protecting/supporting young joints ne advice?????

[pinktiger]

I have a young horse ready for backing/breaking i want to help support and promote healthy joints/limbs n not put too much stress on young joints and also avoid splints, ne advice??

 

[amandaco2]

limit circle work and jumping until they are 6 and build them up gradually with plenty of walking hacking.

 

[pinktiger]

would that be road work?????, although i dont want to cause splints/joint problems, i do want to build strength????????

 

[amandaco2]

if you are only walking road work wont do them any harm.
best to go for a varity of surfaces-hard surfaces build up bone,gentle stretching on softer ground will keep things flexable.
walking up and down hills is the best for strength without over stressing joints

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

also short periods of work regularly rather than longer ones more infrequently.

also on hacking, you need horsie to be steady in traffic/on roads so you have to get them experienced, if you limit trot work to softer tracks and short stretches it should be fine and excellent exercise and experience for horsie, so boring trolling round a school all the time esp as theyll have done quite a bit of that during the backing period.

 

[nikkiportia]

If you are considering any dietery protection. We use D&H Surelimb supplement on all our youngstock as routine.

 

[KatB]

Limit lunging. Long rein instead. Don't do fast work on bad ground. Keep a close eye on any small changes on legs, and dont overwork