Horses have worked side by side with humans for centuries - not only for farming and transportation, but also for sport. Today, there are many different disciplines that we compete in with our horses. Most disciplines share the possibility for injury, including one-time mishaps or repetitive motion injury.

Horse sports medicine addresses the needs of competitive horses with the goal of maximizing their athletic performance and prolonging their competitive careers. Although lameness is typically the number one problem associated with equine athletes, many other medical conditions can impair their performance and quality of life.

In the last 20 years, many advances in equine medicine have allowed us to diagnose and treat once career ending injuries and also to prolong the career of our sport horses in a safe manner. Our societal ethics have also advanced, and it is no longer acceptable to 'use' a horse for an end to a means. Rather, we work to promote the partnership between horse and rider to maximize the human-animal bond relationship potential and focus on the overall health and wellness of the horse through specific disciplines that are fun and engaging for each individual horse. For this reason, our veterinarians are continually studying improved ways to treat lameness, including training in advanced sports medicine issues and locomotor pathology. Continuing education is important for you, as well, and so we also offer Yoga for Horses classes to teach you stretch exercises that you can do with your horse as homework for lameness prevention and early detection.

Lameness problems continue to be one of the most common causes of performance issues in our equine athletes. A thorough exam, which often includes flexion tests and diagnostic nerve or joint blocks, is used in combination with a good history to identify the location of the lameness problem.

Once the area of concern has been identified, the next step usually requires some type of diagnostic imaging. When more advanced imaging is necessary for a diagnosis, we work closely with a local equine hospital to utilize their diagnostic imaging equipment.

After the images have been evaluated, a treatment plan will be designed for your horse and may include acupuncture, joint injections, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, specific exercises, surgery, or, in many cases, a physical therapy rehabilitation program. Frequently, many lameness issues respond well to a combination of therapies to hopefully return the horse to its desired occupation. We specialize in rehabilitation and utilize the state-of-the-art Cedarbrook Farms facility to offer complete rehabilitation services.

If you are looking to attain optimum performance for your horse or are concerned about lameness issues, call Cedarbrook Veterinary Care at (360) 794-9255 to schedule your appointment.