Pointing refers to a state of rest with one foot positioned about 10 to 12 inches ahead of the other in an effort to reduce weight on the affected side. Weight is shifted habitually from one hind limb to the other by healthy horses during rest and does not indicate lameness. If lameness persists more than a few days, a veterinarian should treat splints. Small swellings around the ankles and lower cannons are common to horses that are used heavily or trailered a lot, or to older animals. Those with adequate flat bone, well-defined joints and prominent veins usually have sufficient substance and circulation to withstand wear better than horses with coarse, round bone and meaty legs with poorly defined joints and veins.
Puffs are blemishes.
It is usually caused by injury from the shoe when the front leg is folded under the body while the horse is lying down. One or more tendons and ligaments may be affected, but those commonly involved are the superflexor tendon, deep flexor tendon and suspensory ligament of one or both front legs. Predisposing causes are severe strain, wear and tear with age and relatively small tendons attached to light, round bone. Bowed tendons usually cause severe unsoundness. The hock is the most vulnerable, therefore the most important, joint of the body.