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| Title: | Equine Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151 |
| Moderator: | MTADMS::COBURN IO |
|
| Created: | Tue Feb 11 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2080 |
| Total number of notes: | 22383 |
1940.0. "Returning Injured Horse to Work" by MROA::LEMIRE () Wed Dec 28 1994 15:59
Several months ago, I wrote about my TB hunter who had injured
suspensories in both hind legs, had a few bone chips in one hind
ankle, and a tiny hole in the flexor tendon of one hind. At that
time, the prognosis was six months of rest, and it turned out the
bone chips were in too difficult an area to operate on.
My vet changed the six months to 12 months shortly thereafter. While
my hunter trainer was great about turning him out several hours a day
in the indoor arena and a paddock, and reducing my board, it was
obvious that the best care would be a quiet farm with larger turnout.
I found such a place in Uxbridge, MA (Dutch Hill Farm), where he's been
very happy since July. He even has a buddy, a big warmblood even worse
off than he is.
Also, in July I discovered I was pregnant, and stopped riding around
end of August. The baby is due March 14, the horse (A.J.) is supposed
to be better at the end of March. The vet looked at him about six
weeks ago - the barn owner was impressed with his movement in one
direction (she had never seen him "move" before), but the vet said he
still didn't have the suspension in his trot that she remembered. And,
to the other direction he was still lame; ergo, he was to continue
resting til Spring.
Now, who can give me some advice and experience on this:
- I understand that when we start riding him again, it should be for
only a minute or two a day to start, with gradual build-up; how
quickly does this happen? Remember, it's not only an injury, but
he has done NOTHING for 12 months.
- Any experience, recommendations on when or even if to start jumping
again?
- Unfortunately, with a new baby and the time commitment required, and
the cost of child care when I return to work, I may have to sell him.
What timeframe would be reasonable to think about this (I want him to
be at least fairly fit, and worth something)? I'm thinking it would
be at minimum 4 months later, and he probably wouldn't be jumping at
that point if I was taking it slow and careful.
I do plan to buy sport boots for his hind legs, for support for
suspensory ligaments. Obviously, he wouldn't be able to wear these
if he showed in hunters again (but maybe equitation or adult/children's
jumpers is a possibility). He also had a lot of dressage training as
a youngster, and is a wonderful mover; a change of career is possible.
How stressful would this be (up to what level is safe) for him?
Any of your thoughts, advice, and experience would be appreciated.
Regards,
Jennie
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1940.1 | take it slow | MTCLAY::DOUGLAS | | Tue Jan 03 1995 08:11 | 24 |
| IMHO:
You may think that your horse has done "NOTHING" for the past
12 months, but they do excercise themselves and hence keep somewhat
in shape. It sounds like he has been given ample room to "move"
and it sounds like he is feeling good enough to play a bit. Of course
he couldn't do a 20 mile ride today but he is better off than
other horses with more serious injuries that are given stall
rest only.
Start off with long walks and include a little trotting (gets
both horse and rider in shape for the upcoming season :-) ).
And gradually lunging on a big circle. I would not let him canter
for at least 4 weeks seeing that he had some major injuries.
Looking back at what has happened to him and the long recovery
time, in my opinion, I would never jump this horse again. Why
risk it? Sounds like he would make a wonderful dressage horse
and this new career could give him many many years of a pain free
happy life.
Good luck, let us know how he progresses.
T
|
| 1940.2 | | LEVADE::DAVIDSON | | Tue Jan 03 1995 08:47 | 14 |
|
I'd start with hand walking & long-lineing. I'd post-pone lunging
(lots of circling with that list of injures doesn't make me comfortable).
Keep riding time short, you'll have to slowly re-develope the muscles
used to support a rider. Ages ago I came across a 6 (or 8?) week program
used to condition an idle horse for work... I'll take a look for it.
Regarding jumping... I'd wait for the horse to be sound under regular,
demanding work for a good period of time (couple of months, or more), before
trying to convince myself that enough time has passed ;-)
Good luck!
|
| 1940.3 | | QE010::ROMBERG | I feel a vacation coming on... | Tue Jan 03 1995 12:45 | 13 |
| fwiw, dressage is not going to be all that stressless on those
hind limbs, since you will want to be shifting his balance so
that he carries *more* weight over the hind limbs as you require
more engagement.
If your horse were mine, I would not plan on returning to the
show ring this year, but rather spend the time to figure out
what he can and can not do comfortably. You should have a
reasonable idea by the fall of how much his legs can handle.
kathy
|
| 1940.4 | feeling confident of my plan | MROA::LEMIRE | | Fri Jan 06 1995 17:01 | 18 |
| Thanks for your notes and comments so far. They are along the
lines of what I have been thinking I'll be able to do (very slow,
walking at first, moving up to trot, etc.). The last thing I want
to do is re-injure his legs, or make his back sore, etc. I
also had felt that he probably shouldn't be jumped this summer,
and definitely not in competition. If we did any competition,
I planned only on pleasure classes (WTC).
Fortunately, he's always been fairly well balanced, i.e., he's not
the kind of hunter always on his forehand, so I'm hoping that he
wouldn't have to go through a major change in doing more dressage
which requires significant hind quarter propulsion and carriage.
Anyone with more ideas, send 'em in!
Regards,
Jennie
|