After Kissing Spines OP? Need some cheering up!

[TinaDenmark]

My horse had the KS operation last year in August. Everbody warned me about the very hard and emotional rehab afterwards, but I dont think I fully understod just HOW emotional it is.

My horse has had his ups and downs, and I find it really hard to push his limits when we train. I am so affraid that someting will go wrong, or we perhaps are pushing him to much.

How did you get rid of the "Kissing Spines-ghosts", and found a way to train and push your horses after the OP, without feeling awfull about what you are making your horse go trough?

He has been ridden for about 5 months now, and my trainer whants to push his limits ALL the time - and I am standing in the other end trying to do the right thing.
He believes that we should sit on him in trot, and make him a 100% sharp for the helpers.
I find it hard to be that consistent, because the pain he must feel in the beginning always follows me in the back of my head.

Hope somebody can give me some advise on how to get over the fact that our loving little horses might feel some pain when we train them?

Maby I should note that the horse is devolping much more positive that he ever did before the op.

There must be others out there with x-kissing spines horses?

VIDEO af the training so far: mms://stream.nettet.dk/heste-nettet-mpl/hpv_96118.wmv

 

[BethH]

Hi Tina, just to say everything you are feeling is normal - there is a great saying "Take your time but don't waste your time" that I heard from a brilliant rider who likes to train his horses very correctly. I found the whole thing exhausting but I do now have a lovely rideable horse who is no longer in pain so it was worth every bit of the tears - and there were a lot of those!

You have done amazingly well to get this far so quickly, I remember your posts about whether to even put your horse through the op so clearly it was worthwhile doing.

The only thing I would say about your trainer is that he doesn't own the horse, you do and you need your horse to be confident and comfortable as it impacts on every aspect of your dealing with him on the ground and ridden. It is also a matter of the bond you share with your horse and what his personality is like, if mine was pushed too hard he would get very anxious and completely flip out, others can cope but at the end of the day you know him best and you must trust your gut instinct, if he gets broken, you will be picking up the bill not your trainer!

Your horse sounds as though he is already trying very hard for you and if he was in pain I think you'd know about it especially as you are nearly 12mths on from surgery, he hopefully has healed pretty well by now, but saying that, there is no point making him sore by working him too hard as that is just a pointless setback and you don't want to go backwards - take your time to get the basics right and to get him strongly muscled. Be constructive with his work and make sure your physio is regularly checking him especially if he is working hard as that can be a major factor in ensuring he continues to be comfortable and catching anything quickly before he seizes up.

I did sitting trot on Ryan from day 1 of ridden, in retrospect not sure if my trainer was right about that, but if you are a good rider you will be light in your seat and he should be able to cope, just introduce it slowly but surely, not sure what 100% sharp means, but 12mths after his op (and I have to see we are not advanced at all, I am talking prelim level dressage!) Ryan went out to do his 1st show and did nice tests so he was coping well in walk, trot and canter and able do trot 5metre circles without a problem as we spent a lot on time working on bend as KS horses tend to struggle with that. I was probably a bit too soft on Ryan and took things really really slowly but he does have an incredibly strong and well muscled back now and is coping well being worked 5 days a week.

Hope that helps, pm me if you need too.

 

[Marchtime]

How you're feeling is completely normal. I don't have personal experience of kissing spines but I feel exactly the same way as you do about my horse who I've been bringing back into work after a collateral ligament injury. The vet has given me the all clear but has warned that there obviously is a weakness there. I've made the decision not to push him at least for now, we are doing some light schooling and hacking. For me I couldn't cope with the heart ache if he got injured again (not to mention the vets bills) but it is a personal choice.
I know of one horse in particular who has kissing spines and his owner still happily does medium dressage with him. If you have any doubts talk to your vets but as BethH says he's your horse. Don't feel bad whatever you decide, it's clear you have his best interests at heart.

 

[ozwolds]

Wow your horse looks great and well done to you both for getting this far.my horse had the op in january and im still not riding him we have had loads of set backs, but thanks to BethH and her advice im trying to push forward as i so want to get to were you are now, fingers crossed.
So well done he really does look well, im sure you thoughts of him being in pain will go in time and as Beth said if he was in pain im sure he would of let you know
Keep up the good work

 

[Julieq]

Wow your horse looks amazing you look like you are doing really well.

Seeing that makes me feel optimistic my girl goes in for her ks op monday starting to feel very anixous and worried now.

Keep it up they are worth it

 

[TinaDenmark]

Thanks to you all for your encouraging words. Really hope that your horses also get positive through the rehab.

It has been a long and very hard journey, and I know I have put my horse through a lot - just so he can fulfil my dreams and hopes.

He is a very special and tender horse, that never really puts up a fight, which makes it even harder to judge when we go to far. He allways does his best to please me, and thats why it is so heartbreaking if I can tell that the workout is painfull. Its kind of funny, when he has had enough he starts to neigh. It would be so much easyer if he just really put up a fight, and I would not be that worried of a setback.

I know that im to cautious, but as you all say - if things go wrong I have only got my self to "blame".
I hope in time, the "ghost" of the past will fade away - the problem is, however, that my horse was also diagnosed with arthritis in the joint underneat the KS area. I was told that this is normal (when diagnosed with KS), because the rubbing af the spines creates damage to the joints.

Have any of your horses with KS been diagnosed with this kind of arthritis? Dont know if it is the right word in English - the medical term I think is: regeneration.
It is this problem that allways sticks in the back of my mind. The wet said that physiotherapy is the only thing thats helps - and that means training. But how or if it is painfull for the horse, is allmost impossible to say.
So my thoughts keeps going around the problem: "does he protest because of the arthritis, or is it just normal muscle tension. Sometimes it would be so much easyer if the horse could speek up!

Maybe im to soft - but its nice to know that im not the only one. Really admire you all that got through this journey.