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Rehabilitating a horse after injury or surgery requires a comprehensive approach. Adam Jackson MRCVS explains how a vet might create such a plan

- Adam Jackson MRCVS

WHEN a horse is recovering from surgery, or suffers musculoskeletal injury, your veterinarian is instrumental in providing a diagnosis and treatment plan, which may include a rehabilitation programme. It is essential that that is in place, and that it is well-planned, to give your horse the best chance of recovery.

WHAT IS REHABILITATION?

THE purpose of rehabilitation is to restore some or all of the patient’s physical, sensory and mental capabilities that were lost due to its illness, injury or disease. For some patients, the goal is complete athletic recovery with full and unrestricted function.

However, for others the goal is the recovery of the ability to do as many activities of daily living as possible.

There are certain key points that are essential to note before beginning your horse’s rehabilitation:

• This process requires commitment and patience from the owner, as there are often many ups and downs that occur.
• It is essential that the rehabilitation programme design and implementation be based on sound medical evidence and also include flexibility to be adjusted, as no two cases are alike.
• It is important to include and communicate with the different professionals and paraprofessionals – such as your veterinarian, physiotherapist and farrier – in the programme in order to increase the chance of success.
• A holistic approach is vital and the plan must be continuously reassessed and adjusted depending on the response of the horse.