Re-Educating Racehorses E-Book

Fred Cook

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

This fully comprehensive book guides the reader through the process of acquiring and subsequently re-training a racehorse. It provides an in-depth look at what life was like for the horse at the racing yard and how through correct training and education you can train your horse to become a happy adjusted athlete ready for everyday equestrian activities. Contents include: What to consider when re-homing a racehorse out of training; Under New Management; how to ensure a smooth transition; Feeding and Nutrition; how diet affects performance; Working from the ground; a detailed look at the importance of groundwork training; Re-schooling; what is required of you and your horse. A practical book that guides the reader through the process of acquiring and re-training a racehorse and gives advice on how you can train a horse to achieve a number of different levels depending on how advanced you wish to go. Superbly illustrated with 158 colour photographs. Fred Cook and Rowena Simmonds are experienced trainers and handlers of difficult, temperamental and sensitive horses.

Leseprobe

Copyright

First published in 2012 by The Crowood Press Ltd Ramsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2013

© Frederick A. Cook and Rowena Jane Simmonds 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84797 587 4

Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders of the images in this book. The authors and publishers apologise for any inadvertent omissions, which will be rectified at the first opportunity.

Dedication Without the wonderful inspiration derived from many happy years with Leosaid, we may not have ventured so purposefully along the path of working with the horse out of training. Consequently this book is dedicated to his memory, a memory that will never fade.

Frontispiece: The authors with Charismatic Charli, a racehorse off the flat being retrained for dressage.(Photograph courtesy of Nico Morgan Photography)

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Foreword by David Trott

Introduction

1 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN REHOMING A RACEHORSE

2 THE PHYSICAL STRESSES OF RACING

3 ADAPTING TO ‘LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE’

4 MANAGING THE HORSE OUT OF TRAINING

5 THE FIRST FEW DAYS

6 FITTING NEW TACK

7 WORKING FROM THE GROUND

8 LUNGEING

9 LONG-REINING

10 GROUNDWORK OVER POLES

11 BASIC TRAINING UNDER SADDLE

12 BASIC JUMP TRAINING

13 IN CONCLUSION

Further Information

Acknowledgements

Index

Foreword

To most readers, I shall be better known as a dressage judge and Manager to the British Dressage team, but I have also been a racing addict since my childhood, especially following National Hunt Racing. I have always loved the thoroughbred horse with its willingness and desire to please and its active but sensitive mind with such a quick learning capacity. It is what makes them so versatile. The second horse I ever owned, Sha Tin, was a thoroughbred. Although she never actually raced, she was so adaptable that she completed in all spheres from open team chasing through to Intermediare dressage, and was even accepted onto the Hannoverian register due to her successful competition record.

Thereafter a succession of young thoroughbreds recently retired from flat racing came my way – Dealer’s Delight, Access Holidays, Access Festivals, Barmarina and Gara Rock, all proving very trainable and competitive especially in the dressage field, up to the present day where our own retired point-to-pointer, Theme Park, retrained to become the RoR/SEIB champion dressage horse for 2010.

In writing Re-educating Racehorses – a life after racing, Fred and Rowena have produced the most informative guide possible to help the everyday rider transform a racehorse into a riding or competition horse, trying to eliminate any of the pitfalls that could occur along the way. The book is written with passion and experience and is a must for anybody starting out on a retraining programme. In fact it is a must-read for anyone training any horse, not just an ex-racehorse.

David Trott

Introduction

This book is intended to provide constructive and practical advice for those who are considering giving a home to a horse that has been retired, for whatever reason, from racing. Whilst primarily aimed at the less experienced, we hope that more experienced readers will also find information that proves helpful or enlightening.

The material concerning feeding and management issues, although strictly extraneous to the subject of retraining, is included because these aspects do impact on a horse and its performance.

The information and advice given in this book is not by any means incontrovertible: what works for one horse doesn’t necessarily work for another. Training horses requires not only patience but also flexibility, and a trainer must always be prepared to change tactics, adapting to suit the individual. This is important when following a retraining programme with any horse, not just the racehorse, because the already so-called trained horse has an established mindset, which causes it to react and behave in certain ways. This basically means that all a racehorse has been taught previously must be in effect erased and entirely new skills put in place, whilst at the same time addressing any behavioural issues that may creep in – and there may be good reason for these, as horses don’t ‘misbehave’ just to annoy us. How successfully this is done depends upon the handler’s experience.

Figs 0.1 and 0.2 The racehorse is very adaptable and with time, patience and correct training, can readily adjust to another equestrian sport. Light the Fuse (bottom) didn’t start re-training until he was twelve years of age.

