So.. Good answers, and Im sure those of you that didnt post, are thinking similar thoughts about the different injuries in the different disciplines. Lets start with this: The answer of cause is not black and white, it’s yes and no. The stresses placed on the horse have a direct relationship to the type of activities we ask the horse to perform, so yes horses doing different jobs will get sore in different places. However the actual pathology of the injuries (what is happening at the cellular level) will be similar. Most equestrian sports will lead to tears, strains and stiffness with reduced performance due to musculoskeletal problems. If we take the high level dressage horse and compare the common injuries with that of a show jumper and a cutters and reiners, and lets throw in the barrel chasers and gymkana horses for good measure. Lets see if we can see some differences : Some of the key points associated with a dressage horse are: Size – Repetitive training programs – Surfaces worked on – Physical postures required: Collection, Pirouettes, Flying changes, etc... The weight of the horse increases the stresses placed through the limbs and joints, making the horse more susceptible to degenerative joint disease or arthritis. The most common areas of wear and tear are the pastern and coffin joints, then to a lesser extent the knees, fetlocks and hocks. Larger horses are also more likely to sustain pelvic injuries, although these are not related to their dressage training but due to accident. The repetitive nature of dressage training, needed to reinforce the multitude of techniques in the horse’s mind, further leads to increased levels of wear and tear, as above. The coffin and pastern joints get ‘hammered’ if the horse is worked excessively. This repetitive training also leads to muscle fatigue and subsequent break down, seen as muscle pain and tightness resulting in loss of stretch and power in the muscles. Some of the key points associated with show jumping are: The take off and landing action of jumping – Height of fences – Unbalanced training schedules (very little flat work) – Travel and type of competitions. The highest risk involved with jumping is the landing action. When the horse lands after a jump the hind legs slide forward as they hit the ground, and then the horse transfers his weight back onto them to take the next stride. This action places a huge stress on the sacroiliac region (the top of the rump), if young horses are jumped too often and don’t have the muscle strength over the rump area they may end up with sacroiliac pain or a ‘Hunters Bump’. The take off action can also lead to injuries, especially if the surface is slippery, where muscle injuries of the rump and back can occur. The height of the fences jumped can further increase the stress on the sacroiliac region and also lead to injuries in the lower forelimbs. The tendons, pastern and coffin joints and navicular bone are all at risk of injury when a horse lands. Cutting and reining horses are primarily Quarter Horses and Paints. These horses are bred with an emphasis on small stature (14–15 hands), agility, and the mental capacity to perform under pressure. During individual events, the horses have to be under complete control while performing quick stops and high-torque turns. Additionally, most of these horses begin training as late yearlings and early two-year-olds, with the goal that they will compete in fall and winter competitions as three year-olds. This small stature, agility, and athletic use predispose to certain stresses and injuries. Cutting and reining horses place a great deal of stress on the hindlimbs . These horses have been genetically selected for their ability to stop suddenly and change directions quickly while staying balanced. To perform this task, these horses exhibit the conformation and willingness to move with their hindlimbs underneath themselves. Moreover, they have to undergo extensive training at a young age to become proficient and consistent in these maneuvers. This repetitive stress predisposes this equine athlete to injuries of the hocks and stifles, as well as the suspensory ligament (both fore and hind). Barrel racing requires speed and agility over a short course. Highly competitive horses that are ready to perform and win are difficult to find and often are purchased at a premium price. Prospective owners want long careers for this type of horse, but this is often difficult to attain due to the stresses of concussion and speed, while turning sharply around barrels. Usually, the arena footing is less than ideal and proper warm-up areas may be nonexistent. Top level barrel racing horses, like many competitive rodeo-type horses, may spend an entire year on the road with little or no rest periods. Gymkana horses typically receive the same type of performance stresses and injuries but are usually not campaigned as hard. Typical conformation is of the “sprint horse” type with many of these horses coming from Quarter horse race tracks. If possible, you will want to provide your veterinarian with an accurate history of past performance careers as part of the pre-purchase evaluation of the barrel horse. Horses that have been raced, should be evaluated for prior racing injuries involving areas such as the knees, suspensory apparatus or front fetlocks (ankles). Foot size, conformation and balance are important due to the concussion placed on these athletes. Hocks should be evaluated for inflammation of the lower joints since significant stress is placed on the hindlimbs while propelling the horse around the barrel at a high rate of speed. Rear fetlocks are often traumatized for the same reasons mentioned above
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:16:36 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015