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New User
Hi Everyone,
Long time lurker but first time I've posted. Bit of a long one so bear with me! Really appreciate any input.
I've had my mare for four years and shes now 8. Very much low level happy hacker with light schooling and the odd lesson - usually ridden 5 days a week. Shes been in quite inconsistent work and had 9 months off whilst I was pregnant (May 2019-Feb 2020 approx). Brought her back into work after this and had a niggly stiffness/not rightness with right hind which was picked up on a routine back treatment (McTimmony chiropracter) which then resolved. When this reoccurred a few months later got vet to have a look whilst out for vaccinations. He advised very slight and to get back treated again and see how it looked. This seemed to resolve the issue although we have had on off periods of slight not rightness which I have always had treated by the back lady.. At the start of this year she had an abscess so was off work while the hole dug grew out and I decided to get some sarcoids on her girth line removed at the same time. The treatment for this has left scar tissue but all seems to have healed well. I brought her back into work in May this year after the sarcoids had healed with a month of building up hack work. Thought she felt unlevel again in school when I tried to go back in so got back checked. Spoke to back lady as felt we'd been going in circles with this. Unfortunately the affected leg is no longer insured so I am having to be very canny with what to do. Decided to treat back a couple of times then re-assess. After this we felt confident to say definitely not soft tissue so got vet back out. He advised very slight lameness. Almost sound on a straight line, not positive to flexions but worse on lunge. Advised due to lack of insurance to steroid inject right hind hock. I gave her two weeks off work then hacked again. Felt good on first two hacks (first just in walk, 2nd walk and a bit of trot). Noticed that although I had been losing my stirrups occasionally felt much more stable and kept them throughout ride. I decided to take her in the school for 20mins on Monday (27th). Just did basic suppling exercises in walk for 15mins then asked for trot. Did a couple of laps in trot and was about to call it a day when she ran off with me briefly and bucked. Got her back and she felt very tense and like she wanted me off. This is so unlike her. There was nothing I could see to have set her off and she is generally a very obliging horse. Even when unlevel in school she has never reacted like this so I can only presume something is hurting her.
I plan to hack for the next couple of weeks then speak to the vet again although to be honest I am dreading getting back on and can really only hack twice a week. The real issue is I have been feeling very unenthusiastic for sometime. I am really struggling for time trying to balance working full time, family life and childcare alongside the horse. I am starting to resent the time and money spent on the horse. I had planned to see how I felt once she was brought back into work and had hoped to find a sharer to ease things somewhat. However, this last episode really shook me. I am no longer as brave as I was and I think the constant worry of something being not right and trying to feel for every misstep is really getting to me. I feel like since I have my little girl I no longer have the same ability to care for and worry about the horse too. I'm feeling very trapped at the moment.
Very long so appreciate it if anyone's read this far! Really I was wondering what peoples opinions are. I don't feel I can sell her. I was thinking of trying to loan as a companion or happy hacker. Do you think this is feasible? She is a super hack - forwards and willing but safe. Good alone and in company. Wouldn't be suitable for a novice as very much takes confidence from her rider so I think could be nappy with the wrong person. Doesn't buck or rear. Looky but not especially spooky. I was also considering retirement livery but shes still quite young and I don't have the funds to be spending a lot per month. Currently I keep her very cheaply on DIY.
Thanks very much for any advice!
Long time lurker but first time I've posted. Bit of a long one so bear with me! Really appreciate any input.
I've had my mare for four years and shes now 8. Very much low level happy hacker with light schooling and the odd lesson - usually ridden 5 days a week. Shes been in quite inconsistent work and had 9 months off whilst I was pregnant (May 2019-Feb 2020 approx). Brought her back into work after this and had a niggly stiffness/not rightness with right hind which was picked up on a routine back treatment (McTimmony chiropracter) which then resolved. When this reoccurred a few months later got vet to have a look whilst out for vaccinations. He advised very slight and to get back treated again and see how it looked. This seemed to resolve the issue although we have had on off periods of slight not rightness which I have always had treated by the back lady.. At the start of this year she had an abscess so was off work while the hole dug grew out and I decided to get some sarcoids on her girth line removed at the same time. The treatment for this has left scar tissue but all seems to have healed well. I brought her back into work in May this year after the sarcoids had healed with a month of building up hack work. Thought she felt unlevel again in school when I tried to go back in so got back checked. Spoke to back lady as felt we'd been going in circles with this. Unfortunately the affected leg is no longer insured so I am having to be very canny with what to do. Decided to treat back a couple of times then re-assess. After this we felt confident to say definitely not soft tissue so got vet back out. He advised very slight lameness. Almost sound on a straight line, not positive to flexions but worse on lunge. Advised due to lack of insurance to steroid inject right hind hock. I gave her two weeks off work then hacked again. Felt good on first two hacks (first just in walk, 2nd walk and a bit of trot). Noticed that although I had been losing my stirrups occasionally felt much more stable and kept them throughout ride. I decided to take her in the school for 20mins on Monday (27th). Just did basic suppling exercises in walk for 15mins then asked for trot. Did a couple of laps in trot and was about to call it a day when she ran off with me briefly and bucked. Got her back and she felt very tense and like she wanted me off. This is so unlike her. There was nothing I could see to have set her off and she is generally a very obliging horse. Even when unlevel in school she has never reacted like this so I can only presume something is hurting her.
I plan to hack for the next couple of weeks then speak to the vet again although to be honest I am dreading getting back on and can really only hack twice a week. The real issue is I have been feeling very unenthusiastic for sometime. I am really struggling for time trying to balance working full time, family life and childcare alongside the horse. I am starting to resent the time and money spent on the horse. I had planned to see how I felt once she was brought back into work and had hoped to find a sharer to ease things somewhat. However, this last episode really shook me. I am no longer as brave as I was and I think the constant worry of something being not right and trying to feel for every misstep is really getting to me. I feel like since I have my little girl I no longer have the same ability to care for and worry about the horse too. I'm feeling very trapped at the moment.
Very long so appreciate it if anyone's read this far! Really I was wondering what peoples opinions are. I don't feel I can sell her. I was thinking of trying to loan as a companion or happy hacker. Do you think this is feasible? She is a super hack - forwards and willing but safe. Good alone and in company. Wouldn't be suitable for a novice as very much takes confidence from her rider so I think could be nappy with the wrong person. Doesn't buck or rear. Looky but not especially spooky. I was also considering retirement livery but shes still quite young and I don't have the funds to be spending a lot per month. Currently I keep her very cheaply on DIY.
Thanks very much for any advice!
