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Foals Need ExerciseBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010
At Colorado State University, researchers studied the effect of galloping exercise in addition to turnout for Thoroughbred foals. The foals were exercised five days a week, beginning as young as three weeks, and were compared to foals that were turned out without additional exercise.
At eighteen months old, the exercised foals had fewer joint lesions, healthier cartilage, and faster bone formation than the control group. The exercised foals galloped under strict laboratory conditions, and this type of program would not be practical in a farm setting, but study director Dr. Chris Kawcak emphasized that foals should be allowed to exercise on their own, should be turned out as much as possible, and should receive good nutrition in order to build a strong musculoskeletal system.
