A horse that walks on its toe can be corrected with which procedure?

• A. Digital tendon tenotomy
• B. Distal check ligament desmotomy
• C. Hoof trimming
• D. Lameness examination

Answer: (B)

Toe-walking in a horse often reflects a flexural deformity of the fetlock/pastern area driven by excessive pull from the superficial digital flexor system. The distal check ligament helps restrain the superficial digital flexor tendon; when this ligament is released, the restraint is removed, allowing the SDFT to lengthen more normally as the limb extends. This reduces the abnormal flexion forces that keep the horse’s toe off the ground and enables a more normal heel-down, plantarweight bearing position. Hoof trimming can help with balance, but it doesn’t address the tendon imbalance; lameness examination is diagnostic, and digital tendon tenotomy targets the deep digital flexor tendon, which isn’t the primary driver in this toe-walking scenario. Releasing the distal check ligament desmotomy is a standard corrective approach for SDFT-driven toe-walking.