We have always been passionate about thoroughbreds, but it was our own ‘Leosaid’ (Georgie) who really set us on the path of retraining racehorses. At just four years of age he was retired from racing due to injury, and a promising career came to an abrupt end. Georgie was of very mixed character – extremely sensitive when it suited him, but very tough and single-minded. One of his favourite tricks was to rear up and walk on his hind legs; on long lines he could walk as happily backwards as he could forwards!

Fig. 0.3 Leosaid (Georgie) was very challenging to work with at times, but well worth it. proving that patience and perseverance are key factors in racehorse retraining.

In our view you never stop learning from horses, and we learned a huge amount from Georgie because he threw everything at us that a horse possibly could. Hence this book is dedicated to his memory, a ‘thank you’ for the valuable experience we gained from having such a character to work with, and subsequently the many years of fun we had with him until his passing at the age of twenty-five.

A LIFE AFTER RACING

The ‘ex-racehorse’ used to be given a bad press as a matter of course, and still does to a certain extent by those who consider him to be bad mannered and too highly strung to be usefully re-employed. This, however, is an extremely prejudiced view propounded by people who are not prepared to be enlightened. It is interesting to observe that on a race day these fit, highly tuned athletes generally walk quietly round the paddock, whereas at any hunt meet or show you will often see horses leaping about and behaving extremely badly!

The thoroughbred horse is very intelligent and generally a quick learner; he is easily bored, and needs variety and new challenges to keep him mentally occupied. Consequently he is often one step ahead of his owners! It is accepted that when some horses leave the race-training environment they are apprehensive and tense, seemingly ‘flighty’ and highly strung. Nevertheless, although it may take a while for your relationship to become established, once the trust and understanding is there, you will find you have an affectionate friend who just wants to please – and if that isn’t happening, then there is either a breakdown in communication or an aspect of management that needs addressing.

Basically the training of any animal means allowing him plenty of time to learn, having endless patience, and being highly sensitive as to how he is reacting to you. Body language is singularly the most important communication tool, and you should learn to read the signals your horse gives out, just as he will learn to read yours. You should always be clear and consistent in your training. And while training should be varied, your approach should always be logical, systematic and clear. If you aren’t speaking to your horse clearly, you can’t expect him to understand what is being asked of him. There is no mystique to re-educating the racehorse and it is readily achievable; however, if his trainer lacks feeling, confidence and skill, then understandably difficulties will arise. Furthermore because the thoroughbred is so sensitive, he is easily upset, so don’t be afraid to seek help if you doubt your capabilities.

Figs 0.4 and 0.5 Horses out of flat racing traditionally found themselves on the polo field and chasers in the hunting field or team chasing. (Photo top: courtesy of Hurlingham Polo Association; photo bottom: courtesy of Tik Saunders)

Because the thoroughbred is basically bred to race we have to accept that the majority will never reach the top-class competition circuits of eventing, dressage or show jumping, where the professional rider needs horses that are specifically bred for the discipline in order to be seriously competitive. Nevertheless the career for the retrained racehorse most definitely need not be confined to hacking, sponsored rides or hunting, and he is more than capable of fulfilling the ambitions of many riders by holding his own in a variety of competitions. In recent years a growing number of ex-racehorses have found their way into a variety of other disciplines: showing, both in hand and ridden (including side-saddle), horseball and polocrosse, Le Trec, even endurance. The ex-racehorse also adapts well to some Western riding – indeed this discipline often suits those horses that don’t accept a ‘proper’ contact with the bit as demanded in most other equestrian disciplines.

It is also a fact that some horses out of training do find their way into top flight competition, though these have usually been produced by professional riders – for example, in British Eventing at the time of writing there is Miner’s Frolic (Tina Cook), Poilu (formerly with Clayton Fredericks but now Zara Phillips), Cool Mountain (William Fox-Pitt). British show-jumping riders today tend to favour the warmblood, so in the UK we have to go back several decades to find ex-racehorses such as Workboy and Philco prominent in the world of showjumping. Nevertheless there are thoroughbreds that are currently working their way up through the BSJA levels, horses such as Roaring Thunder, Charlie Tee and Island Sound.

Dressage has traditionally been a sport where it was generally considered that the thoroughbred could never realistically compete against horses specifically bred for that discipline, because neither its temperament nor its conformation was suitable to attain the level of training and suppleness required. However, horses such as Louis Feraud are proof that the thoroughbred is not only trainable, but has the ability and paces to excel in the dressage arena. In more recent years a growing number of determined riders have proved that a horse that has raced can be trained well beyond unaffiliated levels – for example, until recently Gift Star and Mr Bojangles competed very successfully at Intermediare I and Advanced Medium levels respectively, each having amassed over 300 BD points.

Retraining the racehorse is hard work and a considerable challenge – but that is what makes the achievement all the greater, and so much more rewarding. To take a horse out of one career and retrain him to do something completely different is a tremendous achievement whatever the discipline, and whatever the level.

