Sophstar
Well-Known Member
After my 20 year old went lame from the end of October and being diagnosed with arthritis, he had a month off and has been only worked in walk to keep him moving in 5 months or so, with no certainty of if he would ever be sound to do more than walk. Well, yesterday he went to his first sponsored ride since his lameness with a youngster who had never been out, and the plan was just to walk and let the youngster soak up the experience.
I refused to give into his initial excitement and for the first hour and a half we walked, took our time and my friend went slow with her youngster and gave her some time for trotting rather than poodling along with my boy. After an hour and a half we entered a field and my boy suddenly found a new spirit and started jogging, going sideways and throwing his head in the air. He is unphased by people jumping past us
For the first time in over 5 months, we found a bit of flat ground and my friend watched me trot him away to see if he was sound and he was
Apparently it takes a 10 mile sponsored ride to loosen up an arthritic and be sound to trot and have a few short canters! As much as he was chomping at the bit to bolt off at numerous attempts I didn't want to overdo it but after not knowing whether he would ever be more than a walking hack my pony did me proud.
I checked him this morning and he wasn't showing any signs of soreness or regret for his first trot and canters of the year, but he had some danilon (just in case!)
As I said a pointless post but I was so indescribably pleased and proud of my old man it brought a tear to my eye just trottting on him
I refused to give into his initial excitement and for the first hour and a half we walked, took our time and my friend went slow with her youngster and gave her some time for trotting rather than poodling along with my boy. After an hour and a half we entered a field and my boy suddenly found a new spirit and started jogging, going sideways and throwing his head in the air. He is unphased by people jumping past us
For the first time in over 5 months, we found a bit of flat ground and my friend watched me trot him away to see if he was sound and he was Apparently it takes a 10 mile sponsored ride to loosen up an arthritic and be sound to trot and have a few short canters! As much as he was chomping at the bit to bolt off at numerous attempts I didn't want to overdo it but after not knowing whether he would ever be more than a walking hack my pony did me proud.I checked him this morning and he wasn't showing any signs of soreness or regret for his first trot and canters of the year, but he had some danilon (just in case!)
As I said a pointless post but I was so indescribably pleased and proud of my old man it brought a tear to my eye just trottting on him
