There is surely nothing more distressing for an equestrian to look forward to a ride on your favorite horse, only to get to the stable and find the horse to be lame. Although this is a fairly common condition, especially after a long and rough outride, it is nonetheless of great concern as it is a painful condition for the animal and in most cases complete rest is the best treatment while the bone and surrounding tissue is given time to heal after the navicular syndrome has passed.
Special shoes have been designed over the years to treat and alleviate the pain and as the horse's hooves are extremely important, the farrier taking care of the hooves needs to be well qualified to maintain the general condition of the hooves. It is advisable for the farrier to ensure that the pressure on the tendons and tissue in the hooves is minimized.
Should lameness occur too often, the advice of a good veterinarian, doing regular check-ups, should routinely be enlisted as the neglected condition could very possibly lead to a disease that can impair the life of the horse. The veterinarian will quickly diagnose possible incorrect habits and treatment will be administered. A special diet may also be recommended for a period of time.
Discovering lameness in one's horse is very disheartening. Recognizing this at an early stage is vital. It will lead to early treatment and therefore earlier recovery.
Thoroughbreds are likely to have relatively small feet whereas their frames are usually large. They are therefore more predisposed to lameness which it is believed to most commonly occur between the ages of 7 and 14 years. The weight of the rider is most certainly also a factor but thoroughbreds and American Quarter horses, opposed to ponies, have an increased chance of this syndrome as they have a higher weight to foot ratio.
To discover the symptoms of lameness in ones beloved horse is always distressing and it is therefore important to recognize the symptoms at the very early stages as this will give a definite advantage to an earlier recovery. It is generally believed that one front foot may be more painful than the other and this can be seen if the horse tends to switch from one leg to the other. The condition will be exacerbated if the animal is worked on a very rough or hard surface and should therefore be avoided.
A much gentler work schedule is recommended for the horse while lameness is evident and jumping should only be done in the arena where there are soft surfaces to land. However, slow and gentle distances can be undertaken in order for the general fitness of the horse to be maintained while recovering. Steep hills and rough and hard surfaces are to be avoided at all cost if a successful recovery is to be envisaged.
It is very fortunate that so much research has been done to alleviate and cure this painful condition and it is comforting to know that with patience and correct treatment, the animal's condition can be restored to its usual healthy state and horse and rider can once again enjoy the harmony of this recreational sport.
Special shoes have been designed over the years to treat and alleviate the pain and as the horse's hooves are extremely important, the farrier taking care of the hooves needs to be well qualified to maintain the general condition of the hooves. It is advisable for the farrier to ensure that the pressure on the tendons and tissue in the hooves is minimized.
Should lameness occur too often, the advice of a good veterinarian, doing regular check-ups, should routinely be enlisted as the neglected condition could very possibly lead to a disease that can impair the life of the horse. The veterinarian will quickly diagnose possible incorrect habits and treatment will be administered. A special diet may also be recommended for a period of time.
Discovering lameness in one's horse is very disheartening. Recognizing this at an early stage is vital. It will lead to early treatment and therefore earlier recovery.
Thoroughbreds are likely to have relatively small feet whereas their frames are usually large. They are therefore more predisposed to lameness which it is believed to most commonly occur between the ages of 7 and 14 years. The weight of the rider is most certainly also a factor but thoroughbreds and American Quarter horses, opposed to ponies, have an increased chance of this syndrome as they have a higher weight to foot ratio.
To discover the symptoms of lameness in ones beloved horse is always distressing and it is therefore important to recognize the symptoms at the very early stages as this will give a definite advantage to an earlier recovery. It is generally believed that one front foot may be more painful than the other and this can be seen if the horse tends to switch from one leg to the other. The condition will be exacerbated if the animal is worked on a very rough or hard surface and should therefore be avoided.
A much gentler work schedule is recommended for the horse while lameness is evident and jumping should only be done in the arena where there are soft surfaces to land. However, slow and gentle distances can be undertaken in order for the general fitness of the horse to be maintained while recovering. Steep hills and rough and hard surfaces are to be avoided at all cost if a successful recovery is to be envisaged.
It is very fortunate that so much research has been done to alleviate and cure this painful condition and it is comforting to know that with patience and correct treatment, the animal's condition can be restored to its usual healthy state and horse and rider can once again enjoy the harmony of this recreational sport.
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