Leg Injuries in Horses

meaning any inflammatory process causing swelling within will result in painful pressure. Think of a blister under a fingernailouch!
Symptoms of Leg Injuries in Horses
Most owners know when their horse is lame but identifying the affected limb can be difficult if there is no obvious wound or swelling. A stepwise approach to assessing a horse should be taken to distinguish the affected limb and between the following symptoms of lameness safely
Symptoms
Inability or unwillingness to put weight on the limb while standing

Rocking back to offload weight from both forelimbs while standing
Heat or swelling over the hoof capsule or the limb
Wounds abrasions or foreign bodies
Head nod at walk or trot
Hip hike or drop at walk or trot
Diminished stride length relative to the other limbs
First watch the horse as it is standing still. If it is severely lame it might stand with the hoof tipped up on the toe without wanting to bear any weight on the sole of the foot. Another sign is that it might stand pointing the hoof forward of the normal standing position called pointing. Sometimes a horse will try to point with both hooves and rock backwards.
Secondly feel your horses limbs. Many common hoof injuries cause the foot to be palpably hot. Pick up the foot to ensure your 

 horse hasnt stepped on something like a nail if you see one call your veterinarian immediately for further instruction without pulling out the object. If the nail may penetrate the sole further unless removed remove the nail after taking photos of its exact location to assist in veterinary treatment. This treatment may include radiographs to assess damage and a tetanus vaccination.

Feel up your horses limbs for swelling over joints within tendons or over the whole leg.
The skin on the legs is very thin and horses can often get caught up in
fencing or kicking through stall walls. Small pieces of fencing may cause small puncture wounds. Even major wounds can be treated with prompt