Whilst even Usain Bolt may be unable to move quick enough to avoid some blows, having a good level of physical fitness and agility is crucial. Not only will this allow you to move with balance and control around your patients, it will also reduce the risk of additional injury if you have to move suddenly. This doesn’t have to mean hours in the gym, a brisk 20 minute walk three to four times a week would be an excellent starting point.

A significant proportion of equine work involves bending and lifting. Foot abscess, flexion tests, lower limb nerve and joint blocks and wound management to name a few. Your core muscles are the fast and slow twitch muscles in your midsection that stabilise your spine and pelvis. 

Download a simple routine to improve your core strength and be able to bend and lift safely

Equine work is often physically demanding. But it can also involve long hours driving between calls or standing over an operating table. Our bodies are designed to move so stiffness and increased injury risk can arise from prolonged periods of immobility. A regular stretching practice will alleviate this.

See an example of a brief routine

Sleep deprivation is a well known problem in equine practice. It increases the risk of injury both when working with patients and when driving between them due to reduced reaction speeds. Whilst there is nothing you can control during on-call duties, creating a regular sleep routine for other evenings will help manage chronic fatigue. Consistent waking and sleeping times has been shown to be more effective than having extra long catch up sleeps.

Disrupted sleep and irregular working hours often result in suboptimal nutrition. Fuelling on caffeine and sugar plays havoc with energy balance and blood sugar levels. By eating a balanced diet at appropriate times of day you can protect against changes in awareness, clarity and responsiveness and reduce your risk of injury as a result. 

Access more tips on improving your eating habits.