THE EQUINE

ATHLETE
Tiana Nelson

My Topic
How does competing in equine sports effect the
horse physically; and how can I prevent such
injuries to help the horse to stay safe in the short
and long term?
Why did I choose this topic?
Passion
Career
Future life knowledge

Anatomy
A horses Anatomy is quite a piece of art work. It was
designed for speed and endurance but also elegance
and beauty.

Secretariat:
https://www.you
tube.com/watch?
v=
V18ui3Rtjz4

Anatomy

Anatomy
A horses Anatomy is quite a piece of art work. It was
designed for speed and endurance but also elegance
and beauty.
A horses anatomy is actually similar to a humans
anatomy. We have similar bone structures and joints.

Anatomy
A horses Anatomy is quite a piece of art work. It was
designed for speed and endurance but also elegance
and beauty.
A horses anatomy is actually similar to a humans
anatomy. We have similar bone structures and joints.
Much like people horses have different gaits at which
they move:
The walk is known as one beat gait
The trot is known as a two beat gait
The canter is known as a three beat gait
Fun Fact: In western riding a canter is called a loping.
Lastly the gallop is a four beat gait.

What is English riding?

In horse back riding there are different genres of riding.
The one I am focusing on in this project is English
Riding.
What is English Riding?
Contains jumping and dressage
Elegant, classy, and adrenaline pumping
How is it different than western riding?

Dressage
What is Dressage?
French term that is most commonly translated to
training. It is defined by the international Equestrian
Federation as the highest expression of horse training
where horse and rider are expected to perform from
memory a series of predetermined movements.
Not well known to most people
Sometimes called Horse Dancing and is known as an art
Why do people like it?
- Elegant and beautiful
Apart of the summer Olympic games.
started out as a form of training for Greek soldiers.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osq-lwEb4WA

Injuries
Bone Spavin- osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease of the hock joint.
-

is causes by repetitive wear and tear o trauma to the hock joint; some risk factors include
poor footing, poor conformation, and poor foot care

Begins as a subtle lameness and is gradual

When riding the horse will work out of his/her lameness, and will seem very stiff or sore

Suspensory Ligament Injuries- The suspensory ligament stretches to let the

fetlock sink under the horses weight, absorbing shock, and then springs back
as he moves off the leg. It begins behind the knee or hock and runs down the
back of the cannon bone and splits into two branches about two-thirds of the
way down.
-

Injuries can occur along any point along the ligament

Anything that increases the stress on the leg- jumping, running, lots of collected gaits, or
even if the horse is over weight.

Dressage horses are mostly affected at the origin on the ligament

Tendinitis- inflammation of a tendon

-

Can range from mild to severe

Most commonly affects the superficial or deep digital flexor tendons, front legs affected more
than hind

Caused by repetitive strain on the tendon, when hurt the horse will perform poorly and seem
lame. The horse will refuse to do certain tasks.

Top left: Tendonitis

Top Right: Bone
Spavin
Bottom Left:
Suspensory Injuries

How to Prevent and Treat

Bone Spavin: Reduce the amount of exercise, use corrective shoeing/trimming, injectable
medications-such as Adequan or legend, and for serious cases surgery.
- How to prevent Bone Spavin: oral supplements to support joint health
Tendonitis: Mostly based on severity and placement of the injury. Most common methods
used to decrease inflammation are NSAIDS, icing, cold hosing, stall rest, and a rehibiltation
regime. For more severe forms the vet may recommend surgery but thats for very serious
cases like split tendons.
- How to prevent tendinitis: Just being aware of how much your horse can take. To make
sure your horse is in shape before competition. Also allow your horse a day of rest every
now and then.
Suspensory Injuries: To treat suspensory injuries rest is the foundation. If the injury is
small then the pain will go away after a few days of rest. Also applying cold and
compression to the injury within the first 10 to 14 days. If the injury is acute the injections
of anti-inflammatory medications on the injured area- found to alleviate pain and pressure
on the ligament. Shock wave therapy is also another form of treatment that helps to
prevent the rate of re-injury and also shortens the length of recovery.
- How to prevent Suspensory Injuries: Condition, Condition, Condition! Make sure your horse
is in shape before competing. Also just checking your horses legs before and after
exercising to make sure there is no swelling or heat. Always warm up and cool down after
a hard work out. Lastly make sure the footing is good if you have a hard work out.

