SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Friday, January 12 2018 / Published in General

Vet Talk with Dr. Richard Wheeler

Richard Wheeler, DVM, was born in the U.K. and graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2002. Dr. Wheeler then completed a two-year internship at Greenwood, Ellis and Partners (now Newmarket Equine Hospital) in Newmarket. In 2005, he moved to Wellington, Florida, to join Palm Beach Equine Clinic and he became a partner in 2009. Dr. Wheeler’s primary concentration is equine sports medicine. He is an FEI Veterinary Delegate for Show Jumping and Dressage and has authored several published articles on the topic of equine sports medicine. Dr. Wheeler has served on the board of the USHJA Horse and Rider Advocates Committee. In 2016, Dr. Wheeler became a founding director of the Sport Horse Research Foundation. Dr. Wheeler and his wife, Jessica, have two children. Do you have a question you want Dr. Wheeler to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

My horse is suddenly misbehaving, being very resistant while being worked and running away from contact. It isn’t a new bit, but one we’ve used for years. Could there be something bothering his mouth?

Such signs are not uncommon and can result from several causes. In fact, we are often presented with much more subtle signs, such as the rider feeling the horse is heavier in one rein or has less flexion to one side. I like to approach these cases with a list of potential problems and work from the simplest (and usually more common) to the more complicated. If I were presented with this case, I’d start with a clinical exam of the head and neck. This would include an oral exam using a speculum, palpation of the bone and soft tissue structures and manipulation of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), neck and back. I’d examine the horse at rest, while being tacked up and under saddle. During this exam, we’re likely to find an area that warrants further investigation.

With such a severe presentation, I would expect to find something obvious during a clinical exam, but as we all know, some horses don’t read the book. Often, we find dental issues that can be resolved with appropriate floating and rebalancing. It’s fairly common to find issues with the bars (where the bit sits) or poll where pressure is exerted with some bit and bridle combinations. Generally, working with your trainer, I would expect to find a solution.

As my mother would say, “Common things are common,” so I expect a simple resolution to your problem. However, sometimes we have to dig further and this is where things get challenging for the veterinarians. In my experience, TMJ problems are not common, but we do see them on occasion. During my career, we have, as a profession, made great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of neck problems, and this is now a commonly recognized site of pathology in equine sports medicine.

PegasoTM Computed Tomography (CT) of the head and neck of a standing horse at Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Wellington, Florida
Photo by Richard Wheeler, DVM

I am excited that Palm Beach Equine Clinic has recently invested in a Pegaso CT scanner, which is capable of imaging the head and neck of a horse standing, without the use of general anesthesia. I think this is going to be a game-changing investment that allows us to image this complex region easily and safely, allowing a more accurate diagnosis and therefore the ability to provide better treatment options. We have already evaluated enlightening cases with TMJ disease and neck problems. Such accurate diagnostic imaging gives us the confidence to pursue more cutting-edge treatment options.

Though the answer to your problem is likely simple, there are many new and exciting advances in veterinary care that might be applicable.

My horse suffered an injury to the foot, and after an MRI examination, a surgery called navicular bursoscopy has been recommended. Have you seen good results with this procedure?

I think this is a very useful procedure and one that is routinely performed at PBEC, so we’ve seen a good number of cases.

The procedure involves the insertion of an arthroscopy camera (think key-hole surgery) through the bottom of the digital flexor tendon sheath in the pastern region. A hole is then made between the tendon sheath and navicular bursa, giving the surgeon a good view of the navicular bursa, flexor surface of the navicular bone and adjacent deep digital flexor tendon. Given that only a small incision is required, the technique is relatively noninvasive and usually doesn’t take a long time under general anesthesia. The navicular bursa is a small structure, and one limitation of the procedure is whether the specific injury is easily visualized. Often we can predict this from the MRI results.

My advice would be to make sure you select a surgeon who has plenty of experience with such procedures and make sure they have a chance to evaluate the MRI images prior to surgery. PBEC’s head surgeon, Dr. Brusie, has been performing this procedure for more than six years and has seen good results. In his experience, complications are rare.

As with most surgical procedures, there is rarely a quick fix: Several months of rehabilitation and careful veterinary supervision, as well as good farrier care, will be important for success.

While each case is different, I am happy to say that since this procedure became available, I have seen many successful results with the horses returning to a similar level of training.

 

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: Dr. Richard Wheeler, vet q&a

What you can read next

Will Simpson: It’s All About the Horses
Julie: a Teammate Profile
Preventing Buyer’s Remorse

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Ceramic therapy from SmartPak 😍 “This stylis Ceramic therapy from SmartPak 😍

“This stylish diamond-quilted pad not only looks amazing, but has all the benefits of ceramic therapy that your horse will love. My horse felt great through his back while riding, even with the frigid winter temperatures. At such an affordable price point, this SmartTherapy saddle pad is too good to pass up!”

