The risk of injury to the lower leg in horses is well documented to increase with age (1). This is due to an accumulation of minor injuries that often go unnoticed over the years, as well as the tendons and ligaments stiffening with age, so they become less stretchy, therefore more likely to suffer injury…
Details
After the Cryochaps competition it was interesting to note that even in trot, the tendons and ligaments can achieve ultimate stretch and hence the flexion of the fetlocks are at their limit. Pushing to these limits causes microtears and inflammation, therefore Cryochaps are a handy way to add cooling and compression to target any niggles…
Details
Preventing injury in the competition horse is like trying to find the holy grail. Being aware of what causes injury will help us to know what to avoid and how to be proactive against injury. It is important to have the correct fitness regimen in place to increase the horse’s strength and cardiovascular health as…
Details
Core tendon temperatures increase as the speed of the horse increases due to the energy of the expanding and contracting tendon releasing energy in the form of heat. Using boots and bandages is common practice and, just like us wearing too many clothes when exercising we get hot, the horse’s legs too will increase in…
Details
What are you trying to achieve when cooling horses legs? Decreasing temperatures such that they could have an anti-inflammatory effect internally OR bring down leg temperatures to the normal temperature (37-38°C) which a horse is designed to do of its own accord? A study was completed to look at heat removed after 30 mins from…
Details
As the fitness work increases you will be doing more fast work. On level ground as the speed increases it is the front limb that takes more peak forces through the limb(1), this in turn stretches the tendons and ligaments more and can lead to tiny tears causing inflammation. These peak forces through a forelimb…
Details