Now is the time to make sure your horse is ready for the rigors of regular work, writes Christine Barakat. When scheduling horses’ spring shots, veterinarians need to schedule some time to evaluate horse soundness and joint health, as well. A soundness exam serves two purposes:
- it will identify any current soundness issues that need to be managed
- the exam will provide a baseline for your horse’s soundness in the coming months.
Source: EQUUS, February 12, 2019. Link. A simple jog down a driveway and some flexion tests may be enough to determine how a horse is doing or the veterinarian may suggest a more extensive workup with radiographs or other imaging.
INSIGHTS: This information is worthy of social media posts and inclusion in e-newsletters. For veterinary teams, soundness exams can be discussed when equine clients call to schedule vaccines or other work.