What is a common injury associated with calf knees in horses?

A common injury associated with calf knees in horses is bowed tendons. Calf knees, or "over at the knee" condition, is characterized by a backward deviation of the knee joint. This abnormal conformation can lead to excessive strain on the flexor tendons due to altered biomechanics during movement. When a horse with calf knees engages in activities like running or jumping, the stress can result in injury or inflammation of the tendons, specifically leading to bowed tendons.

Bowed tendons occur when the deep or superficial flexor tendons are injured, causing them to stretch and become prominent. This is a significant concern for performance horses because it can hinder their ability to perform and lead to long-term issues if not properly managed.

Other conditions listed, while they are significant equine health issues, do not have a direct association with the unique conformation of calf knees as bowed tendons do. Splints generally relate to the inflammation of the splint bones and are often tied to stress or trauma but are not specifically linked to calf knees. Navicular disease is a degenerative condition affecting the navicular bone, often caused by poor hoof mechanics, and laminitis is a painful condition affecting the hooves, influenced by metabolic factors rather than conformational