Horses with broken legs face severe recovery challenges due to their heavy bodies supported by relatively light leg bones, which often shatter and are difficult to surgically repair. Unlike humans, horses have minimal muscle and tissue below the knee to stabilize fractures, and their instinct to bear weight or flee increases the risk of re-injury. Additionally, the high stress placed on horse legs, especially the front legs bearing over half their weight, complicates healing and can lead to painful complications like laminitis. While simpler fractures such as greenstick and stress fractures have better recovery prospects, complex fractures—especially compound or those involving joints—often result in euthanasia due to poor prognosis.

Advances in veterinary medicine have improved the chances of saving some horses with leg fractures, but euthanasia remains the most common outcome. Signs of a broken leg include swelling, reluctance to bear weight, and visible deformities or bone protrusions. Immediate veterinary care is crucial to minimize further injury and assess whether surgical repair is possible. Despite progress, the unique anatomical and behavioral factors in horses make full recovery from leg fractures difficult and uncertain.