When it comes to horse management, "experience is the best teacher." According to a recent study by Swedish researchers, experienced staff might help protect your horse against orthopedic injuries.

The scientists tried to ascertain which horses at riding schools suffered fewer orthopedic injuries. They examined 99 horses at eight riding schools that carried life and veterinary care insurance.

Of this study population, 36 horses were from four schools that filed claims frequently within a six-year period and 63 horses were from four schools that filed fewer claims within that same period.

Seventy percent of the insurance claims filed by the schools were due to problems with the horses' locomotion (the ability to move), according to Agneta Egenvall, PhD, Dipl. ECVPH, associate professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences