Arena on slope and horse with medical issues

[DZ2]

I'm after an advice from you wise people.

My horse has a significant medical history, hind suspensories and kissing spine/SI. At one point it looked like the end of the road, but incredibly with lots of vets attention and long careful rehab horse is back to full work (suspensories were healthy on the last scan; had ligament snip for KS, SI is periodically injected). Moving better than ever before, built lots of muscle, back to competing at pre-injury level. All in all looking very promising for the future, with careful monitoring of course.

Here is the issue. The arena at the yard I'm at is built on the side of the hill and has a noticeable slope across the short side and my horse struggles in it. Surface itself is level, harrowed often and not deep. I take the horse out to training/school hires a lot (I'm very selective with where to in regards to surfaces) and he's always fantastic out there. Back in home school canter is very difficult (out hacking he's happy to canter/trot/whatever up/down the hill). He'll trot in our school but even that feels wonky and unbalanced. We've been at this yard for a year now so had enough time to get used to the slope.

I know sloping arenas are usually not an issue and other horses at the yard working happily in it. But for the horse like mine, do you think I should persevere and he'll get better and stronger? Or am I risking re-injury and should look for another yard with better school? Our yard is lovely in every other aspect, but arena is important to me.

At the moment I try to stay out of it as much as I can and box up to other placed to school 2-3 times a week, but that's not sustainable (take too much time and also gets expensive).
Hacking is confined to roads only for the 5-6 winter months so can't compensate there to keep the fitness level (summer hacking is great though).

Thanks for reading!

 

[ihatework]

Difficult dilemma, I’m leaning towards it’s more likely to be counter productive for this horse.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd avoid the school at home as you are doing and see if you can move to the yard you are currently hiring from.

 

[Red-1]

I would hack at home and just school when hiring somewhere he goes well in.

After injury, when the horse is having to be maintained, I will bend to whatever makes them feel comfortable.

 

[Abacus]

Perhaps consider using it to your advantage as much as possible - hills are generally good for fitness, strength building and rehab, if taken on carefully. If he struggles with canter up or down the slope then use it for walk and trot, with a canter along the long side and back to trot or walk for the slope. If even trot is difficult, try going very steadily - not asking for power but for balance. It means lots of transitions, and when he feels stronger in walk and trot, try to reintroduce the longer canters - one long side, one short side, if he is feeling more comfortable.

Failing that, just walk and trot, and focus on canter when you go out to arena hires.

I would say if he is competing at pre injury level but can't cope with a slope that others can manage, it's saying that he isn't quite there yet and that you could use it as your indicator of his strength, as well as a training ground to improve even more on the work you've done.

Great that the surface is good.

Disclaimer - you know him best, this is just a suggestion!