It’s not unusual for equine caretakers to hear their steed’s joints pop and crack when they move. Though alarming, these noises are generally nothing to worry about. Joints make noise when the joint capsule is stretched and releases gas from the joint fluid very quickly. This is the same process that allows people to “crack” their knuckles; after a bit of time, the same joint can be cracked again.
The most-mobile joints tend to be the loudest: knees, hocks and stifles. Joints in the neck or back may also pop, especially when the horse is stretching.
Cracking doesn’t mean that a joint is tight, loose or out of alignment. If the horse is sound and comfortable, clicking joints is nothing to worry about.
Read more at EQUUS magazine.
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