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7.1 Primary and Secondary Lameness

The relationship between primary and secondary lameness is unidirectional.

On the other hand, secondary components may or may not coexist with primary lameness. A single primary lameness with no secondary elements would be classified as simple. Simple lameness is the most basic form since examination, diagnosis, and treatment are all directed toward a single anatomic region of the horse.

In cases of complicated lameness, however, more than one anatomic region is involved. Differentiating regions that require preferential attention from those that don’t is one of the primary objectives of the adept observer. All primary issues will require accurate diagnosis and treatment in order to reestablish the horse’s performance. Depending on the duration and nature of secondary lameness, however, exclusive treatment may or may not be necessary. In many instances, secondary issues will spontaneously resolve once the primary issue has been successfully addressed. The smarter approach, therefore, is to identify and treat primary problems first.