ADVICEFROMTHE VET
intervals, and during spring this mayneed to reduceto5weeks. It is best not to shoe horses the daybeforecompeting in case theyhave anykind or bruising or nail bind, so plan your farrier visitsaround your competition schedule. If your horse is soreonhardground or after
shoeing, thereare things that
canbedone.It is agood ideatospeak to your vetand farrier and get them working
together.Some horses do have thin solesand benefitfromsome solar packing; othersmay have poor foot balancewhich canbeimproved with x-rays and remedial shoeing. Some horseswho are soreonhardground have lowgrade lameness and requiremoreinvestigation, generally it is not aproblem that should be ignored.
INJURYPREVENTION
It is not possible to prevent all injuries, but thereare steps that youcan take to minimize risk and maximizerecovery if your horse does succumb to injury.Ensuring your horse is fitenough forthe intended competition and well shod arethe firstand mostcrucial steps, but other factors canbeadded in to help. Regular physiotherapyand stretching
exercisestoimprove suppleness canbevery beneficial. Groundwork involving raised poles, carrot stretchesand regular turn out canall help maintain suppleness and flexibility. Aregular physiotherapysession or massage session canhelp loosen anyknotted musclesand identify anylow-grade problems beforetheybecome moreofanissue. Regular saddle fitting and ensuring that
SHOEING
Farriersare essential forkeeping horses fitand sound. During the spring, it is normal forhoof growth to accelerateasgrass growth takesoff. This means that your horse mayneed shoeing morefrequently in the spring. Mosthorses should be shod at no longer than6weekly
the rider is the correctweight forthe horse areboth important. As riders, we must ride in abalanced way, with equal weight distribution, this is sometimeseasier said than done so regular training sessions with an instructorcan help ridersofall levels. Cold hosinglimbs after strenuous work can
be mostbeneficial. Anyminor joint or soft tissue inflammation canbesettled with cold therapy. Although thereare lotsofproducts available to assistincooling limbs the hose is still the best option if it is available. If you areapplying icebootsorclay, ensurethey
areproperly fitted and removedpromptly. These canall cause skin reactions and swelling in their ownright if used inappropriately; and neverapply icedirectly to the skin.
LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
Above all youknowyour horse best.Iftheyare struggling with something theyused to find easy,oriftheyare not progressing in the way youwould expect, call your vet. Horsesare generally willing to please,and if theyrepeatedly under-perform thereisusually an underlying problem. They maynot appear overtly lame or girthy, butany lossofperformancecan be an indication ofamedical problem. All problems arebetter identified whilstminor rather than waiting until the issue is moreserious. If youhaveany concerns about your horse do not hesitatetoget in touch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ClaireMaher BVetMed MSc Cert AVP(ESO) MRCVS RCVSRecognised Advanced Practitioner in Equine Orthopaedics.
ClaireisaDirectoratAvonvale Equine Practiceand heads up the orthopaedic and poor performanceteams. She is passionateabout helping horses (and their owners) reach their full potential at whatever leveltheyare aiming for. Claireishappytotake referrals from other practices or offer asecond opinion on complexcases.
•AvonvaleVeterinaryPracticeLtd. RatleyLodge,Ratley BanburyOX156DT
www.avonvaleequine.co.uk 01295670501
PleasementionCentralHorseNewswhenresponding toAdvertisementsJUNE/JULY2021
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