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EP 19 // How to prevent lameness: 7 Vet-Approved Tips to Keep Your Horse Sound, Strong, and Pain-Free
💬 Episode Overview
Keeping your horse sound and happy isn’t just about luck — it’s about awareness, consistency, and understanding what truly keeps our horses healthy from the inside out.
In this episode, Sarah dives into veterinarian-backed strategies for long-term soundness, shares science-based tips for everyday prevention, and opens up about her own journey with her horse — from dealing with a tendon sheath strain to finding the perfect connection through patience, technique, and trust.
You’ll walk away with practical steps you can use immediately to support your horse’s physical and mental wellbeing — and to ride with more mindfulness, purpose, and joy.
🐴 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✅ The most common injuries vets see in sport horses — and what often causes them
✅ Why soundness is a lifestyle, not a one-time fix
✅ The science behind proper warm-up, cool-down, and recovery routines
✅ How shorter, more focused training sessions (around 30 minutes total) can actually improve your horse’s health and happiness
✅ The importance of hoof balance, cross-training, and bodywork
✅ How early signs of unevenness or stiffness can reveal much deeper issues
✅ Sarah’s personal stories:
How her horse’s tendon sheath strain in the right front leg changed her approach to training and recovery
The moment she discovered her horse’s “too-loose” contact wasn’t just about connection — but about hidden hip imbalance and mechanical lameness, and how DORN and Masterson Method treatments helped him return to full soundness and harmony
🧠 Science-Backed Insights
📚 Studies show that:
45% of performance horse lameness stems from soft tissue injuries (Equine Veterinary Journal, 2022)
Early detection can reduce recovery time by up to 50% (Dyson, 2020)
Warm-up and cool-down routines significantly improve tendon elasticity and reduce microstrain (Clayton & Hobbs, 2017)
Regular turnout and mental relaxation lower stress hormones and help prevent lameness (Greene et al., 2019)
This episode blends research with real-life horsemanship — giving you simple, science-based habits that make a real difference in your horse’s long-term wellbeing.
💡 Key Takeaways
✨ Check your horse’s movement daily — subtle changes tell powerful stories.
✨ Prioritize warm-up and cool-down — tendons need time to prepare and recover.
✨ Keep training sessions focused, not long — quality over quantity.
✨ Maintain balance: in hoofs, muscles, and mind.
✨ Small, consistent care routines lead to big long-term soundness wins.
💬 Let’s Connect
“I know the equestrian world isn’t always one where we openly share and help each other — it can be quite individual and competitive. But I want to encourage you to dare to open up.
Share your experiences, your worries, and your solutions with each other in our private Happy Rider, Healthy Horse Facebook community.
Together, we can lift each other up and help our beloved horses stay healthy and happy for as long as possible — both physically and mentally.” — Sarah Martine
👉 Join the Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4007067746246133
📧 Email Sarah: [email protected]
💫 Support the Podcast
If this episode inspired you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with another rider who loves their horse as much as you do.
Your reviews help this podcast reach more riders who want to create balance, connection, and longevity in their training.
🎧 Remember: Every ride is a chance to build trust, grow together, and move forward — one step at a time.
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By Sarah Martine - Veterinarian, dressage rider coach💬 Episode Overview
Keeping your horse sound and happy isn’t just about luck — it’s about awareness, consistency, and understanding what truly keeps our horses healthy from the inside out.
In this episode, Sarah dives into veterinarian-backed strategies for long-term soundness, shares science-based tips for everyday prevention, and opens up about her own journey with her horse — from dealing with a tendon sheath strain to finding the perfect connection through patience, technique, and trust.
You’ll walk away with practical steps you can use immediately to support your horse’s physical and mental wellbeing — and to ride with more mindfulness, purpose, and joy.
🐴 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✅ The most common injuries vets see in sport horses — and what often causes them
✅ Why soundness is a lifestyle, not a one-time fix
✅ The science behind proper warm-up, cool-down, and recovery routines
✅ How shorter, more focused training sessions (around 30 minutes total) can actually improve your horse’s health and happiness
✅ The importance of hoof balance, cross-training, and bodywork
✅ How early signs of unevenness or stiffness can reveal much deeper issues
✅ Sarah’s personal stories:
How her horse’s tendon sheath strain in the right front leg changed her approach to training and recovery
The moment she discovered her horse’s “too-loose” contact wasn’t just about connection — but about hidden hip imbalance and mechanical lameness, and how DORN and Masterson Method treatments helped him return to full soundness and harmony
🧠 Science-Backed Insights
📚 Studies show that:
45% of performance horse lameness stems from soft tissue injuries (Equine Veterinary Journal, 2022)
Early detection can reduce recovery time by up to 50% (Dyson, 2020)
Warm-up and cool-down routines significantly improve tendon elasticity and reduce microstrain (Clayton & Hobbs, 2017)
Regular turnout and mental relaxation lower stress hormones and help prevent lameness (Greene et al., 2019)
This episode blends research with real-life horsemanship — giving you simple, science-based habits that make a real difference in your horse’s long-term wellbeing.
💡 Key Takeaways
✨ Check your horse’s movement daily — subtle changes tell powerful stories.
✨ Prioritize warm-up and cool-down — tendons need time to prepare and recover.
✨ Keep training sessions focused, not long — quality over quantity.
✨ Maintain balance: in hoofs, muscles, and mind.
✨ Small, consistent care routines lead to big long-term soundness wins.
💬 Let’s Connect
“I know the equestrian world isn’t always one where we openly share and help each other — it can be quite individual and competitive. But I want to encourage you to dare to open up.
Share your experiences, your worries, and your solutions with each other in our private Happy Rider, Healthy Horse Facebook community.
Together, we can lift each other up and help our beloved horses stay healthy and happy for as long as possible — both physically and mentally.” — Sarah Martine
👉 Join the Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4007067746246133
📧 Email Sarah: [email protected]
💫 Support the Podcast
If this episode inspired you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with another rider who loves their horse as much as you do.
Your reviews help this podcast reach more riders who want to create balance, connection, and longevity in their training.
🎧 Remember: Every ride is a chance to build trust, grow together, and move forward — one step at a time.