Equine Sports Wellness pertains to the preemptive and proactive assessment of the musculoskeletal status of horses with the primary objective of identifying problems at or before their onset. Early identification of lameness translates into expeditious diagnosis and treatment which in turn improves the horses’ prognosis for future performance. In the end, the rider stays in the saddle longer and spends less money doing it.

Current diagnostic strategies and imaging modalities enable modern veterinarians to obtain very precise and accurate diagnoses in most cases of equine lameness. However, a disproportionate number of these diagnoses are procured after the effective treatment window has already passed and tissue damage has become irreversible. Therefore, even though the problem is eventually identified, the horse’s prognosis for future performance may be diminished. Establishing equine sports wellness programs furthers our ability to identify and treat pathology promptly, during the period when treatment is still curative or at least highly-effective.

We currently rely on the horse owner or trainer (i.e. those that are best-situated to detect lameness in their horses) to incite professional intervention. Accordingly, most of us equate the owner’s recognition of lameness with its onset. In reality, however, these events rarely occur at the same time. Very few equestrians are trained in the skill of lameness recognition1 and accordingly do not detect problems unless they are chronic (long-standing) and/or severe in nature. In many cases pathology has been present for weeks, months or even years before it is acknowledged. Indubitably the veterinarian is summoned after the fact, when the opportunity to resolve the problem has depreciated. Successful treatment of long-term problems may become very challenging and in some cases impossible in this setting.