Considerations for Equine Injury Rehabilitation

A very common question horse owners are faced with when their horse has an injury is, “Should I send my horse to a professional rehabilitation facility for part or all of the rehabilitation period, or should I try to do this myself, perhaps with a team of professionals to help?”

The following guidelines are intended to help inform this decision-making process, which will be different for every horse and person based on a very wide range of factors.

General Goals in Rehabilitation

Movement

• Include as much movement as possible

• This will be based on the initial type and severity of injury

• Static mobilisation exercises

• E.g., baited stretch exercises, tail pulls, thoracic or lumbar lifts

• Aims: 

• Improve neuromuscular control, 

• Improve core stability, strength and coordination 

• Improve posture

• Dynamic mobilisation exercises

• Aims:

• Improve neuromuscular control

• Improve core stability, strength and coordination 

• Improve proprioception

• Improve neuromuscular fitness

Things to Bear in Mind

If a horse is finding something difficult then the exercise needs to be adapted – shortened/fewer repetitions/made easier

• Do not repeat exercises to point of fatigue

• You should expect to see positive improvements over time

• If not, re-evaluate and make adjustments as indicated

• The programme should be adapted over time, and changes should be based on the individual

Important considerations when ridden exercise is re-introduced:

• Saddle fit for horse and rider

• Rider posture, balance and coordination

Reasons To Consider a Rehabilitation Facility

• Good rehabilitation is time consuming and repetitive (and potentially boring) so it can be difficult to do on your own.

• The horse’s schedule during rehabilitation may no longer fit with the schedule of other horse movements on the yard which may complicate management

• Horses undergoing rehabilitation may become more difficult to handle unless managed appropriately 

• Consider both horse and handler safety

• A professional rehabilitation facility may have:

• Specialised and potentially beneficial equipment e.g., water treadmill

• Specialised staff with expert knowledge

• A timetable suited to all horses undergoing some form of rehabilitation

• Experienced horse handler(S)

Challenges and Concerns When Considering a Rehabilitation Facility 

• Professional rehabilitation varies in quality

• The best rehabilitation requires tailor-made programmes that are adapted based upon a horse’s progress and ability to carry out some exercises. NOT ALL FACILITIES OFFER THIS

• Professional rehabilitation is expensive

Questions To Ask a Rehabilitation Facility

Of course, it is of paramount importance that you have confidence in the honesty, trustworthiness and competence of the facility and their staff. Seeking out references from people you know and trust is a good place to start. However, you should do your own investigation to ensure that this will be a good match for your horse’s needs, and a good investment for your and your horse’s future.

A high-quality facility will be able to answer the following questions:

• Will the horse be managed as an individual? Or do they use one programme for all horses?

• Do they have an ‘open door policy’ so that you can visit at any time?

• Do they encourage owner involvement?

• What access to other professionals do they have?

• Can your own manual therapist be involved?

• What is the average time spent with each horse daily? 

• Doing formal rehabilitation?

• Grooming?

• Other human interaction?

• What opportunities are there for social interactions among horses?

• What alternative controlled exercise is available (e.g. large pens)?

• How are horses fed (e.g., from the ground, hay nets, hay bins)?

• Who decides on dietary requirements and nutrition? 

• Is body condition score monitored?

• What are the arrangements for farriery?

• Is tack fitted individually to each horse? 

• If a roller is used, does it ‘clear’ the spine, avoiding pressure on the dorsal midline?

• How is walking exercise done?

• In hand?

• In long reins? 

• On a horse walker? (size, ground conditions, diameter, direction of movement)

• On a treadmill?

• What facilities/equipment do they have?

• [e.g., Therabands, EquiAmi, Pessoa Training Aid, Equibands, kinesiotaping,  dry treadmill, water treadmill, swimming facility,  cycloidal vibration therapy, functional electrical stimulation (FES), vibration plate, a variety of surface types and terrain (flat and slopes), poles and raised poles, other tactile stimulators]

• How do they decide which of these are to be used for each horse, and when, and for how long?

• For any particular therapy, how is it done? 

• E.g.: Water treadmill

• Depth of water? Speed? Duration of exercise? Frequency of use? 

• How is the horse held (from the side, both sides or in front)?

• How is the horse’s posture and movement on the treadmill monitored? 

• Bearing in mind what is known about biomechanics, are all appropriate for the original injury? 

• How frequently are horses reappraised and consideration given to amending the programme? 

• Do they have a system of record keeping?

• Is there any objective monitoring? 

• How is the monitoring done?

• Is monitoring done independently or in-house? 

• Are staff trained/vetted for observation skills?

• Are staff trained/vetted for communication skills?

• What are the expectations for communication with you and among the team? 

• How will you be notified if something goes wrong?

Further Reading:

‘Activate your horse’s core’ by Hilary Clayton and Narelle Stubbs  

‘Core conditioning for horses’ by Simon Cocozza

Copyright Sue Dyson 2024