A Brief Guide to Taking Care of Your Horse’s Legs After a Race

Horses need treatment after exercising just like human athletes. Trainers and jockeys willing to take a couple simple measures following a ride will enhance the animal’s soundness immediately after the workout and also across posterity.  Horses have powerful upper body muscles that streamline the legs.  This body type is quite efficient for racing yet there is no protection for the ligaments, tendons and joints from the knee downward.  These important structures gradually weaken as the animal trains and races.  In fact, studies show digital flexor tendons are pushed to the brink as horses gallop.  This is precisely why horses are so vulnerable to injury.

Richard Schibell suggests that you “warm up properly, remain mindful of footing and closely monitor your horse’s workload to reduce the chances of injury”.  The push to prevent leg injuries does not stop after dismounting; care after races and training sessions will also make a considerable difference in soundness post-race and across posterity.  Post-workout care is all about observation and subsequent action.  Caring for your equine legs after strenuous activity also requires a comprehensive understanding of this portion of the body.

Equine Legs

Horse anatomy is fairly uniform yet there are some nuances to each horse’s legs.  Equine limbs are shaped by everything from the animal’s unique conformation to life experiences.  These legs really are not that different from human legs with scars, unique contouring, etc.  Pay attention to the idiosyncrasies of your horse’s legs.  If you notice anything seems awry after a race or workout, it is an indication the animal requires assistance.  The best horse owners and trainers go as far as evaluating the horse’s legs to determine what constitutes “normal” texture and shape for that unique animal.  This way,  you will be able to spot new bumps and other alterations after riding.

There is no reason to be intimidated by a leg inspection.  Your horse will not mind this evaluation as long as you maintain a gentle touch.  Direct the horse to an area with ample light.  Move your hand along the animal’s limbs.  Get a sense of the shape of the fetlocks, hocks and knees.  Apply light pressure so you can feel the anatomy below the skin and learn the natural contour of the animal’s legs.  Lightly pinch your fingers as you move them down the back of the horse’s legs to familiarize yourself with the tendons.  Pinpoint the splint bones on the sides of the cannon bone.  Move your hand along the splint bones until they taper at the leg.  Move your fingers along the coronary band to get a feel of the hoof’s firmness and the limb merge softness.

Search for Abnormalities

As you move your hands along the animal’s legs, pause if you notice any abnormalities such as joint softness, ruffled hair or a lump in an area that was once smooth.  If the animal is sound, such oddities are likely an indication of a prior injury that has since healed.  Just be sure to point out these abnormalities during your next vet visit.  If you suspect you might forget about the exact location of the abnormality, write it down or take a picture so you can assess progress (or regress) over time.  Ideally, you will perform this analysis of your horse’s legs every single day as a component of the grooming routine.

It will also help to get into the habit of feeling the animal’s digital pulses.  Arteries move down along the sides of the sesamoid bones to the outside portion of the fetlock joint.  This area can be felt beneath the fingertips as a structure similar to a cord that slightly rolls when moving fingers over the skin.  Add light pressure to get a sense of the pulse.  Assess each limb.

The Post-ride Inspection

Once you have unsaddled your horse and walked along side him until his respiratory rate is normal, it is time to inspect his legs.  Adhere to the same routine as detailed above to evaluate the contour and structure of the animal’s legs.  If necessary, stop to poke or pinch as necessary.  If you spot anything abnormal, be it an alteration in texture, joint swelling or a thick area beneath the tendon, it is cause for concern.  Even a temperature difference in one area such as a warm spot along the coronary band is a sign of trouble.  Analyze the animal’s digital pulses to boot.  If there is inflammation in a limb, it can strengthen the pulse.

It is important to note some alterations along equine legs are perfectly natural.  As an example, an animal using splint boots in the summer will almost certainly have warm legs upon post-workout examination.  If the animal’s heart rate is still elevated after exercise, the digital pulses will be that much more prominent.  Do not perform the assessment until the animal has cooled down.