Fig. 0.6 Louis Feraud, owned and ridden by Emma Zwetsloot, is probably the best-known thoroughbred competing in dressage today. He didn’t race but clearly illustrates what the breed is capable of. (Photograph courtesy of John Tyrrell Photography)

MAKING THE TRANSITION

Most of these horses make the transition from their racehorse identity quite happily, given time, patience and understanding on the part of the owner/trainer. However, owning an ex-racehorse is gaining wider appeal, and a growing number of horses are finding homes with people who don’t always have enough experience of training horses generally. For many the journey will be relatively straightforward, but unfortunately there are people who do experience difficulties. This is usually only because they lack suitable experience, or are not communicating clearly enough to their horse. This is most definitely not a criticism, just a fact, and the right thing to do is to seek help and advice, or perhaps just reassurance. Owning a horse is supposed to be a pleasure, not an experience you begin to dread, so we hope that this book provides a guide as to what you might come up against and why, and how to resolve it.

Many of the issues which present are not just the preserve of the horse off the track, yet there is a certain conviction that some problems occur purely because the horse is an ex-racehorse – even though two or three years may have elapsed since he left the training environment. Re-educating the racehorse is akin to starting a youngster in terms of it having to be taught everything, but the one major difference between the two is that the racehorse has already been trained to do a job, and apart from accepting someone on his back, everything else he has been taught must be superseded: he must be completely reschooled.

Reading posts on internet forums show that there is a huge fan base for these horses, although people do readily admit that their journey hasn’t always been easy – but then this is true for many owners of any horse. Some will also admit that their ex-racehorse does retain a degree of over-excitability, is less settled in or out of company, becomes more anxious at shows – but then most horses, whatever their breed, reveal a shortcoming of temperament at some point in their career, and all the best horses have a quirk of some sort!

Fig. 0.7 Light the Fuse (Bombie) shows ability in the dressage arena.

So why does the horse out of training appear to be problematic at times? It is possibly because, from the horse’s point of view, when all else fails – he can’t trust or understand his trainer or rider or the situation he is in – he will instinctively revert to ‘racehorse behaviour’, which is what he knows best. Racehorses commence their training at a very early age, when their counterparts are still frolicking in the field; this means they are mentally ‘conditioned’ in their formative years, and this is the root of much of their adult behaviour.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERSHIP

If you wish to rehome a racehorse, be sure to take on ownership in full awareness of the possible problems, and be sure in your own mind that you have the time, the patience and the experience. If you haven’t owned a horse before, an ex-racehorse is probably not the most suitable for you to start off with – whilst we all know of someone who has done just this and not come to grief, it must be appreciated that retraining a thoroughbred is no easy task, and that for the purposes of this book, generalizations have had to be made.

We have tried to provide an informative and interesting book that addresses the most commonly experienced situations, and we hope that whatever their level of experience, every reader will glean something of benefit.

The horse ‘models’ that are used are of differing ages and temperaments, mares and geldings, off the flat and out of National Hunt racing. None has been as successful as the racing ‘greats’ – Desert Orchid, Denman, Daylami, Dansili Dancer – though some have been winners; the others have left racing because of lack of form, or injury which has precluded what might otherwise have been a successful career. But whatever his origins, within this book we cover all aspects of re-educating the racehorse, in order to give him a life after racing.

1 Considerations when Rehoming a Racehorse

So why do you want a horse that has raced? When electing to rehome a racehorse, there are more things to consider than if you were purchasing an already schooled thoroughbred. However, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages you will be taking on the new relationship fully aware that the retraining process might not always be straightforward.

So what is the attraction of an ex-racehorse? In its favour the thoroughbred has intellect and presence, and is a truly versatile horse with great ability and usually an excellent temperament. It generally adapts well to a new lifestyle, and being light in frame is quite easy to ride and ‘hold together’.

So why an ex-racehorse? If you like a ‘project’, why not go for a young, newly backed horse instead? And do you want him to be a serious competition horse, or more of a fun horse?

Fig. 1.1 Do a realistic appraisal of why you want to home a horse that is supposedly a speed machine. (Photograph courtesy of Jon Fullegar, Sandown Racecourse)

There are several disadvantages to taking on the thoroughbred just out of training: first, he will need double the work to undo the ‘in training’ mindset and educate him as a riding horse (have you the time?), and the retraining process can be frustrating (have you the patience?). Ideally you should be experienced yourself and you may also need someone to assist you at times; appropriate facilities such as a stable and a safe riding environment are also highly recommended.

Soundness may be an issue: as retraining progresses, old injuries may recur which may need treatment, the worst case scenario being that if the horse does not stay sound, he will effectively only be a field companion.

