Treatment Tendon Ligament Rehabilitation

Recommendation is no exercise for 2 weeks. Restrict in stable or yard (9m x 6m) and spa daily for 10 minutes after water has reached mid forearm depth. If swelling has not started to diminish continue with NO exercise until swelling has visibly started to diminish.

You must be prepared to accept that the process of recovery is slow and takes more time than normal training. Only work horses on walker or treadmill or with riders who know what they are doing and can feel changes.

When exercise starts, horses will not be as supple as repair tissue is hard and does not give as much, so try to work on soft ground. Use NO support bandages when horse are in yards only when working. Sports medicine boots provide the best support.

Week 1. 10 minutes walking daily followed by spa

Week 2. Increase walking over week to 20 minutes daily, finish with spa

Week 3. Increase walking over week to 30 minutes daily, finish with spa

Week 4. Replace 5 minutes walking at end with slow trotting ie: 25w-5st, spa 3 times a week.

Week 5. Replace another 5 minutes walk with slow trot 20w-10st, spa 3 times a week.

Week 6. Replace another 10 minutes walk with trot 10w-20st, spa 3 times a week.

Week 7. Increase speed of last 5 minutes to a fast trot 10w-15st-5ft, spa 3 times a week.

Week 8. Increase speed of another 10 minutes to fast trot but finish with walk 5w-5st - 15ft-5w

Week 9. Increase all trot to fast trot 5w-20ft - 5w, spa 3 times a week.

Week 10. Increase fast trot to 30 minutes 5w-30ft-5w, spa 3 times a week.

Week 11. Replace 10 minutes trot with slow canter 5w-10ft-10sc - 10ft-5w, spa 3 times a week.

Week 12. Start fast days 3 times a week with a lap of trot then 3 furlongs at 30s and two furlongs at 24s, still do 30 minutes slow work on "off days". Spa after fast work

Week 13. Fast days lap trot, 2 furlongs at 30s and 3 furlongs at 24s, off days same as before. Spa after fast work

Week 14. Lap of trot, 1 furlong at 30s, 3 at 24s and 1 at 18s, and spa after fast work

Week 15. Lap of trot, fast days 2 furlongs at 24s, 3 furlongs at 18s (half pace) still trot off days, spa fast days

Week 16. Lap of trot, fast days 2 furlongs at 16s and 1 at 3/4 pace (14s) and cross your fingers. Spa after fast work. Then proceed as you would normally, give plenty of warm up before fast work.

On race days, tell the jockey to go as far as the opposite way as he/she can, trotting before going to the starting stalls. SPA AFTER RACING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.