Can someone tell me about "Osselots"?

[AfleetAlex]

Its been nagging me.

What are they? What can be done for them? and do they pretty much cause a horse to be lame and 'unusable' once they get them?

Thanks for any info on them. I have always wondered about them and have never asked!

[spex4me]

heres a link that is decent until someone pipes up here.

http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/horse-forums/what-are-osselots-66705.html

[Barn 31 T-breds]

inflammation of the ankle joint often results in osselets, which are bony growth on the bones due to calcification.

its normally present, in varying degrees, in racehorses.. especially those who have been over raced.

if they are hot and developing, they are called "green osselets". it is in this state that horsemen will often cool the joint out and either blister, or more often in the old days, pin fire.

if they are cold, the osselets are considered "set".

once set, horses can be sound indefinitely if they arent used very hard. even set osselets will normally get warm again with racing.

straight conformation contributes to osselets because there is more direct concussion to the joint rather than a normal flexation.