When a horse comes up lame, one of the first instincts is to limit its movement to ensure something catastrophic doesn’t happen or more damage isn’t done. But is this the right approach?
Dr. Martina Neidhart, a veterinarian in Europe with an interest in soft tissue and lameness rehabilitation, did a great webinar in 2021 with Wendy Murdoch on what happens to a horse’s body while its on stall rest.. and it has stuck with me for years! I reached out to Dr. Neidhart to chat with her about when stall rest might be recommended, when we should limit a horse’s movement, and what instances it might not be necessary. We also discuss what can happen to horses who don’t move enough while rehabbing.
You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under “The Humble Hoof,” or directly at this link.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors:
Equithrive offers supplements for everything from metabolic health to joint support – get 20% off your first order at equithrive.com with code HUMBLEHOOF
Cavallo Hoof Boots is offering 20% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN
A special shout out to Grid as New, Mud Control Grids – they are a game changer for any mud issues, big or small! – mudcontrolgrids.com
Also be sure to check out Hay Boss Feeders – haybossfeeders.com – for all your slow-feeding needs. I get my Hay Boss feeders from Mountain Lane Farm in NH!
This could have saved a horses life. My boarder followed vet orders to the T. The poor horse ended up with dropped patterns after six months of stall rest. So sad. We tried to advise her otherwise but the vet was steadfast. Vet protocol killed the horse. He had to be put down. Use your own brain!!