If you notice any abnormalities in  your post-workout equine examination, observe the animal as it walks/jogs.  If the animal appears stiff or limps, contact the veterinarian as soon as possible.  Veterinarians prefer analyzing injuries in the acute phase so a treatment plan can be tailored without delay.  Alternatively, if the horse seems sound even though there is a limb abnormality, do not assume there is nothing to worry about.  A minor alteration might be an indication a major problem will manifest in due time.  In fact, studies prove plenty of the injuries that appear suddenly are really the result of several micro-traumas.  Minor stresses on a joint or tendon across several months are not provided with the opportunity to heal until they break.  In some cases, the buildup of fluid and/or heat stemming from a lengthy ride are the sole clues of these injuries.

If you notice anything suspicious, take a look at the area again after an hour passes.  If the abnormality is still present, reach out to the veterinarian.  The veterinarian might advise you to try a couple things to facilitate the recovery process.  Let’s take a look at some effective therapies to ameliorate the challenge of equine recovery.

Therapies for Horses

Specific measures must be taken to protect horse legs following a workout.  Thankfully, most horse trainers are somewhat familiar with the majority of these therapies.  Some horse owners and trainers have performed each of the therapies in the past.  What most people do not understand is how these therapies benefit the animal.  The overarching aim of these therapies is to ramp up the body’s recovery after exercising, helping to restore the animal’s body to its pre-workout status as quickly as possible.  Without further adieu, let’s take a look at some specific therapies and how you can maximize their impact on your horse.

Wrapping

Applying wraps to your horse’s legs after exercising is a long-held tradition.  Though this therapeutic approach might not seem effective, it is actually quite helpful.  These wraps do not support ligaments or tendons in the lower limb or decrease their load structures.  Rather, wraps compress tissues so fluid does not pool.  If fluid accumulates in the animal’s leg after exercising, inflammatory enzymes compile.  Tissues also stretch, creating the potential for damage.  Wrapping the animal’s leg closes the areas between cells in which fluid can accumulate, ultimately making it that much easier for the leg to return to its pre-exercise status in a timely manner.  The only issue with wraps is there is the potential for them to be misapplied.  If improperly applied, the wraps have the potential to prove worse than skipping the wraps altogether.  Those who lack experience or confidence in adding a standing bandage should request assistance from their veterinarian.  The veterinarian will explain the nuances of applying the bandage, determine if you are capable of wrapping and ensure your horse is as healthy as possible.

Do not be intimidated by wrapping!  You will be able to master the wrapping process with some assistance from your veterinarian and consistence practice.  It will also help to be selective.  As an example, applying standing bandages to a horse in the middle of the summer will warm the tissue and spur that many more problems.  When in doubt, abide by common sense.  If you decide to add wraps after a workout, they should remain in place for eight hours or less.  At most, wraps should remain in place for a single night.  Keep in mind wrapping guards against stocking up the animal’s leg.  Wrapping does not treat specific swelling spurred by trauma. If you notice a tendon welt or anything else of significance after a workout, do not apply the wraps.  Call the veterinarian right away for prompt professional assistance.

Icing

College and professional athletes do not make a beeline to the showers after a strenuous game or practice.  Rather, these athletes head to the ice  bath.  Countless studies prove ice therapy decreases the chances of injury and hastens recovery after physical activity.  Ask any athlete about the impact of ice baths and you will be inundated with praise for this unique therapy method.  Ice baths really do ameliorate the challenges of physical recovery and help athletes bounce back to full health that much quicker.  The same holds true for horses.

Icing does several things to the body.  For one, ice is analgesic.  This means ice decreases pain caused by physical activity.  More importantly, ice facilitates vasoconstriction.  When a working horse exercises, capillaries move to the muscles, ligaments and tendons to stimulate the flow of blood.  This open flow of blood is necessary at the peak of activity yet when physical action is taken, the additional blood flow continues, possibly for upwards of hours, bringing unnecessary fluid with the enzymes and mediators linked to inflammation.  The last thing you want is for your horse’s leg tissue to be inflamed for an extensive period of time.  Furthermore, if fluids are allowed to pool, they will stretch out the tissues, reducing their elasticity as time progresses.  Tissue elasticity is one-and-done, meaning you cannot get it back.  If tissue elasticity is lost, the horse will be that much more likely to suffer stocking up, meaning an accumulation of unnecessary fluid.

