The Palæopathology
of Horse Husbandry

Outline

Four skeletal sites are of particular interest to us: the feet (metapodials, phalanges, carpals, tarsals and sesamoids), pelvis, scapula and vertebral column (especially the caudal thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, sacrum and cervical vertebrae).

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That is because these seem to be common sites for occupational injuries. For example, it appears that shoulder and hip injuries are particularly characteristic of traction. On the other hand, injuries to the caudal thoracic vertebrae seem to be primarily associated with riding. Foot injuries probably have more complicated explanations. Relatively high rates of foot pathologies seem to be found in both riding and heavy traction animals, particularly those which are worked on roads rather than on open ground. We are also testing a hypothesis, suggested by Whitwell, that some kinds of abnormalities of the cervical vertebrae are related to confinement.