With Robert M. Miller, DVM

Reviewed by Jess Hallas-Kilcoyne

“Anybody that’s had horses for any length of time has probably experienced the tragedy of lameness – permanent, crippling lameness,” says respected equine veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller in the introduction to his new DVD, Lameness: Its Causes & Prevention. “A majority of these lamenesses are preventable.”

Over the next 90 minutes, Dr. Miller, a world renowned speaker and author on horse behaviour, and the father of the imprint training technique for foals, shares knowledge gleaned from 56 years as a veterinarian, patiently walking the viewer through the 11 most common causes of lameness: age, defective conformation, nutrition, lack of exercise, injury from an unsafe environment, inappropriate ground surfaces, improper foot care, laminitis, infection, genetic predisposition to lameness, and too much work at a young age. For each of these causes, he also provides a number of ways that horse owners might prevent the associated lameness.

Lameness delves into controversial topics such as “rollkur” (hyperflexion) in dressage and so-called “peanut rollers” in the Western pleasure ring, explaining how different postures can affect a horse’s soundness. Dr. Miller continues with an explanation of basic equine physiology and provides tips for the average horse owner to be able to determine lameness and identify the affected limb(s). Additional chapters on Conformation, Natural Hoof Care, and Treating Lameness are provided by guest experts Julie Winkel, Mary Cottrill, and Shane Miller, DVM, respectively.

A comprehensive overview of the basics of equine unsoundness, Lameness contains information that every horse owner and enthusiast should possess.

For more information, or to order your copy of Lameness: Its Causes & Prevention, call 1-800-284-3362 or email trikpony@aol.com.