It is crucial that this drug be combined with a detailed rehabilitation process combining leg exercise, hand walking and progressively more intense exercise over a 10-month period. The schedule is set up on an individual basis and is largely determined by ultrasound evaluation of healing. Studies have yielded encouraging results, but it is an expensive, time-consuming program. Prevention is the best medicine. Insist on good trimming and shoeing.
Proper nutrition produces a sound, healthy, balanced hoof.
Adequate and appropriate conditioning prevents tendon injuries. Horses should first be conditioned with long slow-distance work. This conditions the cardiovascular system and also helps tone the tendons and ligaments. However, because tendon injuries occur when those structures are overloaded with work or speed, conditioning must also include elements of heavy work such as jumping, pulling, sharp turns and speed. Include gradually faster and more difficult periods of exercise in a conditioning program to allow the tendons to adapt to that level of stress.