The highest risk involved with show jumping is the landing action. When the horse lands after a jump the hind legs slide forwards as they hit the ground, and then the horse transfers his weight back onto them to take the next stride. This action places a huge stress on the sacroiliac region (the top of the rump). If young horses are jumped too often and don’t have the muscle strength over the rump area they may end up with sacroiliac pain or a ‘Jumpers Bump’.
The takeoff action can also lead to injuries, especially if the surface is slippery, where muscle injuries of the rump and back can occur. The height of the fences jumped can further increase the stress on the sacroiliac region and also lead to injuries in the lower forelimbs. The tendons, pastern and coffin joints and navicular bone are all at risk of injury when a horse lands.
Some show jumping horses are not inclined to enjoy flatwork. If unbalanced training regimes are used, the horse will not get the stretching and strengthening work required for overall suppleness and fitness. These horses will be more likely to have muscular pain, weakness and stiffness in the neck, back and hind quarter.
How will light therapy help treat injuries in show jumping horses?
Red and infrared light therapy can accelerate healing and reduce inflammation in most equine leg injuries and works most effectively on soft tissue injuries, where it can penetrate the deepest. Here, it can increase healing by stimulating blood flow and protecting against infection
Together with other treatment and medication modalities recommended by a veterinarian, light therapy can be very helpful in your horse’s rehabilitation.
Photizo Vetcare’s healing power will help to:
- Stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is an essential protein used to repair damaged tissue. It is the most common protein found in the body.
- Increase circulation almost immediately. By helping to generate an increase in blood flow to the treatment areas the light therapy normalises and heals injured cells. By increasing blood flow more oxygen and nutrients are transported to the affected area, and waste products taken away.
- Reduce oedema (swelling). Oedema has two components, liquid and protein. Researchers have shown that the lymph diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be nearly doubled with the use of light therapy.
- Stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s own pain-fighting
