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Trainer's Tip: Max CorcoranQuestion: What guidelines do you follow, and recommend to bring a horse back into work from a soft tissue injury of the lower leg?
1. Consult with the treating veterinarian to receive clearance for the horse to be deemed ready to resume activity. 2. Be certain to know what the horse’s leg looks and feels like the day you are cleared by the vet to begin activity. This knowledge is critical so as to be able to compare any changes of the injured leg that may occur during the activity/exercise, such as swelling and/or heat in the leg. Monitoring any changes in the leg as the exercise program begins is important. 3. Keep a journal so you can chart and record your horse’s progress in response to the activity and incremental changes in the exercise. 4. When you begin exercise as a result of your vet’s recommendation and supervision, the horse is typically hand walked or ridden in increments of 5 min per week. When hand walked or riding the horse, make sure the footing is level, consistent, and on firm ground. The exercise protocol is as follows: 1st week: 5 min of hand walk or riding per day for 6 days 2nd week 10 min of hand walking or riding per day for 6 days 3rd week 15 min of hand walking or riding per day for 6 days 4th week 20 min of hand walking or riding per day for 6 days. Depending on how the leg looks and feels, and evaluated by the veterinarian, trotting begins after 4 weeks of the incremental walking. Again, follow the same prescription for trotting as you did at the walk. The exercise now includes the walk with small increments of trot as follows: 1st week: 20min of walk and 5 min of trot per day for 6 days 2nd week: 20 min of walk and 10 min of trot per day for 6 days 3rd week: 20 min of walk and 15 min of trot per day for 6 days 4th week: 20 min of walk and 20 min of trot per day for 6 days After two months, you and the horse are up to 40 min. of combined walk and trot. Remember this exercise protocol is all done in conjunction with your treating vet. 5. After the daily exercise use some form of cooling on the effected leg such as icing or cold hosing as tolerated. Again, check with your vet regarding the cooling treatments. I typically use cooling for approximately 20 min, but check with vet for approval. 6. Once the leg is clean and dry post exercise and cooling, apply standing wraps to the effected leg and to the opposite leg for support and to prevent any swelling. 7. Once you are successfully up to 40 min of exercise of combined walk and trot, make sure to check with your vet for the next step in the protocol which may include flat work and/or hill work. 8. If you have access to an aqua tread machine I have found this has helped to increase muscling on their back and top line without overloading their legs. It can also be a good tool to break the monotony of the exercise protocol. 9. Be patient. Be careful not to push or rush the horse because a re-injury will set you and the horse back longer. Any questions, changes or concerns, call your treating vet immediately.
Max Corcoran's' Profile
Max can be reached at: maxcorcoran@msn.com |
Max's
Answer: When a horse has been rested and laid up from 2 months to
8 months for a soft tissue injury of the lower leg, I tend to use and
recommend the following general guidelines to bring them back into work:”
World
class Groom for multiple Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games,
National and International Competitions.
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