Any exercises for rehabbing horse - sore from very tight saddle

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Animation

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Looking for gentle but effective suppling exercises for a talented new horse that has been ridden for too long in a saddle that was way too tight and small for both horse and the rider. Horse very, very sore and reluctant to go forwards. Going to take my time and rebuild up and hopefully make pain free. She hasn't done much for a while as think her old rider found her increasingly difficult to sit on. Has anyone got good ground or ridden exercises they can recommend for a poor horse who is so sore she is reluctant to go forwards as she is anticipating pain. And yes back, teeth etc now done and physio will be ongoing Thanks guys
 
Your physio should give you an appropriate selection of exercises to do with her between treatments, I guess they will include lunging long and low, walking over poles, raised once she is comfortable, in hand and on the lunge, the usual tummy lifts, carrot stretches, tail pulls, generally massaging the area gently will help her relax. I think if she is that sore ridden work, except possibly some gentle hacking, will be out for a while, then plenty of hacking to get her built up and confident, encouraging her to stretch her topline and go really forward into a long outline.
The real suppling ridden work will be a bit further down the line and then include all the normal school movements along with polework which will all help to continue her improvement, good luck they usually respond well once the initial cause of pain is removed and the physio has worked their magic.
 
Assuming your physio has been working under vet guidance and that therefore there is no underlying veterinary condition, then they are the one and one alone that should be advising you on appropriate exercises. You presumably are paying a reasonable fee for their advice, do you not trust them? I am always amazed at people who post saying they have had the vet/physio/uncle tom cobley and all but could an unknown person on an internet forum who has never seen my horse, let alone had hands on, please advise.....

Sorry, Animation, not your fault.....you are bearing the brunt of my exasperation at some other private posters. Apologies.
 
My late mare suffered from deep muscle bruising from a poorly fitting saddle. She had to have three months off! No point working until the bruising has healed and if it's deep it takes aaaaages.
Back man and vet gave the go ahead for work once the tension and pain response had gone and she came back into work lovely (with a different saddle obvs.!)
 
Sorry, Animation, not your fault.....you are bearing the brunt of my exasperation at some other private posters. Apologies.[/QUOTE]

Gunner dog this is the very reason I have avoided this forum like the plague for years. I know more than enough to work with my vet and physio which I am doing I was merely interested if anyone else had had this experience and found any exercises that they found helpful. It was merely interest, I am not about to try anything that is not in the best interest of my horses!
 
Firewell said:
My late mare suffered from deep muscle bruising from a poorly fitting saddle. She had to have three months off! No point working until the bruising has healed and if it's deep it takes aaaaages.
Back man and vet gave the go ahead for work once the tension and pain response had gone and she came back into work lovely (with a different saddle obvs.!)
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Thanks for that Firewall I had reckoned on 6 months to a year to rehab this mare properly - have never seen a horse this sore from crappy saddle . Good to hear that your mare eventually came back into work :)
 
Acupuncture may help - although I realise that's not what you asked, may be worth considering if you haven't already. I say this as it worked wonders on my horse who had chronic muscle tension/spasm as a result of saddle problems and KS.

I also use a Back on Track rug on him which really helped to relax the muscles, along with regular use of a TENS machine, and I use a vitamin E supplement which is meant to help with the muscle tension.

I now also do lots of long and low work, with a bit of lateral work in the same stretch to help release the lumbar area, which is really helping, if you can convince her that she can do it, or even begin to. This is aimed at horses with KS but I think it's really useful input for any horse, and there are aspects of it that you could do in hand, I'm sure: - http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/04/help-horse-kissing-spine-goodbye/
 
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Primitive Pony said:
Acupuncture may help - although I realise that's not what you asked, may be worth considering if you haven't already. I say this as it worked wonders on my horse who had chronic muscle tension/spasm as a result of saddle problems and KS.
e: - http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/04/help-horse-kissing-spine-goodbye/
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Actually Primitve Pony I hadn't thought of acupuncture but that is a cracking idea will have to find a vet that carries it out - I have it done on myself so know it can help. Thanks for you helpful reply with other ideas too :)
 
Animation said:
Actually Primitve Pony I hadn't thought of acupuncture but that is a cracking idea will have to find a vet that carries it out - I have it done on myself so know it can help. Thanks for you helpful reply with other ideas too :)
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We have had acupuncture on 2 horses for different muscle problems and it has been very effective.
 
I would do lots of walk 'lunging' with you walking alongside the horse over poles at different heights and different distances apart .
Get all poles you have and get then spread about at random distances .
Hill work and walking along the side of hill you will get fit as well .
All this work encourages the horse to use his eye to hoof coordination which becomes damaged when they are trying to save them selves from pain.
As they make the steps of different sizes over the different height raised poles and different distances they exercise their muscles more than it might appear.
If you have the facilities and the Horses temperament is calm enough a bit of appropriate loose jumping over lowish grids might be a good idea.
 
I would see rest and relaxation as the way I would go, rest is the greatest cure, then I would massage the saddle area very gently, I would walk out in hand, miles if necessary, you can feel a great deal of feedback from the horse, and maybe use some muscle relaxant cream in the massage before the walking. I would also use a heat pad or just polar fleece with a loose surcingle on the area, heat can relax muscles so you don`t get reactions in other areas due to horse holding itself.

I have had great results from acupuncture, but with this horse I would not do anything that resembles work, or indeed over stretch or over push any way, she`s a lucky horse to have someone to look at the big picture for her, best of luck. x
 
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