Back to Work – Staying Sound

Kate Hore RNutr (Animal)

For many, venues are opening for hire, instructors are teaching, and we have more freedom to exercise. With restrictions easing, we’re keen to get our horses back to work. However let’s just half-halt and make sure we take the right approach, to ensure horses stay sound as the work increases.

Exercise has a direct dynamic effect on joint health, and while we might appreciate the risk of over-doing it, it is important to understand that too little exercise is also damaging. As most horses have either been out of work, or working much more quietly, in the last couple of months, we must take care with their joints as they come back to fitness.

The cells of the whole joint, from the synovial fluid, to the cartilage, to the bones, respond to the mechanical loading exerted by exercise, and in a process known as mechanotransduction can change their behaviour to alter the properties of the joint matrix. This is a stepwise process, such that subsequent loading further alters the matrix, and slowly joint strength and integrity grows. However, a sudden overload – or lack of load – disrupts those responses resulting in dysregulation of joint structures, with implications for joint health¹.

Gradually build horses’ fitness and, particularly for those who have been off work entirely, start in walk, ideally in straight lines, such as plenty of gentle hacking. The intensity of the work can increase every couple of weeks, and for rested horses think of one month at each gait to allow joints to fully adapt to loading². When incorporating variety, remember exercises such as lungeing and polework can further increase joint stress, so use them sparingly and make sure you give your horse plenty of walk breaks.

Whether you have managed to continue riding through lockdown, or you’re just starting back now, it’s recommended to support joint health as the work increases. This is particularly important given the unusually warm, dry weather we’ve enjoyed, meaning the ground is much harder than we would expect at this time of year. Feed the matrix of joint structures in your horse by supplementing with NAF Five Star Superflex or Five Star Superflex Senior. The Superflex family combine key joint support nutrients, including Glucosamine sulphate, MSM, chondroitin and H.A. working in synergy with natural phytochemicals and omega 3 fatty acids to provide evidence based nutrition for joint health in all horses and ponies.

In conclusion, by building work with a structured fitness programme, incorporating targeted nutritional support, you are providing a sound platform to bring your horse out of lockdown and back to five star performance.

Please call our Freephone Advice line on 0800 373106 to check whether Five Star Superflex or Five Star Superflex Senior best suits your horse.

1. Te Moller N.C.R & Van Weeren P. R (2017) How exercise influences joint homeostasis. Veterinary Journal. Apr 222 : 60-67

2. Ed: Ross M.W & Dyson S.J (2011) Diagnosis & Management of Lameness in the Horse. Pub: Saunders