Equine care, decoded

Colic is abdominal pain in the horse — a symptom, not a disease. It can range from mild gas discomfort to a life-threatening twisted gut. Early detection and rapid veterinary care save lives.

Laminitis is inflammation of the sensitive laminae inside the hoof. Severe cases lead to founder, where the coffin bone rotates or sinks. It is acutely painful and can be career-ending or fatal if not addressed immediately.

EMS is a hormonal disorder characterised by insulin dysregulation, regional fat deposits, and a high risk of laminitis. It is most common in 'easy keepers' and certain breeds (ponies, Morgans, Arabians).

PPID — pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, still often called equine Cushing’s — is an age-related hormone disorder of the pituitary. Classic signs are a long curly coat, delayed or incomplete shedding, a pot belly with muscle loss, and a raised risk of laminitis. A photograph cannot diagnose PPID. Diagnosis is veterinary bloodwork. The app body-condition scan is a first look at condition, not a verdict that your horse has PPID, and there is no PPID scanner.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects up to 90% of performance horses and 60% of pleasure horses. The horse's stomach produces acid continuously, so empty stomachs and stress quickly create painful ulcers in the squamous lining.

Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges (Culicoides). It causes intense itching along the mane, tail, and belly, leading to self-inflicted hair loss and skin damage. It is a lifelong condition managed, not cured.

Mud fever is a bacterial skin infection of the lower legs caused by prolonged wet, muddy conditions. The skin softens, cracks, and lets opportunistic bacteria (Dermatophilus congolensis) take hold, producing painful scabs.

Rain rot — also called rain scald — is a bacterial skin infection (Dermatophilus congolensis) that shows up on the back, croup, and rump after prolonged wet weather. Moisture softens the coat, the organism multiplies in the hair follicles, and paintbrush-like scabs form. A photograph cannot diagnose rain rot, and the app scan is a first look at the skin, not a verdict that your horse has rain rot.

Navicular syndrome is chronic lameness from degeneration of the navicular bone, surrounding ligaments, and the deep digital flexor tendon. It typically affects both front feet and is most common in Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Warmbloods.

A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection inside the hoof, typically caused by bacteria entering through a small crack or puncture. The horse becomes acutely lame — often dramatically so — but most cases resolve quickly once the abscess drains.

Lameness is an uneven gait — a sign of pain or mechanical restriction, not a diagnosis on its own. First signs are often a head nod, a shorter stride on one limb, or a hip hike. Rest the horse and do not ride through it. A still photograph cannot diagnose lameness, and the app gait scan is a short video of a few strides you can share with your vet — not a verdict that your horse is lame.

Thrush is an infection of the frog — the V-shaped, rubbery structure on the sole of the hoof. It thrives when feet stay wet, packed with mud or manure, or are left unpicked. Most cases are a hygiene and farriery problem. A photograph cannot diagnose thrush, and the app scan is a first look at the hoof, not a verdict that your horse has thrush.

White line disease is an infection of the white line and inner hoof wall — the junction between the sole and the wall — not the frog. That is thrush. Moisture, poor horn, and packed debris let opportunistic organisms hollow out the wall from the inside. A photograph cannot diagnose white line disease, and the app scan is a first look at the hoof, not a verdict that your horse has white line disease.

Kissing spine — overriding dorsal spinous processes — is when adjacent bones along the topline touch or overlap. It can cause back pain, a hollow or dipped back, and a drop in ridden work, but many horses have radiographic changes without clinical signs. A photograph cannot diagnose kissing spine. Diagnosis is a vet exam and radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at back shape and build, not a verdict that your horse has kissing spine, and there is no kissing-spine scanner.

Sarcoid is a bovine papillomavirus-associated skin tumour — the most common skin tumour in horses. It can look like a lump, a warty growth, a flat scaly patch, or an ulcerated sore, often on the head, groin, chest, or at an old wound. A photograph cannot diagnose sarcoid. Diagnosis is a vet exam and usually a biopsy. The skin scan is a first look at the lump or patch, not a verdict that your horse has sarcoid, and there is no sarcoid scanner.

Ringworm is a fungal skin infection (dermatophytosis) — not bacterial rain rot and not a tumour. It can look like a round, hairless, or scaly patch, often on the face, neck, girth, or where tack rubs. A photograph cannot diagnose ringworm. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often a scrape or fungal culture. The skin scan is a first look at the patch, not a verdict that your horse has ringworm, and there is no ringworm scanner.

