Bringing “retired” cushings pony back into work?

[TwyfordM]

Now I say “work” but she’s not rideable.
Work for her is a combination of free schooling, lunging and walks out in hand. We also do the odd bit of agility, but she absolutely smashes it every time (there’s clear round agility held at the yard, she always goes clear at speed ?)

We’ve done the odd bit here and there (mainly free schooling and short walks when on less turnout) but lots of stumbling blocks, she had a rotational fall in the field a couple of years back leading to a fractured vertebrae in her neck. Laminitis last year with minor rotations in all 4 feet that thankfully have been sorted with trimming and she will be 18 this year. So I assumed that the likely hood of her coming sound was slim. But she’s proved me wrong again ?

So I now have a pony that had too much energy and no outlet. We increased turnout slowly but if anything the more she’s going out the more energy she’s getting. She’s full of it, prancing, rearing, cantering alongside me on walks, trying to race walkers, free schooling is like bucking bronco/race horse. I can’t carry a whip or even rope because even a look in her direction she takes as a cue to gallop flat out ??‍ Lunging is back in a bridle and I’ve introduced side reins slowly. She’s working beautifully, probably better than she ever has, flying changes when she gets the incorrect canter lead, big trot I wish she would have done in the show ring ?

She’s being lunged 3/4 times a week, turned out 4 days and free schooled/walked out for a good few miles round the woods up and down some nasty hills. She also gets some time in the school on the days she’s not turned out. She’s 18 this year, a write off on paper. Realistically shouldn’t still be here but she’s a tough cookie.

I’m at a loss what to do ? she’s still full of it, I can’t get the energy out of her, the more work she’s doing the worse she’s getting. It’s great to see her happy and I don’t mind her dramatics, but she was rearing at the farrier yesterday and yard staff are getting wary again.

She’s on minimal soaked hay and a bit of balancer with top hop zero chaff. On prascend for the cushings and all levels are spot on. Is this a second wind or a midlife crisis??? ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Now that she is on Prascend, the laminitis risk should be less, so can you turn her out more? It sounds as if she is just getting fitter with the exercise!

 

[meleeka]

Mine was like this after levels came down. She’s still throwing shapes now she’s 28! I thought she was just getting old when it must have been cushings making her feel off. It does sound like yours is just getting fitter so agree, more turnout, even if it’s in a muzzle (mine lives out on fairly bare grazing. I dread to think what she’d be like if stabled for long periods!)

 

[TwyfordM]

More turnout is a work in process, she can’t go out with either of the herds anymore. One is grass free turnout but both have access to round bales of hay and I’m still being careful with how much she’s having to keep weight down.
She’s on rotation with two other ponies in the woodland “field” which is mainly trees/bushes with a bit of grass in a few clearings. Possibly another option to go out with mare she’s been turned out next to and they seem to get on, but that would be for a few hours daily, and a lot more access to grass (she won’t keep muzzle on, I’ve tried every which way. If she can’t get it off she breaks it off)

Hence the trying to up the exercise, I’ve been told she’s been exercising herself in the field, apparently she’s running around the trees in a nice outline ??‍ Trotting up and down the hills while the other horses graze. She used to be like this as a youngster and the more exercise she did the more she chilled, I’m thinking I might need to get brain working a bit more ?

This is a Welsh sec a, not a thoroughbred ??‍

 

[meleeka]

This is a Welsh sec a, not a thoroughbred ??‍

Mine is Welsh B ?

In my experience lack of exercise is more of a trigger for laminitis than grass itself. She shouldn’t get cushings induced laminitis now, so it’s just treating her the same as any other laminitis prone native (keeping weight down and exercise up). Could the ponies all go in the woodland field together and become a new little herd?

 

[scruffyponies]

She sounds like she's feeling well. If she's anything like mine, she'll be delighted to get extra attention and some gentle exercise (so long as she stays sound) is the best possible thing for her.