From the horse’s mouth: Veterinary tips for the competition horse

It may seem blindingly obvious that a horse can only tell you the truth, but the point is that because it has no reason to mask even the very early stages of lameness or a health condition, a horse will often display subtle indicators long before things become problematic. When it comes to dealing with competition horses – the advanced athletes of the equine world – there is a huge investment in terms of time and money at stake. So those most frequently in contact with the horse should establish a protocol for regular assessments which monitor even very minor changes in order to minimise potential problems and maximise performance.

In addition, there are a number of routine procedures to be included to keep both horse and rider ahead of the game. Here are Ann’s tips to get the best from a competition horse:

• Consider the whole horse – not just a bit of it (or a problem) at a time. Take regular step backs throughout the season to check the horse’s health holistically. A worn patch under the saddle, for example, may not be a problem with the saddle but an indication of early lameness.
• Prepare correctly for the horse’s discipline, ensuring that fitness and nutrition levels are monitored. But don’t leave it to chance or base any decision on how tight the girth is. Many food suppliers will bring out a weigh bridge on a regular basis and if this is not an option then use a weigh tape. Nutritionists will discuss, not only if your horse has the correct energy for the job required, but also the important micronutrients. Fitness can be monitored using heart rate monitors which are now available relatively cheaply and are simple to use.
• Make sure shoes are replaced regularly, at least every 5 – 6 weeks. As a horse’s feet grow the balance shifts and the back of the heel receives less support. This can result in injuries of tendons, ligaments and soft tissues within the feet leading to ‘navicular syndrome’. Discuss with your farrier the work your competition horse is doing to ensure that he fits the optimum shoes and stud holes for that discipline. Ideally trot the horse up on a level surface for the farrier before each shoeing too, so that he can see the dynamic foot balance.
• Use a horse physio. Just like their human equivalents, the competition horse benefits from regular physiotherapy. Every horse is either right or left ‘hooved’ and, when competing at the top level, this tendency needs to be balanced up, and core strength maintained to avoid injury. Exercises can be incorporated into schooling to help the horse but it is also important for the rider to be balanced and fit as well.
• Have saddles checked every 3 months by a saddler qualified with the Society of Master Saddlers, because a competition horse inevitably changes shape over the course of the season. As mentioned earlier, a saddle rubbing on one side may be a subtle sign of lameness but it is also worth ensuring that it is not an issue with the saddle itself or the rider.

• Ensure the horse is ridden on decent surfaces. Evidence has shown that poorly maintained uneven surfaces result in injuries. For example on race courses, at car crossings where the going suddenly changes under the horse’s hooves, when they are not expecting it. Similarly, wet or hard patches in a dressage arena can cause problems and eventers should avoid running on poor ground; much better to save the horse for another day than to risk an injury.
• Consider the weather. Today’s competition venues will spend a huge amount of time and money on getting the going right for the horses, but they have yet to work out a way of controlling the weather. Major competitions such as the Olympics have test events, to try and minimise problems at the time of the main event but it is impossible to predict the exact impact of the weather until the day itself.
• Respiratory health when travelling. When travelling, keep dust to a minimum by using haylage or soaked hay, and paper or shavings on the floor to absorb any urine with the accompanying ammonium ’fumes’ it produces. Prevent physical injury from loading and travelling by using protective travel ‘clothes’. As horses were designed to spend 16 hours of their day with their heads down eating, but cannot do this while they travel, it is sensible to offer your horse a stretch and drink/food on the floor every four hours if possible. At the end of the journey, let the horse get its head down, either for grass or in a bucket. This will help to drain mucus from the lungs.
• Avoid close contact. At a show or competition, it is advisable not to let your horse sniff noses with another horse for fear of picking up an infection. Cleaning out temporary stabling may not be wholly practical but even running over surfaces with a disinfectant spray may be beneficial.
• If a horse develops a cough, take it seriously. Their cough reflex is poor compared to ours, and a cough should never be ignored. It may indicate an allergy, infection, or foreign body. If your competition horse is travelling around a lot, and coming into contact with a lot of different horses, monitor his temperature daily, at the same time. Anything over 38^oC will need looking into, as will any instance of coughing. A vet will scope the horse’s upper respiratory tract and take samples to identify the cause of the problem, to allow accurate treatment. Regular scoping in racing yards is the norm.
• Worming should not be routine throughout the year. In this modern age we do not want to build up resistance to wormers by administering unnecessary chemicals. So, unlike vaccinations, dentals and other preventative health tasks, worming should not be a matter of routine. Best practice is to dose for encysted worms (bots and tapeworms) after the first frost in the winter and thereafter have worm counts taken and treat what is found as appropriate. Pastures and horse herds will have to be adequately maintained for this system to work.
• Sometimes behaviour is an early indicator of problems: boredom or sourness creeps into the minds of competition horses and cross training helps their mental health. A different type of riding – including light hacking – will also help to avoid repetitive strain injuries caused by using the same muscles over and over. Similarly, if a jumping horse starts to have problems with doubles or spreads, or a dressage horse becomes less subtle, it may be an early indicator of low grade lameness.

Top level riders have a close communication bond with their horses and will be the first to pick up on something that is not quite right. Ann’s advice is to listen to the horse and listen to your own doubts. They may turn out to be unfounded but the only clue you will have will be in the subtle signs you get from your horse. They don’t present you with a list of symptoms but remember that they don’t lie either.

Ann Kent, CertEP BVet Med MRCVS, is Director at Westover Vets Ltd, Norfolk. She is a competition horse specialist and senior vet at Great Yarmouth Racecourse, vet at Fakenham NH course, Higham point-to-point, The Royal Norfolk Show and various Pony Club competitions. She vetted at the Olympics in London 2012 and the European Working Equitation Championships. She and her daughters also compete.