Throughout the following lines you can learn about rehabilitation exercises and about a wide variety of methods, from hydrotherapy to stretches, for rehabilitating horses healing from any number of back issues.
Horses can at times suffer musculoskeletal injuries anywhere along the axial skeleton that might comprise the sternum, vertebral column, ribs and even the skull. Bringing a horse back to a good form post-injury can be very difficult and extremely time-consuming, but it is possible after all thanks to both mobilisation exercises and innovative physical therapy techniques.
There are a number of methods for rehabilitating horses that are recovering from a number of back issues. After going through a thorough clinical exam and movement assessment, the very first rehabilitation technique of musculoskeletal disease is to gain progressive mobilization and movement of the affected areas. After all, the main idea behind the rehabilitation process is to restore the normal motion of the horse.
Horse owners can perform a number of mobilisation techniques when a horse is cold. This means before the horse begins any exercise.
Rehabilitation exercises horse owners can perform when the horse is cold include:
- Massage from a professional physical therapist
- Stretching exercises, which can include carrot stretches to engage the cervical area (the neck) as well as thoracic (mid-back) areas
- Keep the horse’s back warm with blankets or hot packs
- Walking in-hand forward and backward
Rehabilitation exercises horse owners can perform when the horse is warming up include:
- Electrical stimulation from a professional veterinarian
- Working on a longe line with a training device, like side reins, a Chambon, or a Pessoa rig, in order to encourage the horse to move and so that the horse will use his body appropriately
- Applying weighted boots around the hind pasterns in order to improve proprioception, which is the horse’s awareness of where his feet are, and increase hip, hock, stifle and ankle flexion
There are some types of under saddle exercises riders might need to do depending on the area of the horse’s back they are trying to rehabilitate.
Thoracic pain
Allow your horse to move freely on the longe line as part of the warm-up exercises because they tend to counterbend when cold. However, make sure the line is loose and the circle size large. Avoid using a surcingle, as this can increase longissimus muscle tension, supraspinous ligament pain, and kissing spines issues. Also, the choice and fit of saddle is paramount for this kind of back problem.
Thoracolumbar and lumbar pain in the lower back
In this case, it is advisable to walk the horse for a long time (at least twenty minutes) before trotting. At times, some horses will feel better cantering instead of trotting since there is less axial movement of the spinal column. It is recommended for horse owners to canter for 2 or 3 minutes in each direction before trotting. In cold seasons it is recommended covering the back area with a warm rug while working.
Some of the above techniques are being scientifically assessed, but practitioners have utilised many of those tools to help horses heal quicker. The predominant techniques used today are massage, stretching and TENS therapy, but functional electrostimulation and therapeutic ultrasounds can also be used for other serious problems in the future.
Horse owners need to work with their veterinarians to determine which equine rehabilitation courses, techniques and exercises are suitable and appropriate for their particular horse’s injury and discipline. Since back issues are frequently linked to lower limb problems, it is advisable working with your veterinarian to make sure the horse remains sound and monitoring their topline muscle for any asymmetries.
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