Sports medicine is a core part of Daniel Equine. Dr. Alexander Daniel, BVetMed, MS, DACVS (Large Animal), works with show jumpers, dressage horses, western performance horses, and other horses in active training. The practice is based in Wellington. Ocala appointments are limited to lameness work and pre-purchase exams; clients in Southwest Ranches can ask about travel availability for those services.
Many cases begin with a subtle change in performance rather than an obvious injury. The workup starts with the horse's history and the rider's observations. When appropriate, it may include evaluation in hand or under saddle, on different footing, flexion testing, regional anesthesia, and objective lameness analysis. Lameness examination and digital radiography or ultrasound are selected according to the findings. MRI, CT, and bone scans, when needed, are performed at referral facilities with case coordination by Daniel Equine.
For a case that remains unresolved after previous examinations, learn about an equine lameness second opinion.
Changes riders and owners may notice
A change in performance can have several causes. These patterns are worth discussing with a veterinarian, but none identifies a diagnosis on its own:
- Show jumpers: a repeatable change in takeoff, landing, turning, or willingness to approach a fence.
- Dressage horses: reduced engagement, uneven contact, or new difficulty with transitions or lateral work.
- Western performance horses: a change in lead departures, turns, stops, or consistency through a maneuver.
- Across disciplines: recurring back soreness, reluctance to change leads, uneven movement, or a horse that no longer feels comfortable in its usual work.
A timeline of the change, recent training and farrier history, prior examination or imaging records, and video of the concern can help focus the assessment.
Treatment planning is individualized to the horse, the discipline, and the stage of work. Options may include shockwave, regenerative laser therapy, polyacrylamide gels, PRP, IRAP, Pro-Stride, stem cells, or functional electrical stimulation when those tools fit the case.
Dr. Daniel reviews what the findings show, which questions remain, and how each option fits the horse's workload. A plan may address controlled exercise, hoof balance, conditioning, rest cycles, spine health, and the timing of rechecks. Rehabilitation and return-to-work steps are adjusted to the diagnosis and the horse's response over time.
For more context on signs that can be easy to misread, see our articles on back pain in horses and negative plantar angles.