Fig. 1.2 You need time and patience to turn horses like these into riding horses. (Photograph courtesy of Clive Cox Racing)

So would you go for an older horse or a younger one? If you are looking to retrain for competitive purposes, opting for a younger horse ensures that by the time the training work comes together, he is still relatively young and has plenty of life left in him. He has also had less time to become ‘institutionalized’ – there is a consensus of opinion that the longer a horse is in training, the longer the basic retraining process will take. He will have suffered less wear and tear on limbs and ligaments, and will usually adapt more quickly to his new life.

However, this is not to gainsay the older horse, many of which leave training perfectly sound and readily take up a new career.

Ultimately, the retraining experience may be a considerable learning curve, but it is a hugely satisfying experience. To know you are responsible for the horse’s gradual transition from racehorse to riding horse brings an incomparable feeling of achievement.

SOURCING YOUR HORSE

Racehorses out of training can be obtained from various outlets: bloodstock sales, direct from a training yard, from an advertisement in the paper or on the internet, or from a rehoming centre.

Buying from a Sale

Buying from a bloodstock sale is not the best route for the inexperienced or first-time owner, although increasing numbers of people are doing so – and you can always ask a seasoned ‘sales’ buyer to accompany you.

The main disadvantage of this option is that there is no foolproof way of establishing exactly what you are taking on. Although you can see horses walk and trot in hand, they are not ridden, so it is not possible to fully assess a horse’s way of going, as weight on the back makes a big difference to the way it travels.

Remember that the horse is being sold for a good reason: owners don’t sell horses that are doing well. Check it for lumps, bumps, swellings, heat and sore spots – and not just the legs, but along the neck, down the shoulders, the withers and along the back, paying particular attention to the lumbar region. Pick its feet up, and if it is unshod, ask why. Also be aware that the handler with the horse on the day may not be familiar with its character so may not be able to answer some of your questions.

Fig. 1.3 The Sale Ring at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. (Photograph courtesy of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales)

Figs 1.4 and 1.5 This young horse can clearly use his hocks as evidenced by the way he is ‘sitting’ on them as he prepares for take-off; however, once off the ground he is unable to flex his back properly. The lack of lift from the shoulder may be consequent upon this. However, in this case it is purely due to physical weakness – a large frame at a very young age.

When purchasing from a sale you can have a free vetting, so on that day at least you know the horse is sound, and that its eyes and heart are fit and healthy.

Study the ‘Conditions of Sale’ very carefully, as these can vary. When you get the horse home, if a problem comes to light you have a certain amount of recourse to the auctioneers.

There is plenty of information available regarding the purchase of a horse from a bloodstock sale, so do your research and you will be better equipped for the experience.

Direct from a Training Yard

Buying direct from a training yard is again not the best route for the inexperienced, but at least you can see the horse in his usual environment and get an idea as to his general demeanour and attitude. Also most trainers are happy for you to ride the horse and to spend some time with him – though be mindful that while he may be very quiet here, once you have him home he may be transformed into the high-powered racing machine the trainer wished he had been!

Another advantage is that you can talk to stable staff to gain knowledge about a horse’s history.

From an Advertisement

Buying from an advertisement also carries a risk as some vendors do attempt to hide certain things. It is advisable to make a list of questions to ask, and to take an experienced person with you.

First, find out why he is for sale. If he has behavioural issues, this doesn’t mean that he came out of training with them; they might have been brought about by mismanagement or a lack of understanding. Furthermore people might have tried to reschool him already and failed – so he may already have had more than one home.

This is not the horse’s fault. It means the lines of communication have not been open and clear, so there have been misunderstandings that have escalated. This often comes about as a result of inexperience on the part of those trying to effect the reschooling.

Another reason may be an old racing injury that is preventing or limiting his retraining, or which precludes the horse from following the desired activity.

Ask to see the horse’s passport; this will verify his age, and that he has raced in the UK, which is a requirement if you want to compete in RoR classes. Many horses are coming over from southern Ireland, so are not eligible.

Check thoroughly for lumps and bumps, questioning any you find. Pick the horse’s feet up; if he is not shod, ask why.

Ask to see the horse ridden before you ride him yourself, so you can see how he reacts under saddle – and be wary of the person who makes an excuse for not riding the horse themselves, or says that it ‘…can’t be ridden at the moment’: find out why not. Ask to see the horse jump – loose or on the lunge is fine if under saddle is not possible, although this should only be because the horse hasn’t progressed to that stage of his retraining.

It is advisable to have the horse vetted.

Rehoming Centres

The best way of sourcing an ex-racehorse is from a rehoming centre. There are several around the country, and you can spend plenty of time with the horse of your choice, and have more than one ride on it. Once home, should it prove not to be suitable, the centre will have it back.

WHY IS THE HORSE COMING OUT OF TRAINING?

