Everything you need to know about horse joints

of course and in fact crosstraining on a variety of terrain is thought to be good for a horses legs. The key is to ride at a sensible pace based on your horses fitness levels and ability and what the going is like.
When riding across uneven ground be cautious of the unpredictable and changing loads that the legs will be subject to. Be extra careful on hard rutted ground and boggy ground.
Have a fit horse
Ensure your horse is fit enough for the work you are asking them to do. Many joint and soft tissue injuries occur when the horse is tried and the muscles are less able to support the tendons and ligaments in the limb causing strains or overextensions.
Golden rules for looking after horse joints
Its simple really. If you dont look after your horses legs and joints you wont be able to ride them. Here are some of the golden rules to keep in mind
Warm up well you wouldnt walk out of your house and immediately run as fast as you can as far as you can so dont expect your horse to either.
Warm down properly dedicating the last section of your ride whether schooling hacking or jumping to walking will help your horses body and muscles cool down helping to prevent stiffness.
Use protective wear are you booting up? Seek advice on which boots best suit your horses needs. My advice is choose those that offer strike protection and keep tendons cool.
Good after care legs need time to cool off so remove brushing boots quickly. Consider whether your horse will benefit from turnout after riding andor cold hosing if theyve done something particularly demanding such as galloping or crosscountry.
Watch the ground riding in deep boggy ground increases the risk of tendon injuries while lots of work on hard rutted ground means concussive type injuries are a concern. The ground wont be perfect all the time so a bit of common sense is required no fast galloping on hard ground for example. Research shows that riding your horse on a variety of surfaces is ideal.
Consider a joint supplement look for one that contains chondroitin sulphate glucosamine MSM boswellia serrata or greenlipped mussel. Ask for advice if youre unsure.
Non steroidal antiinflammatories
Given by injection or orally mon steroidal antiinflammatories such as Bute work by preventing prostaglandin production which can contribute to inflammation and joint pain. Because they are given systemically which means