The Impact of This Year On Soundness

[Squeak]

I'd love to be able to do a study on the impact of this year on soundness. It will (hopefully!!) be one of the only years that we see so many horses have an enforced break from competing, racing and for some riding at all.

Logically there will be less injuries that were just accidents when competing etc or in high work but I'd love to know about the impact next year or the year after... I.e. whether the top competition horses may go on longer for having had the break and not being pushed in competitions or has it made no difference... Also will the two year old thoroughbreds be stronger and better next year for not having been raced to the same extent this year or so early on in the year or will they be worse off and less strong and less experienced, will they get injured less later on in their lives?

Is it possible that the injuries that are built up or exacerbated over time might have had a chance to heal where horses were just chucked out in fields for a month or so or will it all be exactly the same?

 

[paddi22]

I've evded up having a year where I seem to constantly have had different vets and physio's out for various horses. they have all commented on how beneficial this year has been for horses, especially competition horses. a lot commented on how they see horses who have just never got the chance to recover from small niggles even, and now they are all performing much better.

 

[atropa]

On the contrary, I know a horse who has actually broken down this year due to the owner finally having enough time off work to get her into full work 6 days a week. Previously her workload was sporadic as owner was so busy, so the mare's issues didn't show up until this summer.

 

[[118739]]

On the contrary, I know a horse who has actually broken down this year due to the owner finally having enough time off work to get her into full work 6 days a week. Previously her workload was sporadic as owner was so busy, so the mare's issues didn't show up until this summer.

My farrier has also commented on the number of lame horses he’s been seeing as previously idle hackers have been expected to cope with multiple days a week of long riding with the whole family off school/work!

 

[BronsonNutter]

I’ve never seen so many lame horses as earlier on this year (equine vet) - suddenly all the weekend warriors are riding 6 days a week, really hard ground coinciding with all the XC courses (which hadn’t all been prepping the ground throughout lockdown) reopening all at once. It’s been a very busy year for us vets across the board I think!
Most of the farriers I know have also commented on how many horses have needed to be shod with pads this year also.

 

[Squeak]

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought of the flip side of all the horses suddenly doing more during lockdown etc. Do you think you've seen any less injuries in the competition horses this year?

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Have there been an increase of laminitis cases I wonder ?

We have done less roadwork than usual due to lockdown and seem to have had more grass - I'm in ROI - weight gain has been a real headache ?

 

[oldie48]

I know someone who's horse has got PSD, vet thinks that lockdown, which resulted in horse being ridden more on the same slightly deep surface, has contributed to this.

 

[BronsonNutter]

That's really interesting, I hadn't thought of the flip side of all the horses suddenly doing more during lockdown etc. Do you think you've seen any less injuries in the competition horses this year?

I don't really see as many high level competition horses (clients are mainly leisure riders + some lower level competing) - but yeah, only 1 injured higher level competition horse this year, and that was due to trauma, probably in the field!

 

[exracehorse]

My vet who came to do the teeth last month said she’s seeing lots of lame horses due to them being off work during lockdown then owners took out unfit horses to compete etc on the hard summer ground we had.

 

[LEC]

More than ever - a lot of tendons, suspensorys and feet issues. This is anecdotal among my friends (farriers, vets, horse people). A combination of shocking feb weather with hot spring for feet and then the other issues probably lots of different reasons. Personally I have dealt with more lame horses at home than ever - bruised feet, tendon in the field, bad shoulder probably carried from last season eventing, EMS lami, kick in the field and stable accident combined with crap feet from the weather. None of their management has changed as I was still working full time and I didn't stop riding them during lockdown. A lot has been unlucky aided by weather.
I actually haven't made it eventing this year though my bank balance is very good.

 

[Annagain]

Bit of a different situation but lockdown sort of put an end to my old man's ridden career. He's 25ish and was semi retired so not entirely responsible but we stopped riding at the start of lockdown as it was the responsible thing to do. After seven weeks, we started some gentle hacking but he was lame - even just 10 minutes in walk was too much for him. We injected his coffin joint again - it has been very successful for him in the past - but it had no effect at all this time so he's now in field, fat, filthy and loving life. He's field sound on no pain relief so while he's happy, he'll stay there.

With the argument of keeping older horses in gentle work I do wonder how much of it is a mechanical thing and not stiffening up and how much is because they get used to a certain level of pain and stopping then starting again changes what they're used to dealing with.