yearling w/ bad ankles

Question
We recently aquired a yearling colt. After we got him home we noticed that his back ankles pop out forward. He does't seem to be in pain but it looks akward. Is. There something we can do at home to treat this or are we looking at a lengthy and expensive treatment? We wanted to use him for trail riding.

Answer
Dear Indi,
Although your description is rather vague- you may be describing epiphycitis- (much simplified) a condition that can affect young (usually)large breed horses that grow quickly- the bone growth exceeds the capacity for the soft tissue to keep up. The result can be swollen and sore joints and ultimately, contracted tendons. This can result in permanent lameness but can often be corrected through proper dietary care and veterinary supervision.
Of course the "you should have had a pre-purchase examination done" lecture is due- but the horse is already in your barn- so no good will come of that other than remember for next time. I would have your vet come out and do an exam and x-rays.I could be totally off the mark- whatever the issue- the fact that the horse is young will be a big help in the potential for a "fix."
Best wishes,
S. Evans