If you want to compete with your ex-racehorse, you need to consider carefully the reasons why he needs a home. It may be simply that he is too slow or has not shown any form, perhaps because he is immature, i.e. still physically weak. Given time and the training work the horse will undergo, this is not a problem.

He may have suffered an injury that prevents the continuation of training. Depending on the nature of the injury, he may not be suitable for you if you wish to go eventing, say, but it may not preclude the horse from showing if there is no visible blemish, or from hacking or hunting.

Fig. 1.6 Tendon injuries generally do not cause problems for the significant majority of ex-racehorses provided proper conditioning work is carried out to strengthen the leg.

It may be that he is prone to sore shins or jarring of the shoulder so doesn’t stay sound. Depending on what you are aiming for, this need not be a problem, however these horses are probably better suited to light work or to life as a companion.

In his racing career the horse may have been a bleeder – that is, prone to bursting a small blood vessel in the nose (epitaxsis). It is not always possible to know exactly why this happens, but basically it indicates that his lungs can’t cope with the physical stress of racing. However, even non-racing horses have an occasional bleed on exertion, just as some people do, so it may not be anything to worry about too much if his new career will be less strenuous.

A WORD OF WARNING

However ‘normal’ for your horse, all episodes of epitaxsis should be noted, as any change in what is ‘normal’ (for your horse) could be a sign of something less simplistic.

He may have a tricky temperament. A yard will happily tolerate a racehorse with a quirky nature if he shows some degree of talent, but if he doesn’t, he will be moved on, as many yards don’t have enough time to spend on the individual to find out what makes him tick.

Fig. 1.7 This horse is clearly a bit uptight on race-day. (Photograph courtesy of Jon Fullegar, Sandown Racecourse)

If he has a stable vice he may not hold his condition. Certain ‘vices’ cause a horse to lose condition (and therefore fitness), and indicate that he is of a more nervous or highly strung disposition and so not really suited to racing.

Mares fall into another category, since a well-bred mare is generally sent to stud – so why not this one? If she is small this won’t be a problem if her new career is as a show hack, and if she is too slow as a racehorse that won’t affect her dressage or showing jumping ability; however, if she has a conformational defect that prevents her from performing to the best of her ability on the racecourse, this should be looked into because it may impact on your chosen future activity and may be the reason that her connections did not wish to breed from her.

GENERAL CONFORMATION

Conformation is basically the evaluation of a horse’s bone structure and body proportions in relation to each other. Musculature is not part of conformation as this can be considerably improved with correct training and work. Whilst poor conformation is not so critical for the horse that isn’t ridden, once he is asked to carry a rider it can be very influential, not so much in his actual ability to carry weight, but in terms of how efficiently he does this, i.e. with engaged hind quarters, a poll-high head carriage, etc. It may even affect his soundness if it causes him to injure himself, as in brushing, overreaching or body strain.

Fig. 1.8 Captain Gerard is a fine example of a typical ‘sprinter’. (Photograph courtesy of Bryan Smart Racing)

Generally good conformation makes it easier for the horse, given the correct training, to perform at his best, whilst poor conformation can put undue stress on certain joints and/or muscles, or result in the under-use (and so wastage) of other muscles. This can readily lead to soreness and even lameness.

Many who have taken on an ex-racehorse may not have paid much attention to his conformation at all; perhaps he needed time to recover from injury, and the fact of giving him a chance at a new life was more important than his physical ‘defects’. Besides, when agents attend the sales for their clients they do look for certain physical characteristics that predispose the horse to being a good athlete, so one can assume that a racehorse’s conformation won’t be that bad to begin with.

Although the horse’s bone structure can’t be altered, his musculature can change significantly with different management and another training regime. This inevitably has a bearing on how he moves and carries himself; he can become much more athletic and his paces be improved dramatically. This can help to overcome some defects of conformation, which therefore need not be a handicap to the horse, depending on his new career – though obviously if you are intending to compete in showing or dressage classes, a horse with poor conformation is unlikely to become top class.

Fig. 1.9 Take a look at horses walking round the paddock on race-day and you could be forgiven for thinking that very few of them would pass the trot up at Badminton! (Photograph courtesy of Jon Fullegar, Sandown Racecourse)

There are plenty of books on conformation to refer to, and everyone has their own view as to what is acceptable or not – but there are always exceptions to ‘the rule’, and horses with less than perfect conformation are often still able to perform well.

Fig. 1.10 The thoroughbred conformation doesn’t preclude it from performing dressage movements. (Photograph courtesy of James Zwetsloot, Zwets Photography)

2 The Physical Stresses of Racing

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an insight as to how certain injuries can impact on a horse and his way of going. Armed with this knowledge it will enable you, the new owner, to better understand the implications, and to make a realistic appraisal of what you can achieve with your horse.

