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15
EQUINE MATTERS
R E H A B I L I TAT I ON
Periods of ‘prescribed’ rest can be a good
opportunity for routine checks, such as making
sure your horse's vaccinations are up to date
and that he has had a dental examination -
including any required treatment
(figure 1)
.
Before commencing any exercise, it is
important to consider that he hasn’t gained too
much weight over the rest period and that his
feet are in good shape, thus avoiding any
further injuries. Regardless of what type of
injury your horse sustained, he will most
certainly have lost fitness and muscle tone. The
musculoskeletal system should not be placed
under any undue stress at this time and so
exercise following a rest period should be
introduced gradually and controlled as far as
possible.
Every injury will require a different ‘return to
work’ regime, making it is essential to get
specific advice from your veterinary surgeon.
Regular check-ups from the vet whilst increasing
your horse’s workload should ensure everything
stays on track and any potential problems can
be prevented.
It is also well worth considering including
others in the rehabilitation programme, such as
a qualified Association of Chartered
Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT)
physiotherapist, chiropractor, nutritionist,
trainer and your farrier. Involving all relevant
members of the team will help to obtain the
best possible outcome for your horse.
Prior to starting work, it is beneficial to
consider your horse’s nutrition. It is not unusual
for horses that have been on box rest to feel a
bit fresh or excitable when they first return to
work, but by providing a diet with low levels of
starch and a high fibre content, any potentially
excitable behaviour should be reduced. Oral
sedatives can be of use in some more difficult
to control patients and this should be discussed
with your vet on a horse-by-horse basis.
A controlled, gradual return to work is most
easily achieved using a horse walker
(figure 2)
but if one isn’t available, then lunging
(figure 3)
, lead or ridden work may be your
next best option. Once the exercise regime
has increased to a suitable level, turnout will
be the next step.
It is always a good idea to turn out after the
day’s exercise period so that excess energy has
been ‘burned off’ and the horse is more settled.
It is best to leave him fully booted and turn
into a small paddock with plenty of grass to
help distract from the excitement of new
surroundings. Oral sedatives may also be
required at this point in the rehabilitation
process. As workload further increases and a
routine becomes established, the chances of
your horse injuring himself should diminish.
Figure 1. A dental examination
KEY POINTS
●
Team approach to rehabilitation
●
Regular vet checks to ensure success
●
Commence controlled exercise only
when ready
●
Exercise regime depends on injury
Veterinary Surgeon
Alistair Todd
XLVets Equine practice
Kernow Farm and
Equine
Back in the Saddle
Alistair Todd BVSc MrCVS
Kernow Farm and Equine
Returning your horse to work after a period of rest can be a stressful
task. In this article, I hope to provide a few helpful tips to make that
experience a little easier for both you and your horse.
Figure 2. A horse walker makes for an easier
return to work
Figure 3. Lunging is useful when gradually
returning a horse to work