Whatever the age of the horse, the skeletal bone tissue is constantly renewed.
This continuous remodelling of the bone tissue is a normal process : not only does it allow "new bone" to be produced throughout the horse's life, but it also allows the skeletal structure to adapt to specific mechanical stresses, associated for example with the sporting activities in which the horse takes part.

The bone renewal process sometimes goes too far. Due to intense work performed by the horse, or excessive mechanical stresses on a bone or joint, bony areas that are "working too hard" display an excessive remodelling. Generally occurring in the joints, such remodelling can be seen on X-rays.

Such excessive remodelling of the bone tissue occurs in a large proportion of the locomotor conditions from which our horses suffer, in particular in most degenerative osteoarticular conditions. Furthermore, it is this very bone remodelling that will cause the pain that leads to lameness.

A high percentage of locomotor disorders in horses are therefore associated with changes to the bone structure, which can generally be seen in an X-ray.
For lameness of this type, which develops in the long term, the prognosis is guarded.