Shin soreness in young horses

[Mattski 196]

We have a 3 year old who has gone shin sore again. Is there any good research into preventing shin soreness?

How long should they be rested for? Does walking young horses help prevent it later on?

Do pools or working them on beaches help?  So many questions!

Thx  Matt

[Insider 5,254]

Jack Litten (the great trotting trainer) once told me that the best way was to trot them up and down the tar sealed road. That was 50+ years ago and out West Melton way it was possible back then with so few cars around. 

However the principal is still the same….gentle concussion to help the bone harden up.

Incidentally I am involved with a three year old filly with good ability (one start for a close 3rd and coulda/shoulda won) 

She continues to have soft bone but the trainer is doing all the opposite, spelling, swimming etc and now the season has gone yet I know that she has stakes class ability. 

There’s too many cars around these days plus the new fad health and safety rules null in void Jacks old fashioned remedy

 

 

[Crow 238]

1 hour ago, Insider said:

Jack Litten (the great trotting trainer) once told me that the best way was to trot them up and down the tar sealed road. That was 50+ years ago and out West Melton way it was possible back then with so few cars around. 

However the principal is still the same….gentle concussion to help the bone harden up.

Incidentally I am involved with a three year old filly with good ability (one start for a close 3rd and coulda/shoulda won) 

She continues to have soft bone but the trainer is doing all the opposite, spelling, swimming etc and now the season has gone yet I know that she has stakes class ability. 

There’s too many cars around these days plus the new fad health and safety rules null in void Jacks old fashioned remedy

 

 

Shin soreness is the separation of the periosteum away from the bone causing inflammation therefore acute pain.   Not actually a bone softening problem.,

Edited March 23 by Crow
spelling

[racingoutsider 392]

6 minutes ago, Crow said:

Shin soreness is the separation of the periostin away from the bone causing inflammation therefore acute pain.   Not actually a bone softening problem.,

Yes, but caused by micro-fractures to the cannon bone. Don't think any amount of trotting on any surface will condition the bone for racing speeds. Swimming will certainly not condition bone. Early detection and backing off to let the fractures heal are key. Only Shockwave Therapy and possibly PEMF treatment can speed that process as far as I know. Swimming will certainly not condition bone.

[Insider 5,254]

Why then Crow does it separate?

[Crow 238]

26 minutes ago, Insider said:

Why then Crow does it separate?

Concussion obviously on hard surfaces. Its not rocket science.

[scooby3051 13,197]

Mattski PM me I will get you onto a program that a top trainer uses and he seems to get virtually zero shin soreness.Its all about conditioning the bone and gentle concussion but not pushing too hard too soon.

[Breeder 682]

I remember reading that Chris Turner started walking Veandercross on hard surfaces as a weanling. Started with short distances and worked up as he grew older. Not sure how often he did it but the explanation for doing it was as scooby explains. It's referred to as remodelling the bone, I think.

[Blue 1,232]

I always found a lot of trotting was more beneficial to a youngster than pacework. Similarly walking up hills helped strengthen and stretch tendons.

[Canterbury Man 191]

If you didn't start stressing the horse as a late yearling early 2yr old then you are behind the eight ball catching up.  It will take longer to go through the process.

[JJ Flash 2,646]

4 hours ago, Insider said:

Jack Litten (the great trotting trainer) once told me that the best way was to trot them up and down the tar sealed road.

Also used by many old-time trainers for horses with tendon problems. Brian Mollet who owned Maud Ryall at Progressive farms on the Karaka used to do the same with her. 

[Insider 5,254]

1 hour ago, Canterbury Man said:

If you didn't start stressing the horse as a late yearling early 2yr old then you are behind the eight ball catching up.  It will take longer to go through the process.

I agree except, I think that I would change the word "didn't to "don't"

[Canterbury Man 191]

56 minutes ago, Insider said:

I agree except, I think that I would change the word "didn't to "don't"

I was responding to the poster who has a 3yr old.  If they didn't go through a couple of preps as a two year then dealing with shin soreness at 3yrs needs a different approach.  I read some science research about it somewhere.

[Charlie E 794]

When I was in Pukekohe working for Wally Francis he had the equine pool there . Quite often trainers like Harvey Wadham would swim their horses there including Wally's of course .

It keeps them off the hard tracks and I reckon gets them fit too . I know it does for us humans