What product should we feature next? Tag your favorite brands in the comments! 💬

The all NEW Sidelines Selections pages are the perfect place to share your products- featured in the front of the magazine for premier viewing! 👀

Interested in advertising with us? Email advertising@sidelinesmagazine.com 📩
Don't miss this exclusive interview of world-class Don't miss this exclusive interview of world-class clinician, @annekursinski 🤩

Here is a sneak peak 👀

What are the three most important lessons you emphasize to your students?

"First of all, your position. If you can’t control your position, then have fun trying to control a horse. Your basic equitation. Why we do things. Especially when I’m teaching, to test everyone’s skills that way. So, position and awareness first. 

The other is to listen to the horse. It’s not a one-way conversation. So much about riding is about listening to the horse- and when you ask, and when you’re training, and when you’re wanting to get something done with them- make sure you listen. Are they really understanding it? Are your signals clear? Your aids and such? So that it’s not just a one-way conversation, it’s very important to listen to the horse. 

It’s hard work, but on the other hand, be open to learning. Be open and, as much as you can, enjoy the journey. Enjoy the work. Sometimes, I put people out of their comfort zone when I’m teaching- on purpose- to learn something new and try something different. Be open to that, and at the end of the day, to try and embrace that as well." - Anne Kursinski 

Read the rest at our link in bio ➡️ What's Happenin' blog!

@rutledgefarm #clinic #equestrianlife #hunterjumper #hunterseat #huntseatequitation #equitation #ridingtips #learntoride #ridinglessons #clinician #interview #horselovers #sidelinesmagazine
"If you want to get your foot in the door in the h "If you want to get your foot in the door in the higher level, go and be a working student somewhere and get a job riding. Find a situation where you think it will help you better develop your riding into what you want out of this sport, whether that’s being a show jumper, hunter rider or trainer. 

Don’t worry about how quickly it comes, just focus on working hard and trying to improve every day, and let the good things come to you. I think that some young riders expect too much too quickly. A lot of kids go to work for someone and they want to show right away and do this and that, but when I went to work with Missy Clark, I didn’t show for the whole first season that I was with her." - @darraghkenny 

Read about how the Irish show jumper got his career started in the United States and the risks he took to form his own @oaklandstables and @oaklandstables__west at the link in our bio!

@fouroakscreative #showjumping #equestrian #hunterjumper #hunterderby #grandprix #ireland #irish #equestrianlife #equestrianluxury #warmbloodsofinstagram #workingstudent #workingstudentlife #assistanttrainer #horsetraining #sidelinesmagazine
It’s been said if you need to get things done, t It’s been said if you need to get things done, then Sally Ike is the person to ask. Sally, who started working for the @usetfoundation in 1989, said her philosophy has always been, “If there’s a problem, let’s investigate and fix it if possible.” 

For her lifelong dedication to the equestrian sport, Sally was honored by @usequestrian with the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. “To be honored by the Federation is huge! It speaks to the extraordinary opportunities I’ve had in so many, many areas of my life. I’ve been very, very lucky!”

Read more about Sally and her contributions to equestrian sports at the link in our bio!

@ushunterjumper @essexfoxhounds #horses #uset #equestrianteam #equestrianlife #unitedstates #teamusa #showjumping #grandprix #jumpers #dressage #hunterjumper #eventing #olympics #horselovers #sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • ARNOLD KIRKPATRICK & COMPANY
    Central Kentucky’s Most Respected Farm Broker 859-576-8195 www.kirkfarms.com

    [Read more]

  • Blades International Sporthorses
    Hunters-Jumpers-Equitation-Sales Melissa Blades 7346498069 Pittsboro NC melissa.blades@aol.com www.bladesinternationalsporthorses.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Rutledge Farm Sessions: Anne Kursinski 2020
  • Register Today for the 2021 Pony Up! for Saddle Up! Campaign
  • Circadian Lighting Naturally Enhances A Horse’s Performance

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Nation’s Top IEA Youth Equestrians Head to Perry, GA for Hunt Seat National Finals
  • Muzzy Family/MZ Farms Establish $100,000 National Finals Travel Grant for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association
  • A Masterclass in Kentucky Three-Day Event History from Jane Atkinson

Category

Recent Posts

  • May 2021 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • It’s Worth the Risk to Focus on Learning

    By Darragh Kenny Darragh Kenny began competing ...
  • Unbridled With Sally Ike

    By Jan Westmark  It’s been said if you need to ...
  • Siblings Keri & Kris Kampsen: High Goals and Overcoming Injury as a Close Family

    By Britney Grover Portraits by Melissa Fuller  ...
  • Tillie Jones: Cheering at College and Down Centerline

    By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Tilli...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!