Hydrotherapy, the use of water to treat medical conditions, was first practiced by ancient Egyptians, and pools, saunas, baths, and tanks have historically been used to treat health concerns from arthritis to inulcers. Muscles have to work harder to move in water than on land, while the buoyancy of water reduces weight-bearing on bones, joints, and soft tissues, and the pressure exerted by water reduces swelling and inflammation.

Equine sports medicine and rehabilitation is a comparatively new veterinary specialty. Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR, certified equine acupuncturist, and Jessica Morgan, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, both specialty clinicians at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, provided some insights into this topic.

In recent years, a growing number of facilities specializing in rehabilitation and fitness for injured horses have emerged in Western Canada. These centres cater to horses in need of recovery or improved fitness, offering a range of treatments tailored to individual needs. Services vary depending on the business, with options like treadmills, swimming pools, exercise equipment, saltwater baths, and solariums commonly available. Many centres also provide additional offerings such as bodywork, nebulizer treatments, and retail products.

Thrush is a common hoof condition caused by a fungal infection that eats away at the tissues of the frog. It is found in the grooves alongside the frog and the cleft in the centre of the frog. If left untreated, thrush will advance deeper into the sensitive areas of the hoof and cause lameness.