So often we hear of horses having to be put down after an injury. This is a very sad aspect of the horse racing industry. Indeed this is something that cannot be fully avoided especially since accidents are just around the corner. Even when one practices caution with their racehorses, once they are on the racetrack, you can’t guarantee their safety anymore. As such, there have been a number of horses who have suffered injury while racing. Is there hope among vets for solutions to broken fetlocks, broken legs, etc? Can horses recover if given physiotherapy, or osteopathy, etc.?
Before we answer the question, let us first consider common injuries racehorses acquire in the lifetime. Suspensory injury on horses which is also known as a torn suspensory ligament is an injury that has the potential to limit or end your horse’s career. This is why it should never be taken for granted as it requires timely and effective treatment in order for your racehorses to recover from their injury.
Aside from leg injuries there is also ocular injury in horses which are considered to be quite a common equine emergency. This includes puffy and swollen eyes as well as eyelid laceration which are something that requires immediate attention.
A number of horse owners consider the conservative approach for healing horses which includes time and R&R remain essential for helping a horse recover from tendon or ligament injury. Duncan F. Peters, DVM, MS, director of the Sport Horse Division at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in Lexington, Ky, explains that the body’s healing system is complex. While newer treatments might provide functional improvement in the healing process, they do not speed up the process itself, he notes. “The time factor is still necessary, and R&R is part of the process.”
A racehorse career is not considered to be very long and as such, injuries such as these can totally ruin a good run. Recovery and rest with regards to their suspensory injury can take from 8 to 12 months for them to be able to get back to the racetrack which is a considerable amount of time that you can end up wasting. Of course, you don’t want to put the welfare of your racehorses in jeopardy however, a number of owners today found a way to help speed up their recovery and they were able to find these with the help of professional osteopaths.
A number of people are able to make use of compassionate care for horses today which includes equine osteopathy and physiotherapy massages. Osteopathy will help to prevent sickness by recognizing early signs of disharmony in the body. This modality will increase the level of performance and general well-being of a healthy horse.
Physiotherapy works hand in hand with osteopathy in providing the care racehorses need that is given to them in a timely and effective manner. It is good to hear that physiotherapy can now be applied in help treat as well as prevent the occurrence of racehorse injuries which in turn reduces the likelihood of injuries from ever happening to them.
Make sure that your racehorses are in tip top shape and ready for any race. Consider acquiring the services of a physiotherapist as well as an osteopath who are well versed in dealing with horses.