I've been away for a while and busy with vet school, but when I saw this horse I thought of you all and just had to post this photo!

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o297/ferox_thyla/horsebrokenleg.jpg

It's a horse who fractured his leg, so it's in a cast to heal.

That's cool. I thought horses that broke their legs all got put down on the racetrack unless they were famous worldwide. It's good to know that some at least get a chance.

Aw poor dear! I was under the impression that horses got put down for a broken leg too, that it had something to do with infection risk?

The only horse I have seen with a broken leg was young, not full grown and presumably not so heavy. He had on a purple cast-and it was awfully cute in the worst way possible!

This fellow was a thoroughbred in training. He had gone lame and on examination the X-rays showed he had two fractures developing in the cannon bone. Hopefully the exra support and rest from training will let him heal without a disaster on the track.

What an uplifting photo! I too thought that horses were automatically put down if they broke a leg. After a little research I learned that it isn't the case that a horse is automatically put down, but it very much depends on the type of fracture incurred.

A horse's legs are too slender to support the power and weight of an injured horse. Sometimes it just isn't possible to expect a fracture will heal even if the money was available for the very best care in the world.

I think everyone was under that thought about broken leg must mean put down. I have never seen a horse in a cast so I am quite impressed as the rest of everyone here.

Aww, bless its heart! I'm surprised to see this too. I'm sure glad they do attempt to do this now and don't just automatically put the sweet things down!