Читать книгу Equine Lameness for the Layman. Tools for Prompt Recognition, Accurate Assessment, and Proactive Management онлайн

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The utilization of basic visual assessment techniques can help horse owners detect lameness more quickly, thereby starting the diagnostic process sooner and improving the horse’s prognosis for future soundness. Local trainers, farriers, and friends can also assist the owner in prompt lameness recognition. Remember, a veterinary degree is not required to formulate an opinion as to the existence, location, and possible cause(s) of a horse’s lameness.

At the end of the day, equestrians want to stay in the saddle as long as possible and spend as little money as possible doing it. But this relies on our ability to serve as the frontline “sensors” for lameness in our horses. The faster we’re able to recognize a problem, the faster the veterinarian can initiate the diagnostic, treatment, and recovery processes.

Horse owners who adopt a proactive approach to detecting lameness in their own horse tend to be more successful in whatever equine discipline they undertake. Those that can recognize subtle gait deficits will recognize small problems before they become big problems. The more timely problems are recognized and addressed, the less likelihood they have of becoming long-term or permanent issues. There is also less opportunity for other primary or secondary problems to develop. With fewer areas of the horse being affected, our visual depiction of asymmetry becomes appreciably less complicated.