Ringbone in Horses Explained
Ringbone is osteoarthritis of the pastern or coffin joint with new bony growth. Learn high versus low ringbone, the signs, and how it is managed in senior horses.
Quick definition: Ringbone is osteoarthritis of the pastern or coffin joint in the lower leg, marked by new bony growth around the joint. High ringbone affects the pastern joint and can form a visible firm ring; low ringbone affects the hidden coffin joint inside the hoof. It causes chronic, often progressive lameness in older horses and is managed with corrective farriery and veterinary care rather than cured.
Ringbone gets its name from the firm, ring-like bony enlargement that can develop around a horse\'s pastern in the more visible form of the disease. At its heart, ringbone is simply osteoarthritis of one of the small, hard-working joints low in the leg, with the body laying down extra bone in response to chronic stress.
It is a common reason for ongoing lameness in older horses, because it tends to be the cumulative result of years of concussion and wear. Understanding which joint is affected, and whether the joint surface itself is involved, helps explain how a particular horse is likely to do.
High Versus Low Ringbone
| Type | Joint affected |
|---|---|
| High ringbone | The pastern joint between the long and short pastern bones, often visible or palpable as a firm ring |
| Low ringbone | The coffin joint inside the hoof, hidden from view and seen only on radiographs |
Each can be articular, meaning the joint surface is involved, or periarticular, meaning the new bone is around the joint but not yet within it. Articular ringbone tends to be more painful and harder to manage.
What Causes It
Ringbone develops from chronic concussion and stress on the joint. Years of work on hard ground, poor hoof balance and conformation, and old ligament or joint injuries all push the joint toward degeneration. The joint responds by producing extra bone, which limits motion and causes pain. In seniors it is usually a wear-and-tear story written over many years.
Signs to Watch For
- Stiffness and a shortened stride, often worse on hard ground or after work.
- Lameness that may ease with a light warm-up, then return.
- A firm bony enlargement around the pastern in high ringbone, sometimes with heat and swelling.
- Resistance to flexion of the lower leg and a positive flexion test.
Diagnosis and Management
A veterinary lameness exam with flexion tests and nerve blocks, paired with radiographs, confirms ringbone and shows which joint is involved. There is no cure, so the goals are comfort and slowing progression. Corrective farriery to balance the foot and ease breakover is foundational, alongside anti-inflammatory medication, joint injections, weight control, and a sensible workload on soft footing. Because the pastern joint moves little, fusing it, naturally or surgically, can actually restore soundness in some high ringbone cases.
For hands-on detail, see ringbone and sidebone. Related reading includes arthritis in senior horses, the glossary entry on navicular syndrome, joint supplements for senior horses, and the best footing for arthritic horses.
This page is educational and does not replace your veterinarian or farrier. Persistent lameness needs a professional exam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is ringbone in horses?
Ringbone is a form of osteoarthritis affecting the pastern and coffin joints in the lower leg, where new bony growth develops around the joint. High ringbone involves the pastern joint between the long and short pastern bones, while low ringbone involves the coffin joint inside the hoof. Over time the extra bone and joint degeneration cause stiffness, lameness, and sometimes a visible bony lump. It is a common cause of chronic lameness in older horses.
What is the difference between high and low ringbone?
The difference is location. High ringbone affects the pastern joint, between the long and short pastern bones above the hoof, and the bony change can sometimes be seen or felt as a firm ring around the pastern. Low ringbone affects the coffin joint inside the hoof, so it is hidden and shows up only on radiographs. Both are osteoarthritis of a lower-limb joint, and both can be articular, involving the joint surface, or periarticular, around it.
What causes ringbone?
Ringbone develops from chronic stress, concussion, and wear on the pastern or coffin joint. Repeated work on hard ground, poor hoof balance and conformation, old injuries to the joint or ligaments, and simple age all contribute. The joint responds to ongoing stress by laying down extra bone, which restricts movement and causes pain. In senior horses it is often the cumulative result of years of work, which is why it is largely a wear-and-tear condition.
What are the signs of ringbone?
Early signs include stiffness, a shortened stride, and lameness that is often worse on hard ground or after work, sometimes improving with light warm-up then returning. With high ringbone you may see or feel a firm bony enlargement around the pastern, along with heat and swelling during active phases. The horse may resist flexion of the joint. Lameness tends to be progressive, and a flexion test usually makes it more obvious.
How is ringbone diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis combines a lameness exam, flexion tests, and nerve blocks with radiographs that show the new bone and joint changes. There is no cure, so treatment manages pain and slows progression. Corrective farriery to balance the foot and ease breakover is foundational, alongside anti-inflammatory medication, joint injections, and controlled exercise. In some cases of high ringbone, surgically fusing the low-motion pastern joint can restore soundness.
Can a horse with ringbone stay comfortable?
Often yes, especially with low-motion joints. The pastern joint moves relatively little, so once it stiffens or fuses, many horses become sound again. The coffin joint moves more, so low ringbone can be harder to manage. With good farriery, weight control, joint support, and a sensible workload on soft footing, many senior horses with ringbone stay comfortable for years. Your veterinarian and farrier guide the long-term plan.
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