It is important that everyone is aware of what can typically happen within the racing world. This is not a criticism of any individual, but a fact of racing. Unfortunately the racing world isn’t always able to give a horse the time it needs to recover because the associated costs are so high; nevertheless with careful rehabilitative work, much can be achieved, especially if the injury is allowed the time it needs: Nature is a great and wonderful healer.

Fig. 2.1 Rehoming an ex-racehorse is a risk in terms of an physical injury it may have incurred, which might just possibly have an impact at a later date. (Photograph courtesy of Jon Fullegar, Sandown Racecourse)

We must also put our trust in veterinary science, and should always work in consultation with our vets; but just as in the medical profession where patients have defied the odds, so too have horses. And just look at the ever-growing number of people who are happily competing ex-racehorses without any problem.

Sadly the horse in training can readily sustain a variety of injuries which can compromise its very complex physical structure. However, horses can, and do, recover from all manner of injuries with proper treatment. Whilst some injuries can impact on retraining, most horses don’t need to be written off as they are perfectly capable of performing a wide range of leisure activities (subject to talent), even if they are precluded from higher levels of competition. For example, Light the Fuse has had bone chips removed from both knees, has broken a bone in his knee, severed a tendon and ruptured his back. Whilst the last injury ended his racing career, with careful rehabilitation and an on-going sympathetic training programme he is still enjoying life to the full at eighteen years of age.

Fig. 2.2 Age need not be a barrier to an active life for the older horse, as illustrated by the eighteen-year-old Light the Fuse.

The following section is not necessarily technically correct in terms of veterinary science – we are not vets. As explained above, in discussing the injuries so often incurred in racing we hope to provide an insight as to how they might impact on the horse and his way of going, which will help you, the new owner, decide on the most appropriate course of treatment, and in the light of this, the most suitable career path for the horse.

We also recommend that horses are vetted so that if any issue arises relating to past injuries it can be fully assessed and discussed with your veterinary surgeon.

LEG INJURY: CAUSE, TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS

The horse’s leg is an extremely specialized structure, allowing a huge range of movement beyond simply walking, trotting and cantering. For the ridden horse, his legs are the most important and influential part of his conformation, and any major defect or weakness in his physical make-up will increase the likelihood of lameness problems, possibly cause secondary issues elsewhere (typically in the back region) and may have a negative effect on athletic ability. Furthermore, if there are problems with the fundamental structure of the foot, the horse will spend more time lame than sound. The saying ‘no foot, no horse’ is very true.

In racing, the horse’s forelegs suffer most with sprains and strains; veterinary data confirms that 75 per cent of injuries are tendon-related. Because the National Hunt horse has to negotiate hurdles or steeplechase fences, additional stress is put on his forelimbs, over and above that incurred by just running at speed on the flat.

Whilst some injuries are relatively minor and very treatable, others can be more severe as they are part of a more complex injury involving other structures of the leg. Some horses can’t return to racing, but following prolonged rest and controlled rehabilitative exercise they can lead an active life in a less strenuous activity.

Tendon Injury

The tendons (which attach muscle to bone) comprise groups of collagen fibres tightly packed together, which, in the lower limbs, are sited in tendon sheaths (sacs lined with synovial membrane) that lubricate the tendon so it can move easily. Most racehorses will have suffered tendon strain at some time, damage to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) being the most common. The SDFT lies at the back of the cannon bone and is the tendon we readily see. The deep digital flexor tendon lies just under it; under that is the suspensory ligament. The SDFT takes the full loading on the leg before the action of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) kicks in; thus damage to the DDFT or the check ligament is not seen so routinely.

Fig. 2.3 This photograph shows just how much strain is placed on the tendons and ligaments of the horse in training. (Photograph courtesy of Doncaster Bloodstock Sales/Trevor Jones)

A horse naturally carries more of his own weight on his front legs (up to 60 per cent), and whilst training for other equestrian disciplines focuses on adjusting his natural centre of balance backwards – so that he takes more weight behind – everything about training racehorses encourages them to be on the forehand. For instance, Jockeys, and often work riders, ride with considerably shortened stirrups, thus taking their weight off the horse’s back, but the weight instead is placed over the withers and shoulders, creating additional loading on the forelegs.

When a tendon is strained or stretched beyond its capacity, usually as a result of over-extension of the fetlock joint when the horse’s weight is all being carried on one leg, the tendon fibres tear and rupture, and then swell. Anything that causes the loading on the tendons to be unbalanced puts them under strain, for example:

• Poor conformation.

• Deep going/rough/uneven ground.

• Landing after negotiating a jump.

• Lack of fitness.

• Continuing to work (race) a tired horse. As a tendon tires, it loses its elasticity, making it more vulnerable to strain.

• The SDFT is traumatized during fast work.