Melanoma is a pigment-cell tumour — common in grey horses, often under the tail, on the lips, eyelids, or around the parotid. It is not sarcoid (a bovine papillomavirus tumour) and not ringworm (a fungal infection). A photograph cannot diagnose melanoma. Diagnosis is a vet exam and usually histopathology. The skin scan is a first look at the lump, not a verdict that your horse has melanoma, and there is no melanoma scanner.

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues under the skin — typically a sudden, hot, painful swelling of one limb, often a hind leg. It is an emergency-leaning limb infection, not a rash, and not melanoma, ringworm, or sarcoid. A photograph cannot diagnose cellulitis. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the swollen limb, not a verdict that your horse has cellulitis, and there is no cellulitis scanner.

Hives is urticaria — an allergic skin reaction that raises sudden, flat-topped wheals (plaques) that pit when pressed. It is not cellulitis (a bacterial limb infection), not rain rot, and not ringworm. A photograph cannot diagnose hives. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the wheals, not a verdict that your horse has hives, and there is no hives scanner.

Proud flesh is exuberant granulation tissue — overgrown pink, fleshy wound tissue, often on a lower-leg wound. It is not sarcoid (a bovine papillomavirus tumour) and not cellulitis (a bacterial limb infection). A photograph cannot diagnose proud flesh. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the wound, not a verdict that your horse has proud flesh, and there is no proud-flesh scanner.

Photosensitivity is a photodynamic skin reaction — sun-exposed, usually unpigmented skin that burns, swells, or sloughs after a plant, a drug, or liver disease leaves a photodynamic agent in the skin. It is not hives (an allergic wheal reaction), not rain rot (bacterial scabs), and not proud flesh (overgrown wound tissue). A photograph cannot diagnose photosensitivity. A still cannot tell primary (plant or drug) from hepatogenous (liver) photosensitivity and cannot diagnose liver disease. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often bloodwork. The skin scan is a first look at the patch, not a verdict that your horse has photosensitivity, and there is no photosensitivity scanner.

Summer sores is cutaneous habronemiasis — a fly-borne wound infestation by Habronema or Draschia larvae. It is not ordinary proud flesh (exuberant granulation tissue) and not a tumour (sarcoid). A photograph cannot diagnose summer sores. A still cannot tell summer sore from proud flesh, sarcoid, or granulation. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often a biopsy. The skin scan is a first look at the wound, not a verdict that your horse has summer sores, and there is no summer-sores scanner.

Aural plaques are equine ear papillomas — raised, depigmented, hyperkeratotic plaques on the concave pinna (inner ear), associated with equine papillomavirus (EcPV). They are not sarcoid (a bovine papillomavirus tumour), not warts of the body, and not ringworm (a fungal infection). A photograph cannot diagnose aural plaques. A still cannot tell aural plaques from an ear sarcoid. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the ear, not a verdict that your horse has aural plaques, and there is no aural-plaques scanner.

Bowed tendon — flexor tendinitis — is inflammation or injury of a flexor tendon in the lower leg, often noticed after hard or fast work. The classic look is a bowed or thickened profile along the back of the cannon. A photograph cannot diagnose a bowed tendon. A still cannot tell a bow from cellulitis, a bandage bow, or other lower-leg swelling. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often ultrasound. The conformation scan is a first look at the tendon profile, not a verdict that your horse has a bowed tendon, and there is no bowed-tendon scanner.

Splints — splint-bone periostitis — is inflammation or bony exostosis of a splint bone (MC2/MC4 or MT2/MT4), often noticed as a firm bump on the cannon. A photograph cannot diagnose splints. A still cannot tell a hot (active) splint from a cold (inactive) bump, a splint-bone fracture, cellulitis, or other lower-leg swelling. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at the cannon-bone bump, not a verdict that your horse has splints, and there is no splints scanner.

Lice are host-specific parasites — Werneckiella (Bovicola) equi or Haematopinus asini — not ringworm, not rain rot, not sweet-itch, and not ordinary dandruff. They can look like itching, a moth-eaten mane, or nits on the hair. A photograph cannot diagnose lice. A still cannot tell lice from dandruff, dirt, sweet-itch, or rain-rot. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often finding lice or nits on the hair. The skin scan is a first look at the coat and mane, not a verdict that your horse has lice, and there is no lice scanner.

