You are listening to an article from Horse Canada.com. Surviving Your Horse's Rehab Kit By: Kim Izzo.
As my horse, Bogart, the branch ankle ligament tore In 2022, I was hoping it would be a one-off injury. After 12 weeks in which he was only allowed to travel in a compact individual paddock, we began our rehabilitation program under saddle and after about six months he was fully functional again.
Imagine my disappointment and frustration when he injured the same ligament again in 2024. The tear was further up the leg and wasn't as grave, but it would require the same careful rehabilitation routine to get him back on track. Fortunately, since the severity of his recent injury was less than the first, I was able to begin under saddle walking rehab immediately, but I was only able to walk for the first three months. Bogart was also allowed to participate individually.
Depending on the injury, some horses require a period of stable rest followed by hand running before rehabilitation under saddle can begin. For safety reasons, your veterinarian may suggest delicate oral sedation such as acepromazine (ACE) to ensure your horse is serene and doesn't freak out, buck, or do anything else that could injure himself – or you – again.
My undersaddle program with Bogart started like this: 10 minutes of walking for two weeks, followed by increasing the walking time by two minutes every two weeks until you finally reach 20 minutes. The trot is introduced after six weeks, but only every two weeks in two-minute increments.
Suffice it to say, running can be a bit dull. So I spoke to my vet, Dr. Samantha Molson, who works at McKee Pownall in Campbellsville, Ontario, about how to make such a rehabilitation program more compelling for horse and rider without putting stress on the original injury.
For starters, you can forget about lunging. “In general, we try to avoid lunging horses with tendon injuries as the smaller circles can strain the tendons and most horses can be quite excited and fresh on the lunge, which is something we often try to avoid during these rehab phases,” says Dr. Molson explained it to me.
Here are some other general ideas and guidelines that Dr. Molson specifically recommended it for tendon injuries. However, before embarking on such a program, be sure to consult your veterinarian as every injury, horse, and situation is unique.
Horse Canada: Why is walking so helpful in strengthening back muscles for a horse with a tendon injury?
Dr. Samantha Molson: It is quite common to begin a rehabilitation program with gradual periods of walking, often increasing by a few minutes every week or two, to slowly stress the tender tissues (tendons, ligaments) and bones (bone edema, fractures). in a controlled manner, simultaneously promoting blood circulation and limiting scar tissue. Walking in the saddle can also be mentally stimulating for the horse and is often safer for the rider than walking by hand. Earplugs/soundproof hoods can be used on these walks to minimize excitement. Daily walking exercises are also helpful in minimizing the risk of other ailments such as colic and exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis (“tethers”).
If you ride indoors in the winter, it's a good idea to wear earplugs or a soundproof hood for your horse so he doesn't get spooked when the snow slides off the arena roof! (Seventyfour – stock.adobe.com)
Sometimes it is assumed that these walks must take place freely – is that true? Or can we “stress” our horses to some extent during this phase?
I think that it is very beneficial for the horse to work properly in the walk, both in terms of a “marching” walk and for the rider to demand the level of contact that is typical of the horse, depending on the discipline. I advise clients not to stroll on the buckle as this type of walking is not as beneficial to the horse's condition and may also be less protected if the horse becomes spooked or bolts (both common occurrences in early rehab). .
How about compact patterns like bows towards the center line and back or flat bows along the long side to break up the monotony?
Depending on the horse's injury, it is very useful to encourage gait patterns such as immense circles, shallow loops, gait/halt transitions, a few steps to give way in the legs, etc. if required in the rehab program based on the injury and the Discipline of the horse is indicated by the horse. We tend to avoid tight circles (less than 20 m) during the rehabilitation period, and good grip is also critical when walking. Incorporating different exercises is also more mentally stimulating for the horse and can be a pastime for the rider.
How about walking on sticks?
Incorporating walking/trotting bars (ground and raised) can serve a useful purpose in the rehab program. However, it is critical to follow the veterinarian's instructions on which stage bars can be installed depending on the specifics of the injury. The right time to insert the sticks can vary greatly depending on the horse.
When you start trotting during rehabilitation, when can you do similar circuits or loops and bars?
When it comes to incorporating trotting exercises, this depends very much on the horse and the injury. We have some types of injuries (mainly tender tissue) where we start by having the horse trot only on the long sides of the arena and then walk on the miniature sides before moving on to trotting the entire arena. There are also horses where we start running long laps at the trot almost immediately to keep their attention and assist them become more supple through their bodies.
If necessary, “silent hacking” can be gradually introduced. (NoName_13 / Pixabay)
You mentioned the booth earlier; Let's stick with it, which stance is safest for tendon injuries like Bogart's?
Grip is an excellent question and a heated topic among veterinarians, farriers, trainers and researchers. There is no “one size fits all” horse, and the best stance for each horse often depends on the type of injury and discipline. For example, horses with tender tissue injuries (central ligament, deep flexor tendon) should avoid a low, uneven stance, while horses with foot pain and bone bruises should avoid a firm stance. Most Western horses are also more accustomed to working in deeper gaits compared to English riding horses. As a general rule, proper floor care (regardless of the type of floor) is always recommended.
What about hacking during a rehab program?
I am a large proponent of hacking during the rehab phase to avoid boredom, provided the horse is protected and the stance is appropriate and without excessive hills. Most of our horses that have taken a break due to injury will be much more excited on the trails than in the arena, and I always reiterate this to owners (editor's note: ride with a super serene trail buddy, not alone ). The weather also plays an critical role and we definitely recommend that drivers avoid picking around in the snow and ice at the start of the rehab phase.
