The most common cause of ringbone is injury to the joint. It may be from strain or stress due to athletic activity or conformation abnormality that causes it strain. If your horse's leg is crooked, especially from the fetlock joint or lower, it puts a large amount of stress on the coffin or pastern joint.

What causes horse ringbone?

What causes Ringbone. Bony proliferation accumulating over time on the coffin and/or pastern joints causes ringbone. As with other types of arthritis, signs typically appear when horses reach middle age. Depending on conformation and use, some horses seem to be more predisposed to this condition.

Can ringbone in horses be cured?

Ringbone, like other forms of arthritis, is a progressive disease. Once the process is underway, there is no cure. The goal is to slow its advancement and to keep the horse comfortable as long as possible.