Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
JK Mahla, PV Parikh, AR Mecvan, PB Dabhi, NR Amin, AK Patel and MN Gelat

Abstract:
A randomly selected horses (n=1008), which includes (51.69%, 521) males and females (48.31%, 487) belonged to different zones of Gujarat were surveyed for prevalence of lameness and bad conformation during year 2019 to 2021. The overall incidence of lameness was recorded 19.25% whereas 26.69% bad conformation, where affections were recorded higher 22.26% in males then 16.08% in females. The flooring based incidence of bad conformation and lameness were recorded more 31.63% and 29.50% respectively in the Pakka floor as compared to incidence of 21.04% bad conformation and 12.15% lameness in the horses, those were maintained on Kachcha floor. The hoof trimming practice was regularly adopted in 75.60% horses and was being shoed regularly, where the lowest shoeing interval of 15 days was recorded in hand made rubber shoe for carting horses. The ceremonial dance horses had highest incidence of bad conformations (36.93%) and lameness (31.82%), where hindlimb walk and dance on wooden charpai with rider on back were routine for dance horses of Gujarat. Overgrown hooves (23.21%) were recorded the highest amongst all other incidence of bad conformations, while incidence of canker (3.57%) was recorded the highest in the incidence of lameness. Out of total 19.25% overall lameness; 81.96% lameness was located at lower limbs. Amongst forelimb lameness 90.74% were recorded at lower limb, while 70.93% lower limb lameness was recorded in hindlimb. Higher incidence of lower hindlimb lameness (70.93%) was attributed to ceremonial dance and hindlimb walk with rider on back.