Page 155 - February_2023

How To
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
START A YOUNGSTER
VETERINARY VIEWS
There have long been misconceptions about the proper timing for starting a young horse into steady
exercise. The tendency is to over-coddle
the very young, and then over-face them with exercise demands when only just a bit older, yet appearing physically mature. One mistake often made is confinement of a young horse that restricts opportunities to run, play, and kick up his heels. The impact of a little bit of sprint exercise is what builds
the strongest bone, as well as improving neuromuscular agility.
Another mistake is the tendency to take a relatively idle, young horse and then send him to
a trainer where he is asked to perform rigorous exercise every day for a few months to “break” him to saddle. This potentially fatigues unprepared muscles and tendons and ligaments, and bruises tender feet. It is also likely that the horse will develop soreness and discomfort, potentially leading to associated behavioral problems.
The question about the timing to start training isn’t so much about the when as the how. It
is best to begin “training” very early on. In the early months following birth, the musculoskeletal tissues experience a dynamic development phase related to growth – during this time, they are extremely adaptive and changeable. This is especially true of joint cartilage, tendon, and bone. Exercise impacts the health of these tissues and their resistance to injury with beneficial effects lasting into a horse’s later years.
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