Bring back into work after 18 month lay off

[sadowner]

Hi, just wondered if anyone had opinions on how to bring back into work a dressage horse which has had an 18 month lay off due to blown suspensory. He fine now, the main problem being he does not hack (v naughty), so cant build legs up on roads or hill work, just work in school or round the yard. So any ideas please on how to go about this, he wasnt my horse before this happened so I dont really know him. Thx

 

[samp]

Have you got access to a horse walker? I would advise we is built up on a horse walker first. Do you have access to a good yard that has treadmill, equine pool - both these would be great for building up. Suspensory needs a long period of slow laoding - walking and trottig to build up and your looking at months before you can really school

 

[AmyMay]

Are you able to box him to off road hacking??

 

[sadowner]

Hi, unfortunately no we dont have a horse walker or access to treadmill or pool. Just old fashioned sand school. We are in the middle of some lovely off road hacking but he isnt safe to hack anywhere, not at the moment, maybe when I have ridden him abit and got to know him, he just not good away from the yard.

 

[samp]

I hate to suggest this but perhaps you need to move yards to help him out. You want to have the best rehab you can for his leg and roadwork and horsewalker is the best option. Alternatively you could send away for rehabilitation livery (I know expensive but may be best chance of having a horse you can compete on again)?

 

[TashandGee]

If you don't have the facilities (ie horse walker etc) then you are going to just have to put in some hours of walking him. At first it would be adviseable to lead him in hand (in the sand school), for 10 mins a day, building up to 20 mins a day after a couple of weeks. Then you can do the same on his back, and build it up very slowly. This will also give you the opportunity to get to know him a bit, and then maybe you might be able to venture out on a hack with a friend who has a sensible horse? Just a suggestion? I worked in Canada for 8 months last year and I had to do this with a Grand Prix show jumper, he had been out of work for 2 years with a tendon injury and I had to ride him every day...just walking, walking, walking! It takes time and patience, but it is well worth it (he is now back jumping again...unfortunately not with me on board). Good luck!
Kelly

 

[miller]

OH's mare has just come back into work after 18 months off with a tendon injury.

She is not a sensible mare so hacking (in her new home too) was not an otion.

She had 4 weeks on a very large lunge circle in walk, then 6 weeks of walk in the arena up to an hour and then introduced a bit of trot on long side only.

She is also pretty much being restarted as she was an 'ears up your nose' type before her injury and OH is now interested in dressage and has spent alot of money on leesons working on himself while she was off.

She is still mainly in walk with 3-4 20m circles in trot on each rein (he got back on her Aug bank holiday) but that is more encouraging her to work correctly. Oh, and she's been out hacking twice now

Hope that helps.

 

[star]

when i brought my horse back into work after his suspensory he walked in-hand for a couple of months gradually building up the time to 2x 30min sessions every day, then he did ridden walking for 2 months, most of which was done in the school because it was winter and too dark to hack out once i'd finished work. we just walked large round the school - v v dull, but necessary. then we just gradually built up new stuff. yes, hacking and horsewalkers are nice, but they're not essential - it is possible to do it without, just requires a lot of boring walking. i'm currently doing it all again for another ligament problem. luckily this time i get a couple of half days a week so can hack out in daylight which is good as we dont have a school!

 

[Happytohack]

Can you long rein him. This is excellent for building up horse's fitness gradually and also will get you fit for riding him again.

 

[sadowner]

Thankyou everyone. I will take it very slowly. I know he lunges and I will try the long reining too. Thanks