Yeah, it's more complicated than they are brittle or they like other horses. Their lower legs are pretty fragile. They don't have muscles in their lower legs. Their circulatory system depends on them moving. The pressure in their lower legs that is generated by moving and running helps move blood through their bodies. Without the pressure on the lower legs, they have circulatory issues and inflammation that can kill them.
Not a vet. But I remember asking myself why they can't try some kind of prosthesis and investigated the real reasons why lower legs injuries are so critical. They also tend to have inflammation in their other legs if they favor one, which can cause damage to the hoofs and structure of uninjuried legs.
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u/YouGoToBox Jun 19 '26
This is also how I explain that evolution is a C student.