THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017 Like us on Facebook facebook.com/thellanelliherald


69 Sports BEHIND THE STABLE DOOR


hooves and you can get a chance to take early action on many common hoof problems. Before each ride, remove any stones


or small objects lodged in his feet before you add your weight to the situation. Check on the condition of their shoes


after you untack them, in case something has gotten stuck in his feet during the ride.


When you bring them in at night,


check for objects in their feet, or for turnout injuries. Before turnout the next morning,


check for heat and pulse, remove manure, and check for signs of thrush.


LAMENESS Fear - horses are a flight animal. Out in


the wild, they are the prey and they would rather run from danger than confront it. Horses feel fear, and a horse that feels fear and cannot run away from it will panic and ‘misbehave’. This behaviour is an attempt by the horse to tell you that he really wants to get away from whatever he is afraid of. Fear is the basis for ‘spooky’ horses. They are usually very insecure and don’t trust that you will protect them from the scary circumstance that he has found himself in.


HOOF CARE Nearly all riders will have to deal Your horse’s hooves are a vital


part of their anatomy. By ensuring they stay in peak condition, you maximise your horse’s ability to jump, work and compete to the best of its ability. It is important to ensure your horse’s hooves stay in their best shape. Picking out your horse’s feet is the


single most important thing you can do for their hooves. By picking their feet, your horse gets a head start on healthy


with the abnormal stance or gait of lameness at some point. It’s incredibly important for owners to know how to prevent and spot any signs of lameness in your horse. This is the best to prevent any long term damage to your equine friend. Proper, timely shoeing is the most


important thing you can do to safeguard the health of your horse’s feet and legs; and as soon as you suspect a problem, address it. Benign neglect doesn’t work


here. Work footing needs to be deep


enough to lessen concussion but not so deep that it strains tendons or ligaments; Tendon and ligament injuries take the longest to heal, and some never do, so prevention is key. Stall footing should be level and dry


with plenty of straw or shavings; it needs to be deep enough to encourage your horse to get off his feet and rest. Check legs and feet before and after


every ride. Also watch your horse trot briefly on a short long line once a week. Careful conditioning. Riding at least


every other day avoids ‘weekend warrior’ syndrome, but don’t overdo it. Regular long, slow distance work - walking - helps keep tendons and ligaments tight and healthy. Plenty of turnout in a small, mud-


free, well-fenced paddock, with the horse wearing protective boots will do your equine friend good. Warm-up/cool-down. Ten minutes


of an active, stretching walk gets tissues warmed and joints working freely before you introduce a lot of stress. After work, walk at least ten minutes to cool down. Avoid pounding. Endless circling, round-pen work or longing can cause


injury. Balance is especially important on a circle. If a horse’s weight is evenly balanced over his four legs - so he’s not leaning in dramatically - he’s much less likely to strain his legs.


VETS In order for your horse to remain


healthy, you will require regular contact with your vet; annual vaccinations, dental check-ups and deworming all form part of the annual expense to ensure your horse’s health is in check. Not all veterinary practices take on


the care of horses. You will usually find that most practices treat small animals, and others will just treat horses. There are some vets that are mixed practice, but they are small in numbers and you may not have one locally. Most vets that specialise in treating


horses work at veterinary practices that only treat horses, so you will probably need to look slightly further afield to find a practice that suits you. The main things to consider when


looking for a vet for your horse are convenience of location, availability, professionalism, price range and, most importantly, competence.


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