• Improper shoeing, particularly if the toe is left long; this alters the geometry of the foot, and hence affects the horse’s action.

Fig. 2.4 The primary structures of the lower fore limb.

Damage can also be cumulative – stress and fatigue of the tendons over time.

When there is little swelling or heat and no sign of lameness, outside the world of racing such injury is not regarded as being too serious. The following, however, are more serious tendon injuries:

• Direct trauma such as an overreach, resulting in profuse and sudden swelling, combined with a great deal of heat and pain.

• Core lesion, or ‘hole’ in the tendon, where the tendon fibres have been ruptured and torn apart, the resultant hole filling with blood and debris. A horse may have more than one such lesion.

• Bowed tendons, where the swelling at the back of the leg causes it to take on a convex appearance – hence the term ‘bowed tendon’.

Fig. 2.5 A healthy foreleg.

Fig. 2.6 A typical SDFT injury.

Fig. 2.7 This image is a scan of the SDFT of a left foreleg. The black area is the lesion where the tendon has torn apart and blood and serum has accumulated.

Fig. 2.8 All tendon injuries should be taken seriously, but don’t necessarily signal the end of a horse’s working life; some horses do return to racing.

Tendon injuries vary considerably; some can be relatively minor, but a more serious injury can result in a complete rupture, the leg losing all its support so that the fetlock joint virtually touches the ground (hence the term ‘broken down’). They take a long time to heal – twelve to eighteen months is routine because the tissues of the tendon have a very poor blood supply. However, with the advance in veterinary techniques, the healing process can be positively assisted by preventing the formation of scar tissue (which is nature’s way of healing), promoting the removal of necrotic (dead) tissue, and stimulating the formation of the right type of collagen as opposed to scar tissue.

Tendon injuries usually need the requisite time to heal, followed by a carefully structured exercise programme to ensure a strong repair.

Ligament Damage

Ligaments attach two bones together and provide support to the joints; they are much more fibrous and have virtually no elasticity compared to the tendons; also their blood supply is very poor, which makes healing a lengthy process. The suspensory, check and collateral ligaments are generally the ones involved in a racing injury, and the causes of damage are the same as for the tendons.

Fig. 2.9 LEFT: The upper section of the ligament lies behind the splint bones so, if damaged, such damage is very difficult to confirm as you can’t even feel it! CENTRE: Check ligament injuries are more routinely seen in older horses but the sub-carpal check ligament can easily be damaged during jumping. RIGHT: The primary collateral ligaments.

Suspensory Ligaments

The suspensory ligament is attached to the cannon bone just below the knee. Further down the cannon bone it divides and continues to run down the leg and attaches to the sesamoid bones. Injury to the upper section of the suspensory PSD (Proximal Suspensory Desmitis) is not commonly seen in the racehorse. However, the central section of the ligament and the lower branches are the areas most likely to be damaged when a horse is in training; this is easily diagnosed because the related inflammation (termed desmitis) is clearly visible.

The Check Ligament

The check ligament (talked of in the singular but actually comprising three ligaments) protects the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) from being overstretched and damaged. Injury to this ligament can take a long time to heal: even the most minor check ligament injuries require at least six months rest, but nine to twelve months is typical. Careful rehabilitation is required once all the swelling has subsided in order to restore full mobility.

Collateral Ligaments

Collateral ligaments are sited on both sides of most of the joints – the stifle, hock, elbow, knee and fetlock. The suspensory and sesamoidean ligaments comprise the stay apparatus which keeps the fetlock joint in place. They are typically damaged when a horse stumbles violently (knuckles over on his joints). Damage can also result from poor foot conformation and/or farriery.

Fig. 2.11 When a horse hits solid part of a fence or hurdle with its knees, bone chips can be incurred. (Photograph courtesy of John Pike, Racing Images)

Sesamoiditis

The sesamoid bones are under extreme stress in the horse racing at speed: sited at back of the fetlock joint they can be readily fractured, and are vulnerable to concussion, which can cause inflammation of the proximal sesamoid bones, known as sesamoiditis.

Fig. 2.10 This x-ray of the bones of the lower foreleg shows the position of the (proximal) sesamoid bone – at the back of the fetlock joint so it is vulnerable to injury.

While some injuries are relatively minor and very treatable, others can be more severe if part of a more complex injury involving other structures of the leg. Some horses can’t return to racing, but following prolonged rest and rehabilitative exercise they can lead an active life in a less strenuous activity.

JOINT INJURY: CAUSE, TREATMENT AND PROGNOSIS

A horse’s joints are extremely efficient shock absorbers and able to withstand incredible amounts of pressure, but they are subject to wear and tear even when just walking around the field. Younger horses that race on the flat are not so prone to tendon injuries as jumpers, but they suffer a higher proportion of joint-related injuries/problems.

