A newly purchased Anderson sling will provide improved support for horses recovering from neurological problems or surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

Courtesy University of Wisconsin-Madison The new Anderson sling in use.

Traditional slings concentrate support in the belly area. But horses with neurological problems or recovering from surgery (especially leg surgery) usually need additional support during their recovery. The new sling is more adjustable, so it can provide targeted support for specific body areas. For example, if a patient’s right foreleg has been surgically repaired, the sling can be adjusted to take weight off the injured leg as well as to support the adjacent leg. As a result, horses can heal more efficiently, with less discomfort. With more complete support, the horse also has less chance of injury. As a result, horses are less likely to accidentally bump their head into a stall wall or injure a supporting limb during healing.  

This is the same type of sling that is used in equine rescue attempts, where complete, balanced support is needed while a horse is rescued from an emergency situation (often via helicopter)