Show jumping
This is a relatively new equestrian sport. It came about
with the enclosure acts, which came into force in
England in the 18th century. Horse show jumping
competitions began in France but was not widely liked.
It is more well known and is also apart of the Olympic
games.
Why do people like it?
-Adrenaline pumping, beautiful, exciting
What I am into

Injuries
Navicular Disease: Gradual deterioration of the navicular bone. Not sure what
causes the bone to deteriorate, but most vets feel that it is similar to arthritis. Not
really a disease but more like a syndrome.
- Can be caused by excessive stress on the navicular bone, the breed of your horsemost typically found in quarter horses, thoroughbreds, and warm bloods, bad
conformation, and age- usually affects horses between the ages of 7-14.
Kissing spine: It medical term is overriding dorsal spinous process which means the
touching of the spine. This can be very painful and also cause additional issuesarthritis and desmitis(ligament inflammation).
- Not all horses show signs of pain, instead look for: back stiffness, not wanting to
work, refusing jumps, biting with the girth is tightened, mood changes, bucks, or
reluctance to roll or lie down.
Sacroiliac Injuries- Hunters Bump: A condition in which the Tuber sacral of the
pelvis are prominent. This can have significant effect on a horses performance and
range of motion to the hindquarters. Over time the compensating sift tissue becomes
overworked and can lead to additional problems. The muscle stays in a constant state
of contraction and fatigue.
- Has been associated with lumbar back pain

How to Prevent and Treat

Kissing Spine: treatments can vary but the most successful is physical therapy.
Injections of corticosteroids and sarapin at the affected areas prove to be very
beneficial. Shockwave therapy have also shown to be very effective. Some more
alternatives that may not be as expensive are acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments,
and/or massage.
- Recently surgery has also been an option. Interspinous Ligament Desmopathy- where
the vet makes small incisions along back cutting the ligament connecting the spines to
stop the pain so that the muscles stop contracting causing the spines to rub even more
against each other.
Navicular Disease: Treatments vary on how the deterioration occurred. It is a chronic
condition so the horse will never fully recover. If conformation is the problem
therapeutic shoeing may help or no shoes at all. Anti0inflammatories are also a great
option. As a last resort, surgery; known as nerving or denerving the palmar digital
nerves. Yet the nerves could regrow after a few years or this could just mask the
problem and make it worse.
Sacroiliac Injuries: Certain stretches and exercises that can help prevent the
worsening of hunters bump. By extending the hip and hock, rotating the hip,
hamstring, pelvic reflex point, and lateral carrot stretches you can stretch the muscles
so that they dont stay contracted and can relax.
- some treatments for mild chronic cases you can use equine massage and equine
acupuncture/chiropractor can help to relax the muscles.

Lameness
What is it?
- Mild to severe loss of ability to move normally. Can be caused
by problems in the horses bones, muscles, nerves, tendons,
etc. Its a general term for any abnormality in the horses
movement. It can occur suddenly or gradually. It can increase
in severity or not change at all. It may go away on its own or it
may require veterinarian help.
Why is it such an issue?
- Because you dont know the real cause of the pain and is
extremely difficult to treat.
Why it got its own slide?
- It is a major problem in the horse world.
How to prevent it: annual vet checks, dont over work your
horse, has the right protective gear based on the event, and
also become more aware of lameness- get educated about it.

Bibliography
www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/discipline-related-injuries
http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2014/08/why-is-lameness-so-common-in-dressage-ho
rses
/
wheredoesmyhorsehurt.com/lameness-problems-in-horses.html
http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/what-is-horse-lameness-52.htm
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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/tag/navicular-disease
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3QeddV
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http://www.ed.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.23110!/fileManager/bone_spavin.pdf
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/understanding-sacroiliac-pain-55
632
http://www.kohnkesown.com/C7sacroiliacpain.pdf
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