As a rider and veterinarian, Dr. Hurtig provides some precautions when resuming training of a horse:
- Return to exercise slowly and incrementally with lots of walking
- When introducing trotting avoid hard surfaces.
- Avoid complex moves at first – promote relaxation.
- Allow an adaptation time when working on new surfaces and cross-train on the surfaces you intend to expose your horse to
Regarding the period of time required before a horse is ready for harder work, Hurtig says, “It depends on the bio-mechanical challenge to their muscular skeletal system.”
One could spend at least three months preparation before the horse is ready for high level performance. It can also take up to a year to get ligaments and tendons ready for Olympic level sport.
Hurtig is excited about his research on Intra Articular therapies that utilize direct injection into the joint as a targeted therapy but cautions against injections used for maintenance or as a preventative measure.
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