In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
Your trusty, go-to horse is saddled and ready to ride. Maybe it’s been a little while since you two have been able to hit the road together. Perhaps he’s an older horse that has been out to pasture, or he’s just been on the backburner for a while. You swing a leg over, and begin warming him up, and you notice some stiffness. Maybe a little bit of reluctance to do common tasks. A horse can experience stiffness during exercise for various reasons, ranging from temporary factors to underlying health issues. Let’s take a look at some common reasons your horse might be exhibiting stiffness or discomfort. And when it’s time to take it more seriously. Improper Warm-Up If you’re climbing aboard and jumping straight into the difficult maneuvers without…
Your horse’s hock is at once his most powerful and vulnerable joint. A horse that can use his hocks well can run faster, jump higher, pull harder, and stop quicker. But if your horse’s hock is hurting, his performance potential plummets. And, unfortunately, because the it’s such a complex joint, there’s a lot that can go wrong. First, it’s important to understand what it is and how it works. What Is The Hock? The hock, or tarsus, is the complex joint that allows quick locomotion and durability for your horse. This is the joint that allows the hind legs to quickly flex forward in the stride to prepare the quadriceps to powerfully propel him as the hocks extend. The anatomy of the hock is complex. Tibio Tarsal Joint To begin,…
To become the trustworthy, reliable, and dependable trail horse you count on in the backcountry, your horse has to be used. In the process, he’ll rack up some scrapes, bumps, and cosmetic issues. A few cosmetic issues are OK, but when you’re in the market to buy a trail horse, you need him to be more than reliable. You need him to be sound. Here I’ll explain common health-history, appearance, and movement issues that can indicate future soundness issues that could influence your horse’s usability on the trail. With each soundness consideration, I’ll give you the green light to go ahead, yellow to proceed with caution, and red light—which you know means don’t go further with the horse purchase. These clues will help you buy with confidence, ensuring that your…
Joints equal movement, and movement equals athletic performance. In fact, when it comes right down to it, muscles, tendons, and ligaments—all of the critical structures in your horse’s musculoskeletal system—are simply there to help joints move. When joints move freely and smoothly, your horse does, too. And when they don’t, troubles begin. What’s The Scoop? Estimates say that 60 percent of all lameness is due to osteoarthritis. It’s defined by joint disease expert Dr. Wayne McIlwraith of Colorado State University as a “progressive deterioration of the articular cartilage accompanied by changes in the bone and soft tissues of the joint.” That’s why there’s so much attention paid to discovering new techniques for accurately diagnosing and effectively treating joint disease. In this article, we’re going to take an up-close look at…
