10/16/2025
Resharing from December xx
Its important to know that ESPA is now the newer more updated term
Despite some wild claims this is a whole body issue, connective tissue is everywhere it can even affect the eyes of some horses
Nervous system regulation is not a cure
Jaw flexions is not a cure
Would you want to ride a horse that has a whole body connective tissue disorder,.would your horse feel safe ?? Would you feel safe and is it fair to an already compromised body to add more load
More up to date imaging including the nuchal ligament can often help owners find a correct diagnosis
From mild to severe the ranges can vary yet degenerative is the most important word,
Be wary of those claiming success on one horse for often managed is a better claim, and most owners of DSLD horses have already made the correct changes to help their horse the owners are the experts
Heartache for owners is often the only thing that is left when those who claim cures offer hope in times of desperation,
It is not just a fetlock issue yet often many people only focus their eyes on the lower limb
DSLD
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis
We have all encountered watching a horse move or stand and our glance moves down to the fetlocks which just don't look right, the upright position often replaced by an hyperextension of the fetlock or a dropped look.
Often if we only focus on the lower limb, we might think by simply fixing an angle that everything will rectify itself but as in the word degenerative the sad truth is is that for a lot of cases the issue will only become worse and if we use another name which is
Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation we might have a better understanding that it may not just be a Suspensory issue but a connective tissue issue, and as the horse's body is built by the binding of connective tissue then we may just have a whole horse issue.
What is Proteoglycan??
This is a basic overview as it gets way to complicated
They are made up of a core protein and attaching to the core is a chain of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) which are basically sugar chains. The Proteoglycan can be found in the ECM, the ECM is the Extracellular Matrix which is the glue that holds cells together and allows movement of the cells as a group, it also filters, blocks or delays signals and helps protect the cells from damage.
The Proteoglycans or PGs for short anchor to the surface of the cells or traverse around the cell membrane, sending signals and aiding in wound healing and even in embryonic development. Think of them of fillers of space between every cell in the ECM and even beyond,
The shape of them makes them able to swell and make them resist compression so in tendon areas that have such a force put on them so the tendons of the lower limb are abundant with Proteoglycans and its these which get unevenly distributed accumulating hence the other name of Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation
If we think this occurs between collagen and elastin fibres then we need to think where these fibres are in the whole horse, we also have to think of the abnormal loading of the limb and the connections of the suspensory to other structures, where it merges, how the rest of the body is dealing with an abnormal load, how the foot shape is being defined, the other tendonous areas in the limb and the connection to the muscles as we go up the limb
It is still widely unknown about the repercussions and new research is being found and to keep updated is to keep informed.
Riding is not advised for horses suffering from this and often the degenerative angle of the ailment means that often positive outcomes are rare, but it is hereditary so again we have to look to breeders to fly the flag for a better breed standard to help the future horses.
There are many wild claims out there of cures and it saddens me that owners are not only put through the heartache of not knowing where to turn with their horse but will be accosted by these claims and made to feel a failure if they don't follow the crowd. Remember success is always your horse being pain free and comfortable in its own body just to be a horse
