When should I get my horse checked?
As owners and riders there will be times when you may ask yourself “Is my horse experiencing pain or discomfort?”
We, as owners will be the best judges of this, by knowing our horses regular behaviour and rhythms for a comparison.. but below are some examples of when you should look at getting your horse checked out:
• After the winter months when there has been lots of mud - when there is mud a horse walks very differently, putting strain on its body (particularly the back and shoulders)
• After a period of lameness
• After an accident, even if the horse appears to be normal and moving well - often symptoms won’t start to show up for several weeks afterwards.
• When your horse loses its cover in the paddock, if the straps are broken or the cover is stuck around its neck.
• After any dental work, or if the jaw is out of alignment (they may be dropping feed or presenting with tension in the poll)
• After using a badly fitting saddle (have your saddle fitted regularly!)
• At the end of the season to ensure they are feeling their best before a break
• At the beginning of the season to ensure they are feeling their best before working
• After long spells of work on hard ground - this creates a lot of jarring for the body to cope with.