lucy_108
Well-Known Member
I am literally starting to lose the will to live and all/any motivation to continue (sorry, I’m having an over dramatic day!).
I’ve got a fairly hot, busy little horse who I adore the bones of and have relentlessly worked with in terms of schooling to get him to relax and start using himself properly after a fair few years of being ridden in typical “showjumper” mode.
He was going well, then had to go in for surgery under GA in december last year. He had a pretty lengthy recovery (phallectomy) due to a really rubbish wake up from anaesthesia (because he’s a plonker - my vets are fab).
So understandably, he lost all muscle and tone and looked a bit of a state when he came home.
Once I got the all clear from my vet, I started rehab super slowly. I did two weeks in hand using Pessoas and lungeing aids to encourage him to stretch and lift his core in a bid to build his topline back up.
We are now 12 weeks(ish) back in and he looks no better than the day he walked out of horspital.
I have had lengthy discussions with various nutritionists and he is on a diet that is high in protein, low in sugar and starch with alfalfa.
I have had two independent physios out, both of which are pretty stumped as I am meticulous in working him and doing all recommended exercises - he does 20 raised poles in walk every single day, he walks up a gentle but long incline in from
The field everyday. I work him in hand at least twice a week and ride him at least three times (hacking/long and low/stretching).
I have spoken to my vets who are also a bit stumped. We have put him on their own veterinary rebuild supplement with all key amino acids for muscle support.
So - has anyone got any recommendations or similar experiences to share?
It could well just need time, but I was hoping to see at least a little improvement by now, but I’ve got a photo diary and literally cannot see any difference (far too embarrassed to share ...).
He is naturally quite tense and hollow, but we have worked SO hard to change that and he is so much better, but I’ve ridden horses with a way of going much worse than his and they certainly look better than he does!!
Saddle checked.
Teeth done.
Vets confirmed healthy and sound.
I’ve got a fairly hot, busy little horse who I adore the bones of and have relentlessly worked with in terms of schooling to get him to relax and start using himself properly after a fair few years of being ridden in typical “showjumper” mode.
He was going well, then had to go in for surgery under GA in december last year. He had a pretty lengthy recovery (phallectomy) due to a really rubbish wake up from anaesthesia (because he’s a plonker - my vets are fab).
So understandably, he lost all muscle and tone and looked a bit of a state when he came home.
Once I got the all clear from my vet, I started rehab super slowly. I did two weeks in hand using Pessoas and lungeing aids to encourage him to stretch and lift his core in a bid to build his topline back up.
We are now 12 weeks(ish) back in and he looks no better than the day he walked out of horspital.
I have had lengthy discussions with various nutritionists and he is on a diet that is high in protein, low in sugar and starch with alfalfa.
I have had two independent physios out, both of which are pretty stumped as I am meticulous in working him and doing all recommended exercises - he does 20 raised poles in walk every single day, he walks up a gentle but long incline in from
The field everyday. I work him in hand at least twice a week and ride him at least three times (hacking/long and low/stretching).
I have spoken to my vets who are also a bit stumped. We have put him on their own veterinary rebuild supplement with all key amino acids for muscle support.
So - has anyone got any recommendations or similar experiences to share?
It could well just need time, but I was hoping to see at least a little improvement by now, but I’ve got a photo diary and literally cannot see any difference (far too embarrassed to share ...).
He is naturally quite tense and hollow, but we have worked SO hard to change that and he is so much better, but I’ve ridden horses with a way of going much worse than his and they certainly look better than he does!!
Saddle checked.
Teeth done.
Vets confirmed healthy and sound.