Strangles is an infection with Streptococcus equi — not cellulitis, not hives, and not choke aftermath. It can look like fever, swelling under the jaw or at the throatlatch, or thick nasal discharge. A photograph cannot diagnose strangles. A still cannot tell a lymph-node abscess or nasal discharge from other infections, choke aftermath, or ordinary lymph-node swelling. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often culture or PCR. Isolation and biosecurity are a vet and yard decision, not a photo. The skin scan is a first look at the swell / discharge, not a verdict that your horse has strangles, and there is no strangles scanner.

Ringbone is osteoarthritis of the pastern joint (high ringbone) or the coffin joint (low ringbone) — a bony enlargement around the pastern, not a splint on the cannon and not navicular syndrome inside the foot. A photograph cannot diagnose ringbone. A still cannot tell high vs low ringbone, osteoarthritis of the pastern or coffin, a sprain, windpuffs, or a fracture. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at the pastern/joint bump, not a verdict that your horse has ringbone, and there is no ringbone scanner.

Quittor is infection of the collateral cartilage of the coffin bone — a chronic draining tract at or above the coronary band, not thrush in the frog, not white line disease in the wall, and not an ordinary hoof abscess. A photograph cannot diagnose quittor. A still cannot tell quittor from a coronary-band wound, gravel, a hoof abscess, or canker. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often probing or imaging. The hoof scan is a first look at the coronary-band drain / hoof, not a verdict that your horse has quittor, and there is no quittor scanner.

This is hoof canker of the frog and sole — chronic proliferative pododermatitis — not oral canker and not avian canker. A photograph cannot diagnose canker. A still cannot tell canker from thrush, white line disease, proud flesh in the foot, or a hoof abscess. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often biopsy. The hoof scan is a first look at the frog/sole, not a verdict that your horse has canker, and there is no canker scanner.

Sidebone is ossification of the collateral cartilages of the distal phalanx (coffin bone) — a firm swell at the coronary band or quarters, not ringbone in the pastern or coffin joint, not a splint on the cannon, and not quittor (infection of those same cartilages). A photograph cannot diagnose sidebone. A still cannot tell sidebone from ringbone, a sprain, windpuffs, quittor swell, or a fracture. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at the coronary-band / quarter swell, not a verdict that your horse has sidebone, and there is no sidebone scanner.

Osselets are traumatic arthritis / periostitis of the fetlock (metacarpophalangeal joint) — often a firm swell on the front of the fetlock in a young horse in hard work, not ringbone in the pastern or coffin, not a splint on the cannon, not sidebone at the coronary band, and not a bowed tendon. A photograph cannot diagnose osselets. A still cannot tell osselets from a sprain, windpuffs, a chip fracture, or ordinary fetlock filling. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at the fetlock swell, not a verdict that your horse has osselets, and there is no osselets scanner.

Bog spavin is a soft, fluid swell of the tarsocrural (hock) joint — tarsocrural effusion — not bone spavin (osteoarthritis of the lower hock), not a capped hock, not thoroughpin, not windpuffs, not osselets in the fetlock, and not ringbone in the pastern. A photograph cannot diagnose bog spavin. A still cannot tell bog spavin from bone spavin, a capped hock, thoroughpin, windpuffs, or an infection in the hock. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the hock swell, not a verdict that your horse has bog spavin, and there is no bog-spavin scanner.

Bone spavin is osteoarthritis of the lower hock (distal intertarsal / tarsometatarsal joints) — often a hard bony bump on the inside of the lower hock, not bog spavin (soft tarsocrural effusion), not a capped hock, not curb, not osselets in the fetlock, and not ringbone in the pastern. A photograph cannot diagnose bone spavin. A still cannot tell bone spavin from bog spavin, a capped hock, curb, a sprain, or a fracture. Some horses have no visible bump (occult bone spavin). Diagnosis is a vet exam, often radiographs. The conformation scan is a first look at the lower-hock bump, not a verdict that your horse has bone spavin, and there is no bone-spavin scanner.

