Who's getting excited? We know we are! Last week's post covered conditioning, this week's post covers keeping your horse comfortable as their workload increases.
The footing on which you choose to exercise your horse plays a huge role in your horse's soundness. Use common sense to keep the pounding on your horses legs and feet to a minimum as you build fitness for your destination event.
Commonly seen, especially at the upper levels, is the utilization of cryotherapy on the horse's legs and feet after strenuous exercise (conditioning/jumping) to reduce heat and inflammation. There are many versions of cold therapy (whirlpool boots, ice boots, compression wraps with freezable gel inserts, etc), each with pros and cons, so pick whichever works best for you and your horse. The footing, horses age, conformation, hoof quality, known issues, etc, will all factor into when and how often you may consider icing. A common rule when utilizing ice is 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off as there is research showing that standing a horse in ice water for longer than 20 minutes can cause damage.
You can also use hoof packing for horses without pads as working on the dry, hard, summer ground in our area can cause a lot of concussion. Check your horse's legs and feet (for heat and pulses) daily and know what is normal for them. Additionally, checking your horse's back and hind end daily for soreness can also be useful to alert you to any issues that may need to be managed. Lastly, generally, if you notice heat or filling in the legs that is not usually there and there is no obvious cause, such as a small cut, you are better off stopping work immediately and involving your vet. Catching small strains early is paramount to preventing a serious problem.
We hope you found this post helpful, comment below if you would like any
other topics covered as we enter the fall season. In the coming weeks look for posts on packing for The Classic, what to expect on endurance day, and how to prepare your horse for the jog!
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