Icing really does help get the animal’s baseline circulation back to normal.  Unfortunately, it will be difficult to force your horse to rest in an ice tub after exercising.  Spraying the horse with cool water is the best way to apply cold therapy to the animal’s limbs.  However, the application of cold therapy might not prove as effective as other forms of therapy.  Research indicates the ideal temperature for cryotherapy is 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  The water from your tap is likely to be much warmer than 50 degrees Fahrenheit so extra cooling is necessary.  Take a look at the market and you will find all sorts of cooling wraps and boots available for purchase.  However, some horse trainers go as far as training these animals to stand in massive buckets of ice.  Ice the limbs for 20 minutes following a demanding workout to ensure the horse is provided with ample time to recuperate.  If the animal had any swelling or hot spots discovered during the post-workout leg inspection, take a look again after applying the ice.  If the swelling or hot spots do not dissipate, reach out to the veterinarian for assistance.

Turnout

Turnout therapy might prove the be the easiest form of therapy to apply.  Physical movement really does help minimize heat and fluid after an arduous workout.  Turnout brings the animal’s circulation back to the level enjoyed prior to exercise.  Furthermore, turnout also helps prevent stocking up.  This is precisely why it is so important to walk your horse during the cooling-out period.  The best racehorses in the world are placed on a hot walker for upwards of an entire workout after a demanding workout.  However, there is no need for a hot walker.  The horse can do it on his own if provided with ample space.

If possible, turn the animal out in a diminutive paddock or pasture after the post-exercise examination and leg care regimen. The horse will instinctually walk form the pile of hay to the water trough.  The benefits of this consistent motion are not limited to the legs; the animal is provided with the opportunity to move all of the large muscle groups.  If the animal is fatigued and not moving, he will be better served outdoors rather than confined to a stall.  Let the horse out for as long as possible.  There is nothing to lose and everything to gain as long as the horse is provided with a safe space to roam.

Liniments and Poultices

Liniments and poultices are essential to post-workout leg care.  These therapeutic tools are in just about every barn.  Liniments and poultices restore limb functionality to the pre-exercise condition in a couple ways.  Liniments function according to the principle of leg cooling.  Liniments are either menthol or alcohol-based, meaning they evaporate rapidly, pulling the heat from the limb tissues spurred from physical activity.  Limb heat is normal as the horse exercises.  This heat stems from a spike in the area’s circulation as well as the release of energy.  Heat is helpful amidst activity as it ensures the structure is pliable.  However, there is the potential for residual heat to injure tissues after exercise.  This heat is also tied to inflammation processes with the mediators and enzymes noted above. Heat will eventually decrease on its own yet if this process is hastened, there is a good chance additional damage can be prevented.

Poultices are not that much different from liniments as they have cooling ingredients.  However, poultices are designed to draw fluids out from the areas between cells to minimize inflammation and ward off swelling.  In some cases, it makes sense to wrap over a poultice for improved post-race leg care.  Though no specific poultice or liniment product is ideal for all horses, most people have a favorite that they enjoy using.  When in doubt, research these products to find out what, exactly, is in them.  Determine the logic behind adding the ingredients in question to the poultice or liniment before applying it to your horse.  Above all, it is imperative you adhere to the manufacturer’s directions.  The last thing you should do is use a DIY (do it yourself) concoction provided by a friend or other supposed equine expert.  You can easily perform your own research on the web to pinpoint the ideal liniments and poultices for your horse.

Your Horse’s Leg Health and Condition Ultimately Hinges on You

When in doubt, apply common sense when caring for your horse.  It does not matter if your horse jumps, spins, runs or moves in another way; caring for this animal’s legs after exercise is essential to all types of physical activity.  Perform thorough post-race inspections, apply the therapies detailed above and your post-exercise limb care will keep your horse in optimal shape.

Richard Schibell has been breeding thoroughbred horses and racing them for well over 35 years. Stay up to date with our content by following the blog at Richardschibellracing.com!

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