Curb is thickening of the plantar tarsal ligament on the back of the hock — a firm swell a few inches below the point of the hock — not bone spavin (lower-hock osteoarthritis), not bog spavin (soft tarsocrural effusion), not a capped hock, and not a bowed tendon in the cannon. A photograph cannot diagnose curb. A still cannot tell curb from bone spavin, bog spavin, a capped hock, a sprain, or a bowed tendon in the hock region. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the back-of-hock swell, not a verdict that your horse has curb, and there is no curb scanner.

A capped hock is a swell of the calcaneal bursa at the point of the hock — often from a knock on a stall wall — not curb (plantar tarsal ligament below the point), not bog spavin (soft tarsocrural effusion), and not bone spavin (lower-hock osteoarthritis). A photograph cannot diagnose a capped hock. A still cannot tell a capped hock from curb, bog spavin, bone spavin, a sprain, or an infected bursa. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the point-of-hock swell, not a verdict that your horse has a capped hock, and there is no capped-hock scanner.

Thoroughpin is effusion of the tarsal sheath (deep digital flexor tendon sheath) — a soft swell above and in front of the point of the hock that can be pushed through (through-and-through) — not bog spavin (tarsocrural joint effusion on the front/inside of the hock), not a capped hock (calcaneal bursa at the point), and not curb (plantar tarsal ligament below the point). A photograph cannot diagnose thoroughpin. A still cannot tell thoroughpin from bog spavin, a capped hock, curb, or an infected sheath. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the tarsal-sheath swell, not a verdict that your horse has thoroughpin, and there is no thoroughpin scanner.

A locked stifle is intermittent upward fixation of the patella — a movement problem in which a hind limb sticks in extension, then snaps forward when it unlocks — not general lameness and not kissing spine. A photograph cannot diagnose a locked stifle. A still cannot tell a locked stifle from stringhalt, shivers, ordinary hind-limb stiffness, or a hitch. Diagnosis is a vet exam, often watching the horse walk and trot. The gait scan is a first look at the hind-limb stride to share with a vet, not a locked-stifle test, and there is no locked-stifle scanner.

Sweeney is atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus after injury to the suprascapular nerve — a hollowed shoulder, not a locked stifle, not kissing spine, and not ordinary shoulder soreness. A photograph cannot diagnose sweeney. A still cannot tell sweeney from disuse atrophy, a shoulder injury, or poor muscling. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the shoulder outline to share with a vet, not a sweeney test, and there is no sweeney scanner.

Fistulous withers is chronic inflammation or infection of the supraspinous bursa over the withers — it can drain through fistulous tracts. It is not sweeney (shoulder muscle atrophy / suprascapular nerve), not poll evil (nuchal bursa at the poll — a different place), and not kissing spine (back/spinous processes). A photograph cannot diagnose fistulous withers. A still cannot tell fistulous withers from a saddle sore, withers abscess, trauma swelling, or poll evil. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the withers skin/swelling to share with a vet, not a fistulous-withers test, and there is no fistulous-withers scanner.

Poll evil is inflammation or infection of the nuchal bursa at the poll (behind the ears / occiput) — it can drain through fistulous tracts. It is not fistulous withers (supraspinous bursa at the withers — a different place), not sweeney (shoulder muscle atrophy / suprascapular nerve), and not strangles (lymph nodes / respiratory). A photograph cannot diagnose poll evil. A still cannot tell poll evil from a poll abscess, trauma swelling at the poll, an insect bite/swelling, or fistulous withers (withers is a different place). Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the poll skin/swelling to share with a vet, not a poll-evil test, and there is no poll-evil scanner.

Pigeon fever is an infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis that often forms deep abscesses in the chest and pectoral muscles (dryland distemper) — it can also show as ulcerative lymphangitis or internal abscesses. It is not strangles (Streptococcus equi — lymph nodes / respiratory), not cellulitis (a sudden hot painful limb swell), and not an ordinary chest bruise. A photograph cannot diagnose pigeon fever. A still cannot tell pigeon fever from cellulitis, strangles, an ordinary chest abscess, or insect-bite/trauma swelling. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the chest skin/swelling to share with a vet, not a pigeon-fever test, and there is no pigeon-fever scanner.

