An Ounce of Prevention...

In the wake of Big Brown's injury, the cover of the September 27 Bloodhorse, really caught my eye. Preventing Injury, it reads in big red type. Now there's a novel concept. Just like preventive medicine, Dr. Sheila Lyons, the author of the piece, advocates proactive "treatment" for horses that are not lame, especially when they switch racing surfaces.

It is a fascinating read. "In summary, the horses that train and race on dirt, and then make the switch to synthetic, reveal a clear and typical pattern of abnormal muscle tension and dysfunction on testing," Lyons writes. "Secondary to this muscle pathology, horses that have not previously suffered from traumatic fetlock arthritis and other soft tissue damage are presenting with these conditions if their large skeletal muscle problems are not addressed. This is where the risk of catastrophic injury occurs, and it can persist after the horse switches back to the dirt."

In other words, just because a horse who has switched surfaces does not present as lame, does not mean that his muscles are not strained by the switch in racing surfaces. And neglecting to tend to these muscle adaptations can lead to disaster down the stretch.

All of which makes absolutely perfect sense. Think about it. If you are a casual or serious runner, you know that if you usually run on pavement and then switch to a soft track or even grass, your back and leg muscles feel different for the first few runs. Sometimes they cramp or tighten. Normally this goes away as your body adjusts but you are not putting 1100 pounds on your legs with each step; nor are you running at 40 miles per hour.

The point here is that Dr. Lyons recommends careful monitoring of horses before these problems escalate especially if the horse is switching surfaces. She further recommends neuromuscular stimulation on a regular basis to stay ahead of the injury curve.

Sounds like a plan although I doubt if it would have helped Big Brown's tender feet. The new racing surface, however, could have put more strain on those delicate tootsies and the result could have been catastrophic.

The bottom line seems to be the same for horses and humans: catch little problems before they become big to try and prevent career ending injuries.