What is calcium deposits on the horses knee?

Published by: smith 2009-01-09

Looked at a horse and noticed she has large knots on both knees. the owner said she had them when she purchased the horse over two years ago and has never caused any problems. She called them calcium deposits. Should I steer away from buying? what is the cause?

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Bred to bar B Bostons Kid. The mare is broodmare sound. She has a calcium deposit on her front knee, but it does not affect her carrying and nursing a colt.
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Steer clear. Any bone changes, calcium deposits or bone spurs, indicate inflammatory changes and roughening of the surfaces over which tendons and ligaments have to move during exercise. It is never good, and unless you already own and love the horse, there is no good reason to take this on.

I've known horses like that that have never had an issue with their knees. If they are on both knees, chances are she's she's been roped off of.

my twh has calcium deposits in one knee and he has never had a prob with it in his whole life.(hes 16..we've had him since he was 5) sometimes after a long trail ride; which a trail ride for him is gallop 80%, canter 10%, run walk 9%, and 1% walk! ha! after that for a few hours he sometimes has a little heat and maybe a sight limp but recovers fine the next day and im not even sure its related. just c if its causing her any problems, if so, then dont buy. but if shes like my horse, i would buy =]

Calcium deposits are usually from damage in a joint. In the horse's knees, I would think they are from being ridden early in life, and hard impact on her joints over time. So when there is trauma in an already-degrading knee joint, calcium deposits occur (like a broken bone- more bone is grown in the area, not necessarily from where it was broken/damaged in the first place). I would refrain from buying her until you get the full story, because she is going to be prone to early arthritis.

If it were me, I would only proceed with great caution. If you really like the horse and think you might want to take her home, you need to spend the extra money for an extra thorough vet check. The vet will probably want to radiograph the knees from several angles to get a good picture of what is going on. Tell the vet what it is you want to do with the horse. Are you just planning some pleasure riding or do you want to compete? The vet will be able to evaluate the likelihood of these deposits becoming a problem in the future.

It may be possible that the deposits do not bother her now, and it's possible that they may not bother her in the future, but I would not take the seller's word for it. I'd get a professional opinion. (Use your vet - not the seller's vet.)

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