Warts are equine papilloma from equine papillomavirus — usually small, cauliflower-like or flat lumps on the muzzle, lips, nose, or around the mouth in young horses (also called grass warts). They are usually self-limiting in youngsters; they can persist or look like something else. They are not sarcoid (a different tumor, not a wart), not aural plaques (inner ear, papillomavirus but a different presentation), not melanoma (grey-horse pigment), not ringworm (fungal), and not proud flesh (exuberant granulation). A photograph cannot diagnose warts. A still cannot tell warts from sarcoid, aural plaques, melanoma, ringworm, or proud flesh. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the lump/skin to share with a vet, not a wart test, and there is no wart scanner.

Shivers is a chronic neuromuscular condition, usually in the hind limbs — trembling or hyperflexion when backing, lifting a hind limb, or sometimes when asked to move off. It is not locked stifle (upward fixation of the patella), not stringhalt (exaggerated hind-limb flexion when walking forward), and not ordinary lameness. It is often worse when backing or picking up a hind foot; the horse may look normal at rest. The cause is not fully known. A photograph cannot diagnose shivers. A still cannot tell shivers from stringhalt, locked stifle, hitch, or ordinary hind-limb spasm — this is a movement problem, and a still photo is especially weak here. Diagnosis is a vet exam (walk/trot, backing, lifting a hind limb), not a photo. The gait scan is a first look at the movement to share with a vet, not a shivers test, and there is no shivers scanner.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection (Borrelia burgdorferi). Owner-reported signs are often shifting lameness, stiffness, or a horse that looks sore or off — but those signs are not unique to Lyme. It is not ordinary lameness, not PPID (Cushing’s) stiffness, and not shivers. A photograph cannot diagnose Lyme disease. A still cannot tell Lyme from other shifting lameness, sore feet, or ordinary stiffness. Diagnosis is a vet exam plus bloodwork, not a photo. The gait scan is a first look at the movement to share with a vet, not a Lyme test, and there is no Lyme scanner.

Anhidrosis is decreased or absent sweating (non-sweating), often in hot or humid climates — a dry coat when other horses are wet after work, with rapid breathing, high temperature, fatigue, or heat stress. It is not photosensitivity (a sun/skin reaction), not hives (raised wheals), and not sweet itch (Culicoides). A photograph cannot diagnose anhidrosis. A still cannot tell anhidrosis from a horse that has not worked, is clipped, is dehydrated, or is just dry. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the coat/skin to share with a vet, not an anhidrosis test, and there is no anhidrosis scanner.

Club foot is an upright, boxy hoof with a high heel and often a broken-forward pastern-hoof axis — congenital or acquired, one foot (often a front) or both. The acquired form can follow pain or disuse. It is not laminitis (rotation or a sinker is a different, high-severity disease), not white-line-disease, and not a hoof abscess. A photograph cannot diagnose club foot. A still cannot tell a club foot from a high heel, laminitic rotation/change, or a contracted heel. Diagnosis is a vet/farrier exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the hoof/pastern outline to share with a vet, not a club-foot test, and there is no club-foot scanner.

Gravel is an infection that tracks up the white line from a sole puncture or stone bruise and may burst at the coronary band — not a pocket abscess in the sole, not thrush in the frog, not white-line disease hollowing the inner wall, and not quittor in the collateral cartilage. A photograph cannot diagnose gravel. A still cannot tell gravel from a hoof abscess, white-line disease, a bruise, or thrush. Diagnosis is a vet/farrier exam. The hoof scan is a first look at the hoof to share with a vet, not a gravel test, and there is no gravel scanner.

EPM is equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, usually Sarcocystis neurona (sometimes Neospora hughesi). Owner-reported signs are often asymmetric ataxia, muscle atrophy, weakness, or incoordination — a horse that looks lame but is neurologic. It is not ordinary lameness, not Lyme disease, not shivers, and not locked stifle. A photograph cannot diagnose EPM. A still cannot tell EPM from other neurologic disease, Lyme, ordinary lameness, or shivers. A still photo is especially weak here: this is a movement / neurologic problem. Diagnosis is a vet exam plus testing, not a photo. The gait scan is a first look at the movement to share with a vet, not an EPM test, and there is no EPM scanner.

