a product produced from the horse’s own blood within 20 minutes. 60 ml of blood is drawn and put through a patented process that results in 2-3 ml of solution containing anti-inflammatory proteins, including IRAP, PRP, and white blood cells that have been reprogrammed to produce more anti-inflammatory proteins and increase the health of the joint. In early-stage osteoarthritis, Prostride therapy has been able to regenerate cartilage. In all stages of osteoarthritis and inflammation, Prostride has been used as a potent anti-inflammatory that improves the health of the joint and increases the comfort of horses for at least up to one year in most cases.
Alpha 2EQ
Alpha-2-macroglobulin is a large protein found in your horse’s blood. This protein can inhibit factors that lead to cartilage breakdown. As your veterinarian, we can utilize the AlphaActive process to separate the plasma, then filter and isolate the protein alpha-2-macroglobulin. When injected, alpha-2-macroglobulin removes the damage-causing enzymes to help improve the healing process and protect against further damage. In most cases, the results of this treatment can be observed within a few days and may last 6-12 months.
IRAP (Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein)
IRAP is a protein produced by your horse’s own body that works by fighting inflammation and helping to control pain. We draw blood from your horse into a syringe containing chromium beads. The syringe is spun in a centrifuge and then incubated. The final product (IRAP) is separated and stored in a freezer, and we can then inject it into the affected joint(s). IRAP is a useful treatment in the management of osteoarthritis with positive results.
Sports Medicine for Every Discipline
From hunters and jumpers to dressage, western, and pleasure horses, performance horses place unique demands on their bodies. Regular soundness checks, a solid preventative medicine program, and early intervention help keep athletes competing longer. Shopping for your next partner? A thorough pre-purchase examination with radiographs creates a valuable baseline for the future.
Lameness and Sports Medicine FAQs
My horse isn’t obviously lame but isn’t performing normally. Should I schedule a soundness exam?
Yes. Changes in performance can be a reason to investigate discomfort or lameness. We’ll consider your horse’s history and your observations on the ground and under saddle.
Can you evaluate my horse’s lameness at my farm, or should I haul in?
We can diagnose many lameness cases at the farm. Haul-in appointments are also encouraged; call us to discuss which setting is best for your horse.
Why does Harbour Ridge Equine recommend having joint injections done in the air-conditioned clinic instead of the barn?
A joint injection requires careful preparation to minimize the risk of introducing bacteria into the joint. Our air-conditioned, fully matted treatment room provides a controlled setting where we can prepare your horse and perform the procedure cleanly and safely.
What happens during a lameness exam?
A lameness exam typically includes a review of your horse’s history, a physical exam, watching your horse move, flexion tests, and diagnostic nerve or joint blocks. Radiographs or ultrasound may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis.
What is the difference between PRP, IRAP, Prostride, and Alpha 2EQ?
All four are orthobiologic therapies made from your horse’s own blood. They differ in how they are processed and which proteins or cells they concentrate. Our veterinarians will recommend the option best suited to your horse’s injury or joint condition.
Is shockwave therapy safe for competition horses?
Shockwave therapy is commonly used to support healing of tendon, ligament, and bone injuries. Competition rules may limit its use before an event, so let us know your show schedule so we can plan treatment appropriately.
Can you work with my farrier on a lameness case?
Yes. We regularly share radiographs and findings with farriers so trimming and shoeing can support your horse’s treatment and long-term soundness.
Get Your Horse Back to Comfortable Performance
If your horse is lame, stiff, or not performing at their best, call Harbour Ridge Equine at (561) 744-9026 to schedule a lameness evaluation at your farm or our clinic.