Page 86 - Speedhorse, October 2021

VETERINARY VIEWS
A healthy haircoat has luster and bloom, and the skin feels smooth. The horse should stand quietly for brushing without displaying adverse behavior.
With the limb held up, a gentle squeeze along each flexor tendon on the rear surface of
the cannon bone and suspensory ligaments nestled between the flexor tendons and cannon bone should reveal no swelling or heat.
Your horse should allow you to check his teeth and mouth without resistance. Teeth, tongue, mouth, and lips should be free from injury.
84 SPEEDHORSE October 2021
“By performing a simple pre-ride and
post-ride checklist, your horse’s body language can tip you off to a problem.”
What to do: All of these resistances signal pain or discomfort. Reluctance to move may be due to an acute injury, fracture, a foot abscess, or laminitis. In all cases, contact your vet immediately.
GROOMING
While grooming your horse, your eyes and hands paint a story of his condition. Here’s what to watch and feel for.
Haircoat and skin condition
What’s Normal: A healthy haircoat has luster and bloom, and the skin feels smooth. The horse stands quietly for brushing without displaying adverse behavior.
What’s Not Normal: If he reacts with sensitivity beneath the brush by tightening muscles, flattening his ears, tries to nip, or moves away from your touch, he is signaling discomfort. A haircoat that is dull or broken, or with abrasions, lumps, or bumps on his skin are signs of health issues.
What to do: Such problems don’t warrant emergency attention, but review your
horse’s diet, workout schedules, and travel stress. Consult with your veterinarian about modifications that can improve your horse’s general health and well-being.
Hooves and feet
What’s Normal: Looking at the horse’s feet, horseshoes are in proper position and the clinches are tight. The toes don’t show excessive wear. Finger pressure on the heel bulbs or coronet band doesn’t identify tenderness or abrasions.
What’s Not Normal: If the horseshoes aren’t aligned with the hooves or are twisted, if you detect loose clinches, or if you see interference injuries from one hoof striking the other, there are likely some movement issues. Excessive wear of the toes may point to toe drag from pain or fatigue.
What to do: Have your veterinarian
out to perform a lameness exam, looking
for subtle problems. Collaborate with your veterinarian and your farrier about trimming and shoeing logistics and frequency of farrier care to develop a timeline that works for an individual horse’s needs.
Lower legs
What’s Normal: Each lower leg feels normal and cool to the touch as you run your hands down them. Legs appear uniform with no obvious swelling. With the limb held up, a
gentle squeeze along each flexor tendon on the rear surface of the cannon bone and suspensory ligaments nestled between the flexor tendons and cannon bone reveals no swelling or heat.
What’s Not Normal: Distention of
joints or filling of tendons, especially if asymmetric and accompanied by pain, heat, or lameness are all abnormal signs. Swelling and/or heat and/or pain along any tendon or ligament is significant.
What you should do: Call your vet if you identify an abnormality. While waiting for
a veterinary appointment, use cold therapy
on the affected area two to three times a day for 20 to 30 minutes each session. Place a standing bandage on an affected lower limb to limit swelling. If you’ve never done this, ask a knowledgeable person to help you.
Leg manipulation
What’s Normal: Your horse allows you to gently stretch each limb forward, backward, and to the side, without an adverse reaction. He relaxes to your hold, ears forward, and his head and neck remain down and relaxed as you gently manipulate his joints and muscles.
What’s Not Normal: Your horse resents these stretches by pulling against you, pulling back, and/or flattening his ears.
What to do: Make sure the horse is comfortable with limb manipulations. If there is initial pushback, try again later, or go more slowly. If you detect a true problem, contact your vet for an in-depth evaluation. Shoulders, chest, hips, thighs
What’s Normal: Your horse offers no resistance when you lightly hold each limb near the torso and gently manipulate in all directions. Range-of-motion appears normal for him, and there isn’t an adverse reaction from light kneading of the shoulders, chest, hips, and thighs.
What’s Not Normal: Resistance to limb manipulation, and/or diminished range- of-motion. Pain or tightness of upper limb muscles tells of overuse, fatigue, or strain that has the potential to impact suspensory ligaments, flexor tendons, or joints of the lower limb.
What to do: Have your vet evaluate
such changes in range-of-motion to localize
the source of discomfort. Complementary veterinary treatment like massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic can help relax large muscle groups. Have alternative therapists work closely