Bringing back into work after ulcer treatment

[Cob Life]

Any tips on bringing back into work after ulcer treatment?

She learnt to hate work because it caused pain so she’s have over 2 months off completely, just left to be a horse even turning herself out and putting herself to bed when she wants to.

I’ll take it slowly obviously.

Today was her first day and we just went for a walk in hand and put a saddle pad on and off her back a few times.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Do you know what caused the ulcers? And has she know scoped clear?

I think taking it slowly is definitely the right approach! Starting in hand is great to help build her confidence. Maybe you could also do some polework in hand too to help build some muscle and flexibility.

 

[Roxylola]

How was she with tack on? Charlie was night and day the moment we started treating ulcers. He's not daft but he just knew it didn't hurt anymore

 

[charlotte0916]

My mare really remembers pain so it took quite a while to convince her it wouldn’t hurt - having been ridden in spurs, 6 days a week of hard work with grade 4 ulcers for goodness knows how long. We had to go back to basics with reintroducing a saddle pad/saddle/girth/rugs even. Clicker training did wonders though (scientifically one of the best methods of teaching a horse). I think it was potentially more challenging re-teaching her about all the kit that it would have been with backing a baby - as she was convinced of the negative consequences. That said, after doing that for a month she was grand with it and will still pull the odd mare face if she thinks I’m rushing her but it’s like night and day. Slow and steady wins the race

 

[Cob Life]

Do you know what caused the ulcers? And has she know scoped clear?

I think taking it slowly is definitely the right approach! Starting in hand is great to help build her confidence. Maybe you could also do some polework in hand too to help build some muscle and flexibility.

I’m waking her in hand this week for 5 minutes each day, we did a few walk poles today and she was really lifting and using her back and seemed really happy and way more relaxed

She’s super stressy and very upset by any change in routine so I suspect that is the cause

My mare really remembers pain so it took quite a while to convince her it wouldn’t hurt - having been ridden in spurs, 6 days a week of hard work with grade 4 ulcers for goodness knows how long. We had to go back to basics with reintroducing a saddle pad/saddle/girth/rugs even. Clicker training did wonders though (scientifically one of the best methods of teaching a horse). I think it was potentially more challenging re-teaching her about all the kit that it would have been with backing a baby - as she was convinced of the negative consequences. That said, after doing that for a month she was grand with it and will still pull the odd mare face if she thinks I’m rushing her but it’s like night and day. Slow and steady wins the race

She really remembers pain, I know from when she had a poorly fitting saddle about 4 years ago now.
She had been out of work really since January as she was ill, then I was injured etc. So hasn’t actually been in work for a long time before I noticed the ulcer signs.

today she had the saddle pad on and off a lot. I’m basically treating her like a baby, we do no more than 10 minutes a day and I will take each step as it comes, today she is happily standing in the arena with me waving the saddle pad around, putting it on and off etc.

How was she with tack on? Charlie was night and day the moment we started treating ulcers. He's not daft but he just knew it didn't hurt anymore

Pre treatment I could get tack on but she was really tense and not happy, she’s a horse who loves her work and she was really reluctant to work and wasn’t enjoying it

 

[Cob Life]

Just an update….
she’s doing really well, it’s been slow progress because I’ve had injuries but she’s happy with being mounted and going for a walk around. If I can get on her a few more times we will go out for a hack.