A horse has three types of joint: synovial, cartilaginous and fibrous. Fibrous joints are found in the skull and in some of the long bones of the body and are basically ‘fixed’, and similarly cartilaginous joints, as in the pelvis, have limited movement, so both are unlikely to suffer any form of joint disease. Synovial joints, however, include the extremely active joints of the knee, hock and fetlock, and are most prone to injury and disease.

PHYSITIS

Young thoroughbreds that grow too quickly can have a temporary growth disorder known as physitis, which affects the growth plates of the knees causing swelling; this is relatively short-lived and has no long-lasting effects.

The Knee Joint

The knee is a very complex joint and the incidence of knee problems is high, mainly due to the fact that it is small relative to a horse’s size and bodyweight, and both the cartilage and bone are subjected to repeated concussion. Bone chips are often a consequence of trauma to the knee, and their removal is a commonly performed operation. However, some horses are then unable to flex the knee joint fully, which can limit their jumping ability over higher fences.

Furthermore arthritis may subsequently set in, depending on the extent of the initial damage; a joint supplement or injection to help reduce inflammation and nourish the joints enables the horse to continue to lead an active life.

Fig. 2.12 This x-ray image shows the complexity of the hock joint.

The Hock Joint

The hock is an extremely complex structure, but hock damage is more usually associated with the non-racing performance horse due to the nature of its training, which encourages the displacement of the horse’s weight on to the hind limbs. Thus osteoarthritis (DJD) is not so readily associated with racehorses.

This doesn’t mean that the hock is a trouble-free joint for the racehorse; it is just that the tendons and ligaments of the forelegs invariably give out first because they take the primary loading.

Fig. 2.13 Stifle injuries actually account for more hindlimb lameness than previously thought.

The Stifle

The stifle is the largest synovial joint in the horse. The collateral and cruciate ligaments of the stifle are easily torn, especially when a horse leaves a leg behind or wrenches the stifle when jumping, so inflammation and swelling is common.

The Pelvis

A correctly working pelvis is crucial for the horse as all the power comes from the rear end: the pelvis is the engine.

Fig. 2.14 Damage directly incurred to the pelvis is usually a fracture and more often than not repairs without any difficulty.

Fractures usually go hand in hand with injuries to muscles and ligaments, and these injuries don’t repair so readily, adhesions and scar tissue being routine consequences. When viewed from behind there will be evident asymmetry of the pelvic profile, and there may be muscle wastage on the injured side.

Once a fracture has healed, locomotory abnormalities are often noted when exercise under saddle is resumed: the horse may not be sound, or he may just not ‘feel right’, usually because he tracks up short, almost without exception a symptom of a muscle injury in the pelvic area. He may compensate with other limbs, and have improper placement of the foot, making him more prone to injury. There may be strain (or pull) on the spine, and he may not be able to back up properly, and/or is unable to cross his legs when asked to turn a tight circle.

However, if special attention is paid to establishing his core and pelvic stability by lungeing/long-reining work combined with exercises over raised poles, he should be perfectly able to cope with Riding Club and lower level competition. Your chiropractor should be able to advise on the type of exercise to be undertaken.

Fig. 2.15 The sacroiliac joint firmly fixes the horse’s pelvis to the spine.

The Sacroiliac Joint

The sacroiliac is another complex joint which is the seat of many ills. Symptoms range from hind limb lameness and lack of impulsion to the horse ‘not feeling right’ in his movements. The joint is not accessible by way of touch/feel or x-ray as it is covered by such a huge muscle mass; hence it is difficult to confirm a diagnosis, and treatment is usually symptomatic.

Acute damage to the joint is usually the result of a fall, or of slipping or twisting awkwardly, particularly when jumping. Chronic damage is generally the result of wear and tear, or if the joint has been under continual stress; this may be suspected if a horse has problems in the canter, such as changing the leading leg, bunny hopping/bucking into canter, or cantering disunited. A ‘jumper’s bump’ is actually the result of torn (strained) sacroiliac ligaments at the top of the croup, usually caused by a fall, or in a young horse because he has been asked to exert himself too soon over fences.

Unfortunately when this crucial joint has been damaged it doesn’t readily return to normal, but once the pain has gone and the joint stabilized, most horses happily return to an active lifestyle. Successful treatment relies on pain management, and building up the supporting muscles of the area, particularly in chronic cases where controlled exercise is usually required.

Fig. 2.16 This x-ray is taken from behind so as to illustrate the seating of the coffin and pastern joints. The conformation of this particular lower limb is about as perfect as can be.

The Pastern and Coffin Joints

These joints are susceptible to injury through direct trauma or ligament strain as a consequence of an overreach, a mis-step, or the effects of galloping on firm ground. Exostosis (bone growth) – commonly known as ringbone – within these joints is common, as are fractures and arthritis.