Bit of advice needed - recovery time after injury

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Safina

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So, the boy and I have entered MK3DE and have spent the last 3 months preparing. He was very fit and after what felt like 100's of dressage/SJ/XC training sessions we were ready to go....until he picked up an injury in the field 2 weeks ago.

It was a small puncture wound on his shoulder which the vet stapled up and prescribed some anti-inflam/anti-biotics for along with a weeks box rest. No sign of infection and the wound healed well and he stayed sound throughout the injury. Staples came out last Tuesday and sadly the wound popped open a tiny bit (about 1 cm long but only on the surface). This healed quickly by second intention and now looks like a little pink mark with a tiny scab round it - a small patch of hair was shaved so the wound could be stapled. He is sound and apart from a little lost muscle on his topline is fine.

I am at a loss about what to do. The event is this weekend and the vet has said physically wise he is sound and we are fine to go - I'm a little concerned as he has had 2 weeks off work but was very fit before hand and I know he'll supple up well with a few days riding this week.

Can anyone give me there thoughts? I've entered the small class (2.6-2.9) and would be gutted to miss it but will always always do the best thing for the boy.

I am concerned if I do go the vet doing the trot-up will withdraw me as the mark on his shoulder is visable (he is a thin-skinned TB and I should imagine I'll see the mark and shaved patch for the majority of the summer). He is sound though and looks in very good condition otherwise.

Ho hum...horses eh?
 
You could go and do just the dressage and SJ or see how he feels and go from there. If your vet thinks it will be Ok that is a good reassurance
 
i think he sounds fine to run, it'd be different if you were doing a big BE but at the small class size he should be fine. Wound healing is suprisingly quick especially at the skin/superficial layer, the fact it openend alittle last tuesday means that the tissue will have had 10 days to heal in that area which is plenty in that layer. So far as fitness is concerned only you know if he's fit enough, though again its a small class and he was already v.fit so shuold be fine, do a little jumping at home towards thursday and see how he feels, so long as you go steady and don;t ask him to open up too much i'm sure he'll be fine. i don;t think the vet will stop you running him due to a scar, so long as it its well healed there shouldn't be a problem.
 
O no what a shame! I think you will know deep down if hes OK to compete and fingers crossed you can.

Might see you there, Im helping out a friend.
 
Thanks so much for your comments all. I know exactly what you mean when you say only I know about fitness and whether he'll be ok - I've missed the official withdrawal date so I've nothing to loose by making a late decision on Friday about whether to load up and go or miss it.

I guess if I stay home then none of my training (or new gear...gulp) will be wasted, always another event round the corner.

If we do go there is nothing to stop me pulling out at any stage and just enjoying the camping atmosphere!
 
Do it, you know you want to!
grin.gif

Like you and everyone else says, you can always pull up if he doesn't feel right to you, and if he wasn't cleared to go your vet would have said so in no uncertain terms, not given him a clean bill of health. I'd go and see how you get on, again, as you said you won't lose anything by giving it a go as withdrawals have passed now anyway.
 
I'd ride him this week and see how he feels but my gut instint is that provided he was fully fit before the injury he should be fine to compete. As someone else has said you have past WD date now so may as well aim to at least do the dressage and see how he feels in phases A-C before making a decision on phase D
 
Thanks B&J - looks like no harm will be done in doing the dressage and listening to whether he feels up to the fun stuff.

Thanks all - really appreciate your responses, opinions and advice.
 
Go for it.
The MK3DE is not run at serious speed or over long distances so horses dont need to be seriously fit. Most folks have their horses too fit for this event.
How you ride day 2 has more baring on getting through the vet check than peek horse fitness.
Truts me, day 2 isn't that demanding
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