Strong bones are essential if a horse is to perform successfully and still remain sound.
Bones that are weakened by disease, injury, or inappropriate training regimens can result in catastrophic injury, as anyone involved with racing well knows. There are a number of elements involved in the production of strong bones. The two prime elements are proper nutrition and the correct kind of exercise. We will focus in this article on the role played by exercise. The equine world is indebted to David Nunamaker, VMD, PhD, an orthopedic surgeon and head of the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, for information on the role exercise plays in the formation of bone.