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<\/a><\/p>\nEVENT HORSE DAILY MANAGEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n As the event horse travels through the course of his training and fitness program, he ultimately becomes vulnerable to infectious and soundness complications. Daily management obviously encompasses a varied array of tasks, however the following procedures have been shown, if practised, to increase the competition life of the event horse:<\/p>\n * Daily monitoring of the lower limb structures: become familiar with the feel of the fetlock and coffin joints; tendons; suspensory ligament and the tendon sheath, which will allow you to evaluate changes and assess appropriate treatment procedures with your vet, preferably over the phone, which may save some money, for a change.<\/p>\n *Body temperature recordings taken in the morning for indication of infection. (Also establishes a base, which can be useful, say at a three-day, for comparison.)<\/p>\n *Nightly bandaging of the legs \u2013 allows for support, and decreases the chance of a stable injury (which could lead to unnecessary time off.)<\/p>\n *Soaking the hay \u2013 to decrease inhalation of dust, mould or spores, (some riders also bed horses on newspaper for this reason.)<\/p>\n *Thorough grooming and cleaning of equipment \u2013 studies have shown that painful skin disorders are primarily caused by negligent care for bandages\/ boots\/ numnahs, and a lack of correct grooming understanding.<\/p>\n *Sports medicine practices \u2013 cold water, ice and poultice used on the legs and feet of horses after every strenuous work out have beneficial results.<\/p>\n *Daily logbook \u2013 to map out the daily management schedule.<\/p>\n Understanding the how, why and when of your horse \u2013 and attending to every problem, no matter how minor, can close that seemingly unbridgeable gap between a sound, competitive horse and one only fit for a trail ride. The next time your vet makes a visit, shock him or her!\u2028 Swap the coin and ask him the questions \u2013 he\u2019ll either be dumbfounded or equally annoyed but the anticipated longevity of your horse\u2019s eventing career is by far more important than a momentary grin from your bemused vet!<\/p>\n Ultrasound \u2013 should there be any past history of a tendon, ligament or soft tissue problem, it is common to have the area examined by ultrasound a few weeks into the season to allow for evaluation and comparison. (It is advised to ultrasound the area at least once a year.)<\/p>\n *Feeding pattern \u2013 As you get closer to your first competition, especially if it is to be held over a few days, the feeding times should be changed to four of five per day. The old fable \u2018small feeds, often\u2019 will relieve the associated pangs of boredom at events, and will also encourage those horses with the \u2018I\u2019m not eating \u2013 I\u2019m at an event\u2019 syndrome.<\/p>\n WEEKLY MANAGEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Role of the veterinarian \u2013 your vet should be scheduled to make a routine visit to your stables once a week, to examine each horse for soundness and any problem-of-the-moment. Recording of this information will soon become a valuable tool to assess appropriate goals for each horse. (This practice can actually save money and create a more professional relationship with your vet \u2013 he will understand each horse on a more personal level and you get more competent when he is not around … less emergency calls!)<\/p>\n Daily turnout \u2013 should correlate to the specific competition that the horse is being prepared for. If \u2028you are aware that your horse will be bound to a stable all day at the event, the turnout time the week preceding should be gradually decreased. (Problems such as colic and tying up can be averted)<\/p>\n Go to the second in this series: Managing the horse after the cross country<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n