rehabilitation
Turnout and ‘time to be a horse’ will always contribute positively to both physical health and mental wellbeing
Working horses and ponies are almost inevitably going to sustain some sort of injury at some point, but how well the injury heals and how quickly they return to work requires not just veterinary diagnosis and treatment where relevant, but also knowledgeable and progressive rehabilitation to ensure full function and performance is regained.
Equine rehabilitation techniques
Equine physical rehabilitation has numerous goals, in¬cluding assisting in injury recovery, improving mobility, alleviating signs of illness and maintaining health through strength training. When a horse sustains an injury, extensive rehabilitative techniques often are required, so understanding traditional therapies as well as popular alternative therapies can help owners, in conjunction with their vets to choose the right options and so ensure the best possible outcome. Because modern technology in large animal veterinary care has advanced tremendously, many therapy options are now available to horse owners who want to provide their horse with the best care possible. However, treatment duration and success will always depend on the individual horse and its owner’s ability and willingness to comply with the treatment plan. Because all horses have unique problems, there can never be a standard therapeutic regime, or a guaranteed outcome. In many cases, a holistic approach using a combination of therapies is required. Numerous therapies
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are available and whilst learning about all of them may be daunting or confusing, a discussion with your vet will help you make the right decisions. Prevention of injury will always be preferable to treatment and can be best achieved with an assortment of training exercises that incorporate proper warm- ups and cool-downs. Horse owners and riders who are not familiar should plan to work with experienced trainers and learn about equine fitness and how best to prevent injuries. Saddle fit, farrier, dentistry and a number of other considerations will all impact on long term soundness alongside mental wellbeing.
Indications for Therapy Many signs and behavioural changes in horses can indicate a need for some form of physical rehabilitation. Changes in performance, uneven or stiff movements and refusal to perform previously accomplished actions may all signal pain or disability. Owners should know when to contact their vet for more expert advice, as early recognition can prevent a small
problem from degenerating into a more significant one.
Signs of a problem Physical signs include – uneven shoe wear, stiffness on one rein, disunited canter, sore areas on the spine, unexplained lameness or unlevel/uneven steps, uneven muscle tone, carrying the tail to one side, reduced performance.
Behavioural changes include – Rearing or bucking, reluctance or refusal to jump, refusing to turn, dipping the back, flinching, violent tail swishing (even when being groomed), Loss of condition and/or performance, head shyness, refusing to be saddled, unwilling to stand for mounting, reluctance to engage, maintain an outline or bend.
Always contact your vet for expert advice whenever you consider your horse may have a problem
www.theequinesite.co.uk
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