What is ringbone?

• A. New bone formation between the fetlock and coronary band.
• B. Inflammation of the navicular bone.
• C. Inflammation of the hock joint.
• D. Tendon rupture in the lower leg.

Answer: (A)

Ringbone is bone growth that forms around the pastern joints, reflecting osteoarthritis of that joint area. The pastern lies between the fetlock and the hoof, so new bone formation in that region creates a ring-like growth around the pastern. That’s why the description of new bone formation between the fetlock and coronary band best fits ringbone.

Other choices describe different conditions: inflammation of the navicular bone is navicular disease, not periarticular bone growth; inflammation of the hock joint is bone spavin; and tendon rupture involves soft tissue injury rather than bony changes around a joint.