Farriery
Whenever I’m asked about preventative care for the sport horse, the first thing that crosses my mind is foot balance. The vast majority of forelimb lameness comes from the foot and so, annual foot balance radiographs are a great way of preventing lameness from occurring. Foot imbalances can put pressure on soft tissue structures, such as the collateral ligaments of the coffin joint.
Obviously when talking about a horse’s foot, discussion needs to be had between your vet and farrier, and a good working relationship between them is vital. Every horse’s foot is different and there are many forms of corrective farriery, yet the aim remains the same. That aim is to balance the foot such that it is best able to cope with the loads applied to it. If your vet and farrier can work together in keeping abreast of small changes in foot conformation and balance, this can greatly extend your horse’s career.
Physiotherapy
Nowadays an increasing number of horse owners are having their horse’s backs checked by a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor. As the equine sports industry has progressed there has been a realisation that regular care and treatment by these paraprofessionals is very valuable in both the early detection and treatment of certain diseases. Muscle soreness is guaranteed in every sport, but consistent tension in a horse’s muscles may be a sign of ‘guarding’ – when the horse holds themselves to avoid pain. Physiotherapists can get to know your horse such that they are able to recognise new areas of muscle tension and in some cases lameness in its early stages. Where there is lameness, these cases will often become referred to your vet. Similarly, we would regularly refer clients back to physiotherapists following the management of lameness in order to resolve any secondary muscle soreness. Regular check ups are important for every elite athlete and horses should be no exception. Good communication between your vet and other paraprofessionals can help to ensure that your horse stays in peak condition throughout the competition season. An understanding of what is ‘normal’ for your horse at the start of the season can help us detect any new or recent injuries promptly if they develop throughout the competing
season. This awareness on an individual basis can help us to detect any injuries early in their onset and so, reduce the length of any rehabilitation time that your horse may encounter as a result.
For more information visit
www.walnuthillequine.co.uk or call 0156 4794104.
Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements
THE SPRING SPECIAL 2020
19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
