RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OSSIFICATION OF THE CARTILAGES OF THE FOOT AND CONFORMATION AND RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE FRONT FEET IN FINNHORSES

One hundred Finnhorse cadaver front feet were measured and examined bo th radiographically and visually to report the incidence of various fo ot problems and their relationship to ossification of the cartilages o f the foot. Ossification extending above the proximal border of the na vicular bone and/or separate centres of ossification were found in 36 feet, and the lateral cartilages showed more ossification than the med ial cartilages. The feet were generally broad with well developed frog s,but the long toe-low heel syndrome was a relatively common finding. Ossification of the cartilages correlated with the length of the heels but was not related to any clinically significant foot abnormalities such as contracted or under-run heels or signs of unequal weightbearin g. Ossification of the cartilages did not seem to be either the cause or the result of general conformational adaptations of the front feet.