01/24/2026
When I was listening to The Humble Hoof podcast, I heard a statement that resonated with me, โI never regret going too slow in rehab, I do regret going too fast.โ
Over my 7 years of operating Equanimity Animal Therapy and then also working in clinical settings before that Iโve seen so many people rush the healing process.
Now, I know what youโre thinking, well doesn't your work accelerate the healing process? Yes, it does. But there's a big difference between me coming onto a case right after the diagnosis when the injury is acute and me coming onto a chronic lameness that has been occurring for an extended period of time, sometimes years. When the injury is still in the acute phase I am very confident in my ability to accelerate the healing process, address any compensatory limbs to reduce overcompensation, and guide the owner through the rehab then helping them gradually return their horse to exercise while working with the overseeing veterinarianโs guidelines. An injury that just occurred is easier to gauge a timeline on than one that has become a chronic issue.
I've witnessed owners chase diagnostics, inject every joint in the body, change the shoeing every cycle, use this supplement, use that medication, change vets every two seconds, try every new fad to make the horse better. Iโve witnessed frantic changes chasing resolution instead of just giving the horse time. Consistency and time are two factors grossly underestimated. Choosing a path of rehabilitation and sticking to that path has led to greater success than putting a short timeline on the use of one avenue to then go chase another and another and another...
When a horse has been chronically lame we are no longer just tending to the primary issue, we are now chasing a multitude of issues within the body that have occurred due to the chronic strain of the imbalance the horse has been in. Chronic foot issues? Well we likely have very tight and overcompensating hind end muscles along with joint soreness stemming from hock or stifle. But wait, since the hocks and stifles might be sore from the horse re-directing its weight off the front end to the hind end to take pressure off the feet, we now also may have pain in the lumbosacral region as well. Additionally, what type of foot issue are we dealing with? Imbalances? Inflammation of the bursa? Caudal hoof pain? We better check the tendons and ligaments of the front limbs too. Oh. and donโt forget about the thoracic sling. Chronic pain becomes a domino effect, it may stem from one area but once that domino falls the rest falls with it. Now that you have that picture in your mind, how do we put a timeline of healing on a horse who has been in chronic pain?
Iโve seen intense and complicated cases get better with time and consistency, sticking to one avenue and seeing it out, even with the therapy I offer in cases like this it takes TIME. I try my best to remain constant, teach my clients patience, aid them with gradual strengthening regimens, but every time Iโm hit with the question of how long and in these types of cases how am I to put a timeline on their healing for issues that may have now stemmed throughout their entire body?
More than ever with rehabilitation we must practice patience and consistency because the weight of regret for rushing rehabilitation is not something I wish on anyone.
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