How to Prevent Equine Shin Splints

"Equine shin splints are a type of bone injury that usually occurs in young horses over a period of time. The major cause of this injury is the constant strain that is placed on the shin bones of the horse during its day to day activities. This results into the tearing of fibre from the bone and this causes heating, swelling and pain. Your house will therefore not be able to walk comfortably, run or perform most of its daily activities. To prevent your young house from suffering the misery of this injury, the following five tips should be observed:

Tip # 1 - First and foremost, you should try and point out what activities may be placing too much pressure on the bones of the horse. You should understand that there are certain limits that young horses in particular ought not to be pushed. Therefore, carry out an analysis of the number of activities your horse performs in a day and cut out or totally avoid anything that predominantly seems to be source of so much strain for the horse.

Tip # 2 - Whenever you are exercising your horse, always make sure that you put sport medicine boots or a pair of splint on the front limbs of the horse. Doing this correctly will not only significantly reduce the chances of your horse rupturing a splint, but it will also safeguard it from other numerous tissue injuries such those of the ligament and tendon.

Tip # 3 - As much as horses need exercises to keep then fit, make sure that you do not spend too much time working them in small circles in a round pen. Too much exercise for a young horse is counterproductive. Since their bones are still developing, small circles easily cause splints and other joint injuries. To exercise it, you may therefore ride your horse while doing some light lounging as you allow it time to fully develop. Remember that horses will continue to grow they reach the age of four years.

Tip # 4 - Related to number 3 above, do not jump young horses still in their growing ages. This may seem a lot of fun to both and you and your horse but most certainly, the horse will end up popping its splint. In any case, you will have a lot of time to jump the horse once they grow into maturity.

Tip # 5 - In the case that you notice any signs of a popped splint; you should immediately give your horse a few days of complete rest to prevent any further damage. Some light walking exercises will however be needed during this particular period of time.

In conclusion, if equine shin splints occur, there are a number of treatments that can be performed to help cure the horse. Initially, cold treatment, bandaging and support of the affected area may help and non-steroidal inflammatory treatment may also be administered. For severe cases, radiography or ultra sound is performed to diagnose the extent of injury before surgery is done to remove bone tissues that have fragmented."

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