Quarter crack is a vertical crack in the hoof wall at the quarter (the side of the hoof), from the coronary band down or from the ground up — not white-line disease hollowing the inner wall, not thrush in the frog, not quittor in the collateral cartilage, not canker, not gravel tracking up the white line, and not club foot. It can be painful if it reaches sensitive tissue or gets infected; often related to unbalanced feet, dry/wet cycles, or trauma. A photograph cannot diagnose a quarter crack. A still cannot tell a quarter crack from a sand crack, a superficial wall crack, white-line disease, or gravel. Diagnosis is a vet/farrier exam. The hoof scan is a first look at the hoof wall to share with a vet/farrier, not a quarter-crack test, and there is no quarter-crack scanner.

Wobbler is cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM): compression of the cervical spinal cord from malformed or degenerative neck vertebrae. Owner-reported signs are often ataxia, stumbling, toe-dragging, or a horse that looks clumsy or lame but is neurologic — often worse behind. It is not EPM, not kissing spine, not ordinary lameness, and not Lyme or shivers. A photograph cannot diagnose wobbler / CVSM. A still cannot tell wobbler from EPM, other neurologic disease, kissing spine, or ordinary clumsiness. A still photo is especially weak here: this is a movement / neurologic problem. Diagnosis is a vet exam (often imaging), not a photo. The gait scan is a first look at the movement to share with a vet, not a wobbler test, and there is no wobbler scanner.

Girth gall is a sore, rub, or open wound in the girth groove or behind the elbow from a dirty, tight, or poorly fitted girth. It can become infected. It is not cellulitis (sudden hot limb swell), not proud flesh (exuberant granulation), not rain-rot, and not summer sores. A photograph cannot diagnose a girth gall. A still cannot tell a girth gall from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the girth skin to share with a vet, not a girth-gall test, and there is no girth-gall scanner.

Hunter's bump is a prominence at the tuber sacrale (top of the croup / sacroiliac), often after jumping or SI strain. It can be one-sided or both. It is not kissing spine (back/spinous processes), not sweeney (shoulder atrophy), and not fistulous withers (withers bursa). A photograph cannot diagnose a hunter's bump. A still cannot tell a hunter's bump from kissing spine, a normal high croup, or sacroiliac change. A photo is not a diagnosis of sacroiliac disease. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the croup outline to share with a vet, not a hunter's-bump test, and there is no hunter's-bump scanner.

Contracted heels are heels that have drawn in, often with a narrowed frog — commonly from dry feet, long toes, or pain. It is not club foot (an upright, boxy hoof with a high heel), not gravel (infection tracking up the white line), not a quarter crack (a vertical wall crack), not thrush (frog sulci), and not white-line disease (inner-wall hollow). A photograph cannot diagnose contracted heels. A still cannot tell contracted heels from a club foot, a high heel, a dry contracted frog, or laminitic change. Diagnosis is a vet/farrier exam. The hoof scan is a first look at the heel/frog outline to share with a vet/farrier, not a contracted-heels test, and there is no contracted-heels scanner.

Ewe neck is an "upside-down" neck: a concave topline of the neck, a heavier underside, often with a high head carriage or poor muscling of the crest. It is a conformation / muscling issue, not a disease like sweeney (nerve atrophy of the shoulder). It is not sweeney, not kissing spine, not a hunter's bump, and not wobbler. A photograph cannot diagnose a ewe neck. A still cannot tell a ewe neck from poor muscling, a high head set, or a thin topline. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The conformation scan is a first look at the neck outline to share with a vet, not a ewe-neck test, and there is no ewe-neck scanner.

Mallenders is hyperkeratosis — cracked, scaly, crusted skin behind the knee (front-limb flexor surface). It is not rain-rot (Dermatophilus), not cellulitis (sudden hot limb swell), not proud flesh (exuberant granulation), not lice, and not sweet-itch (Culicoides). A photograph cannot diagnose mallenders. A still cannot tell mallenders from scratches (pastern dermatitis), rain rot, or proud flesh. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the skin behind the knee to share with a vet, not a mallenders test, and there is no mallenders scanner.

Choke in horses is a blockage of the oesophagus, not the airway — the horse can still breathe. Common causes are bolted dry feed, large pieces of carrot or apple, or poor dental health. Most cases resolve within an hour but can lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Equine asthma — also called Recurrent Airway Obstruction or 'heaves' — is a chronic respiratory disease triggered by inhaled allergens (dust, mould, pollen). Affected horses have breathing difficulty, chronic cough, and reduced performance.