1. Meet Your Instructor - Meet your instructor, Dr. Richard Wheeler of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, Florida. Having received his veterinary training in the United Kingdom, he spent the majority of his time working for local practices before moving over to the United States. Dr. Wheeler's passion for providing preventive care for sport horses, specifically in show jumping & dressage, serves as the perfect source of knowledge, insight, and education regarding joint injections.

2. An Introduction to Joint Injections - Maybe you've had a trainer suggest implementing joint injections into your horse's management program or maybe you've always considered joint injections, but don't know where to start. Fully understanding the joint injection process can seem complex, but is key in determining if it is something that is a good idea for your horse. Dr. Richard Wheeler discusses exactly what joint injections are, why horses may need joint injections, how joint injections are used, and things to consider when deciding whether or not joint injections are a good fit for your horse.

3. The Diagnostic Process - So, how do you know if your horse could benefit from joint injections? There are a lot of things to look at before deciding if joint injections would be in your horse's best interest. Dr. Richard Wheeler goes over the exact diagnostics taken at the beginning of the process all the way to the preparation and application of a clinical exam.

4. The Injection Process - In preparation for any medical procedure, a veterinarian will always have certain protocols in place to assure the safety of the horse and the success of the procedure. Dr. Richard Wheeler goes in depth about the exact steps ranging from the preparation of the actual injection to determining the correct placement of the injection in order to assure absolute accuracy.

5. Different Types of Joint Injections - In this lesson, Dr. Richard Wheeler talks about the different types of anti-inflammatory treatments such as corticosteroids, IRAP, and PRP. Corticosteroids are the most common anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat joint inflammation or arthritis of the joint. It's important to discuss the options with your vet and take into consideration your horse's age, previous treatment, and current condition.

6. What to Know Before You Inject - Although they have been around in the sports medicine field for quite some time, considering joint injections for your horse can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if they have never had them before. Dr. Richard Wheeler goes to great lengths to explain exactly what joint injections are, what they are not, and exactly how to prepare yourself for the benefits and the (rare), but potential side effects that come with joint injections.

7. What a Pre-Injection Examination Looks Like - You can learn a lot about a horse by just observing them. While we may be able to tell a lot by the way a horse moves, we can also train ourselves to recognize imperfections, imbalances and areas of tension just by familiarizing our selves with the body composition of our horse. Dr. Wheeler takes us through his pre-examination protocol while also providing some insight on where we should be looking based on a horse's discipline, breed and lifestyle.

Richard Wheeler, BVetMed, MRCVS

Dr. Richard Wheeler is a native of the UK and graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) of the University of London in 2002.  Following graduation, Dr. Wheeler completed a two year internship at Greenwood Ellis and Partners, which is presently known as Newmarket Equine Hospital. Dr. Wheeler grew up competing in a variety of equestrian sports, most extensively eventing, and was the captain of the University of London Polo Club during his studies.

Dr. Wheeler moved to the USA and joined Palm Beach Equine Clinic in 2005, becoming a partner in 2009.  Dr. Wheeler’s primary focus is sports medicine and he frequently travels throughout North America and Europe to support clients during their competitive endeavors.  Dr. Wheeler is an Official FEI Veterinary Delegate for Show Jumping and Dressage, has authored several articles regarding equine sports medicine and previously sat on the United States Hunter Jumper Association Horse and Rider Advocates Committee. Dr Wheeler is one of the founding members of The Sport Horse Research Foundation.