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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | This may be too scientific but I figured it would be worth a shot! I am in the process of writing my undergrad thesis and my topic Conditioning to prevent injuries in horses. What I am looking for is if anyone knows of any scientific papers of actual programs used to prevent certain injuries. Lots of studies have been done that the next step would be finding an actual program but I can't seem to find much with those results. Specifically looking at soft tissue injuries (tendons, ligaments) as those are the main cause of wastage in performance horses.
I would also love to hear any stories you guys have on conditioning programs to reduce injury!
Thanks!! |
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 Jr. Detective
   
Location: Beggs, OK | I know it's not technically "conditioning" as in excercise, but the best thing that you can do to help prevent an injury is to have the very best farrier that you can find. Balanced feet are essential. Consistent shoeing/trimming intervals will help to keep a horse from getting sore or injuring themselves. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | Have you searched google scholar ? |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | Check with your vet to see what CE classes they have been to, that might be what you are looking for. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Speak with your vet and see if they can look on pubmed.
I do know there has been research done on bone density in racehorses. Synopsis was strictly walking has least bone density walking, trotting, and loping had the most bone density. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | Yes I've gone through many many articles I was just looking if anyone had found specific that maybe I hadn't found :) |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | thehorse.com might also have some articles you're looking for. One in particular that comes to mind is the physical therapy for stifle injuries article. You could apply those exercises in your conditioning program. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | I have always been very much into conditioning my horses. My horses are... well horses. They are turned out in a large pasture together, which i also think helps keep them sound. Ive got a theory... not sure how scientific it is but I recently read something that kind of suggested I was on the right track. I love and have the availablity to condition my horses on rolling hills. Ive always felt that hill work was like weight lifting for horses. Like when people lift weight it helps maintain their bone density. Since horses cant technically lift weights, ive always felt hills was as close as a horse could get, plus it is a natural workout for them. I read recently in a study that looked at horse health on horses stalled vs horses turned out . I believe it mentioned something about bone density being better in horses that were turned out. Being out and able to move around as they wished seemed to really help their over all condition. I also had my horse worked on by a chiro once. I explained what issue i was having and he put her through several flex tests. He got done and said, this horse is very fit! I said, well she gets rode out almost every day. He said, well most barrel horses arent this fit. He told me that arena ridden horses are the hardest to keep sound. I have found thia to be very true. My horses (knock on wood) have very rarely had lameness issues. I have known lots of people who stall and arena ride only and have had lots of lameness issues... |
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