Why can't you save a horse with a broken leg?

With all of the medical advancements today, it is possible to fix a horses broken leg. It is very spendy and most people can not afford to have this done.

In the past, a horse that was unable to take weight on a leg for any appreciable period of time - such as that required for a fracture to heal - would have to be euthanised. This is because a horse is so heavy and its legs are so fragile. Horses are built for speed - their spindly legs must take close to half a ton of weight. When one of the legs is out of action, the others cannot hold up the horse's weight. It was usually considered more humane to euthanise the horse immediately than to allow it to suffer as one of its other legs broke or ruptured a tendon under the strain.

Modern technology has allowed a lot of broken bones to be repaired. It is not so much the ability to set the bone, but the ability to hold up the horse while it heals. Slings allow a lot of the horse's weight to be taken by pulleys on the roof. Some horses will not stand in a sling, and particularly highly-strung or temperamental horses may not be suitable candidates for rehabilitation.

The prognosis for a horse with a broken leg is generally good if the fracture is simple and the horse will accept treatment. There is usually permanent lameness and for this reason, horses are sometimes euthanised because it is more economical. A horse that has had a broken leg is no use for competition, only for light riding if that. If the break was a result of a congenital weakness it is no use for breeding either. A mare with severe lameness may not be able to carry a foal, and a stallion that is lame in one hind leg will not be able to stand to serve a mare. Jockey club only registers horses produced by live cover (artificial insemination is not allowed) so this is a problem for racehorses in particular. The huge costs involved to surgically repair a fracture and then rehabilitate the horse mean that it is financial suicide to attempt to save a horse with a fracture if you are not extremely wealthy.

Some fractures, such as compound fractures or fractures of more than one leg, still result in instant euthanasia. Since this question was asked shortly after Eight Belles was put down I will use her as an example. During the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles fractured both front legs. She was euthanised because she could not stand while the legs were splinted. However, even if they had gotten her up it would have been far harder for her to be saved. Her front legs would have to have been held off the ground for over a month. The result would have been dubious - and the horse would have suffered immensely. This is why the sad decision to put a horse down is often made after it breaks a bone.

First answer by ID0404721325. Last edit by LauraFrog. Contributor trust: 327 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]