scats
Well-Known Member
Polly has been with me for 8 weeks tomorrow and I thought I would update you all on our progress. I know a few people thought I was crazy to buy her due to her scar and the niggles that cropped up at the vetting, but I am so glad I took the chance.
After her initial settling in period where I ironed out some less than desirable handling traits (the feet picking up, for instance), I arranged for the physio to come out to her to do a full check over and hopefully devise a plan of action for her rehab. Full check over showed that she had no major issues anywhere, just a few points of tenderness and major lack of muscle, which obviously I knew about. Trotted up sound on straight but as with vetting, on the lunge the physio said that she was struggling to step under her own body with her hindlegs on a small circle but, like the vet, believed this was to do with weakness.
Physio gave me exercises to do with her in the stable, plus in-hand pole and raised pole work, long-reining, walking and trotting hacks- very much focused on straight lines. Basically trying to develop the muscles to help her carry herself and a rider.
So I stuck to the plan religiously. We did one to two days a week long-reining, at least one in-hand pole work session, stable exercises and then the rest of the week hacking on a variety of surfaces with the focus being on walking and trotting on the straight. Week by week I could see and feel the difference, she even started wanting to canter of her own accord whereas previously she had backed off. Allowed small bursts of canter on good ground out hacking, off her back and just letting her move forwards. The last few weeks I have allowed her a short weekly session in the school doing some large circles and things and the difference has been quite incredible.
Yesterday we had a feed company coming with a weigh bridge and then our 5 week physio check. She was a good weight of 490kg (she's 15hh) and perfect body score of 5 at the weight check, so I was absolutely delighted. Next up physio. It seems that the hard work has paid off and the physio wouldn't believe the difference in her muscle tone and way of going. Polly is now sound on both reins on the lunge and has gone from barely tracking up in trot to having a pretty impressive overtrack (which has meant she's got a shoe off this week- the downside to this!)
We have now been given the go-ahead to start increasing the schoolwork to two short sessions a week over the next few weeks, with the aim of increasing this to three over winter. I can now do some ridden polework aswell. The other days will continue to be a mix of hacking and long-reining.
All being well, she should be able to start doing some Intro tests this winter and by out doing prelims next spring.
I am absolutely delighted with the progress she has made and I pinch myself every day that I was lucky enough to find this little horse.
Some pictures to show her progression-
Week One and week Six
Week Seven
Yesterday (end of week 7) - apologies it's a bit dark
After her initial settling in period where I ironed out some less than desirable handling traits (the feet picking up, for instance), I arranged for the physio to come out to her to do a full check over and hopefully devise a plan of action for her rehab. Full check over showed that she had no major issues anywhere, just a few points of tenderness and major lack of muscle, which obviously I knew about. Trotted up sound on straight but as with vetting, on the lunge the physio said that she was struggling to step under her own body with her hindlegs on a small circle but, like the vet, believed this was to do with weakness.
Physio gave me exercises to do with her in the stable, plus in-hand pole and raised pole work, long-reining, walking and trotting hacks- very much focused on straight lines. Basically trying to develop the muscles to help her carry herself and a rider.
So I stuck to the plan religiously. We did one to two days a week long-reining, at least one in-hand pole work session, stable exercises and then the rest of the week hacking on a variety of surfaces with the focus being on walking and trotting on the straight. Week by week I could see and feel the difference, she even started wanting to canter of her own accord whereas previously she had backed off. Allowed small bursts of canter on good ground out hacking, off her back and just letting her move forwards. The last few weeks I have allowed her a short weekly session in the school doing some large circles and things and the difference has been quite incredible.
Yesterday we had a feed company coming with a weigh bridge and then our 5 week physio check. She was a good weight of 490kg (she's 15hh) and perfect body score of 5 at the weight check, so I was absolutely delighted. Next up physio. It seems that the hard work has paid off and the physio wouldn't believe the difference in her muscle tone and way of going. Polly is now sound on both reins on the lunge and has gone from barely tracking up in trot to having a pretty impressive overtrack (which has meant she's got a shoe off this week- the downside to this!)
We have now been given the go-ahead to start increasing the schoolwork to two short sessions a week over the next few weeks, with the aim of increasing this to three over winter. I can now do some ridden polework aswell. The other days will continue to be a mix of hacking and long-reining.
All being well, she should be able to start doing some Intro tests this winter and by out doing prelims next spring.
I am absolutely delighted with the progress she has made and I pinch myself every day that I was lucky enough to find this little horse.
Some pictures to show her progression-
Week One and week Six
Week Seven
Yesterday (end of week 7) - apologies it's a bit dark