Is there rehabilitation for horses after serious injuries?
Horses are prone to serious injuries. Not only because they run at high speed jump over obstacles and make sharp twists and turns but also because of their anatomy. Their legs have evolved to become long and thin standing just on one bone surrounded by tendons. This has made them prone to tendon and ligament injuries as well as fractures.
Injuries to Tendons and Ligaments
The suspensory ligament is a common site for injuries.
It runs down the back of each leg splitting into two branches at the fetlock joint. It can be put under pressure through repeated stress from jumping usually affecting the forelimbs or repetitive dressage manoeuvres often a cause of hindlimb injuries. Types of injuries include tears holes inflammation of the ligament and fractures at the attachment site. Unfortunately ligaments can take a long time to heal. The success of treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. However once your vet has made a diagnosis a rehabilitation plan can be provided which may include cold therapy antiinflammatories boxrest and controlled exercises along with some of the complimentary therapies listed below.
This also runs down the back of the leg it lies over the suspensory ligament and goes right down to the foot where it attaches to the pedal bone. Jumping and fast work can result in injuries in this area causing inflammation of the structure tendonitis tearing of the fibres or holes in the centre. These types of injuries can also occur in the superficial digital flexor tendon which runs over the top of the DDFT. Like ligaments tendons can heal slowly and the same principles often apply.
Fractures
Fractures to horses bones can be more problematic than for other animals mainly due to their
