Horse owners are aware that the predominant factor limiting a horse's athletic longevity is musculoskeletal injury--particularly joint problems. A common assumption is that these injuries result from wear-and-tear and age. Consequently, owners further assume there's not much to be done about it. But think again: Using sensible strategies you can promote healthy equine joints capable of withstanding athletic demands. Balanced nutrition, sensible exercise, and prompt treatment can help a horse's joints function comfortable past their prime.
Exercise management is crucial for the rapidly growing horse and is best coupled with a balanced feed ration. "Articular cartilage manages its nutrition and waste product production via normal use and weight bearing, . "Exercise is good but in excess could lead to -problems."Avoiding excessive exercise strain helps reduce potential injuries in foals that could result in growth plate trauma or subchondral (under the cartilage) bone cyst formation within joints. "Moderate exercise with gradual increases in intensity and duration results in better cartilage health and fewer injuries than that imposed by sudden, high-intensity loading.However, it is equally important not to limit a growing youngster's exercise too much since strain-force application (from loading the limbs) helps bone and soft tissue develop properly.
There's evidence that articular cartilage responds in a 'handed' fashion--if a young horse works in one direction more than another, cartilage development can differ between limbs .The objective should be to familiarize the young horse with the longe line or round pen rather than attempting conditioning-training work. Implement early exercise in a thoughtful, deliberate manner that limits excessive repetition, which is challenging not only to joints but to tendon, ligament, and muscle as well.
Preventing injury is the primary objective in long-term joint health management in horses of all ages. For the grown horse in training ,good body weight and muscle strength are the most important goals, along with conditioning for the specific exercise demands the horse will be performing. When a joint injury does occur, the owner plays an essential role in rapid detection. Close observation and knowing a horse's structure and personality are helpful. Get veterinary attention at the first notice of abnormal clinical signs; such as swelling, heat, pain, and/or lameness; joint effusion (excess fluid in a joint space) is typically the first abnormal sign seen after joint injury. With time and progression, a steady decline in performance associated with gait changes or a horse's reluctance to perform expected athletic efforts.
read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29798/promoting-lifelong-equine-joint-health?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=older-horse-care&utm_campaign=11-27-2015
Injuries can occur any time and its the responsibility of pet owners to ensure they protect their animals. Injuries ranging from trauma, slips, falls and puncture wounds should all be guarded against as this will be predisposing conditions for lameness ,poor performance and death in cases of infection of wounds.
The horse stalls and stables must be comfortable,airy and free of materials that can be a source of injury such as nails, coiled wires, iron pieces e.t.c. This is where the stall mats come in handy.These are highly durable, recycled rubber that are made into comfortable mats /mattress for the comfort of your animals. The mats are flat, and provide a non-slip surface for the horses preventing any fall.
The mats ensures safety by limiting the number of falls and subsequent injuries/lameness.The mats are non porous, so they are easy to clean and disinfect preventing a proliferation of bacteria,thus limiting infection. The horses are comfortable ,without the risk of any injury from penetrating objects in the stall, horses housed in stalls with these mats are clean,calm and very sociable.
Get your mats here;http://www.animat.ca/en/equine/
