Confidence in riding after a horse has been rehabbed

[Waxwing]

The rehab is progressing and she has accepted being ridden without any drama so far, will see how it goes as they progress with trot and then canter. She is also having Indiba on a weekly basis and her physio is pleased with her overall basis. The report from the vet confirmed that they had scanned the stifles, hindlimb suspensory ligaments and pelvis and these were all in normal limits. The report advised she had mild hind limb lameness, secondary to low grade sacroiliac dysfunction. I am obviously not a vet the physio has liaised with the vet and is happy they have been very thorough in their investigations. It sounds as through are unlikely to be any other undiagnosed issues that contributed to her presentation in August. The vet also notes mild muscular spasm and guarding was evident on manipulation of the lower back which the veterinary physio is very clear was not present earlier in the summer. The vet and the physio are both optimistic about her prognosis, I am still learning towards selling and my vague plan is assuming the rehab progresses well to ask them then keep her schooling livery for a further six weeks or so. I can then look to sell her with full disclosure and evidence the rehab has been successful and she is back in work. It also gets me through to the New Year which will be a better time to look at selling than just before Christmas. My daughter wants to keep her but having had several falls off her her confidence was knocked and she is now just starting to regain this. Rather than a mother/ daughter share I will be looking to buy a horse just for me this time, but by default it will be quiet enough for her to ride.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Let me say here that I am NOT a confident rider.

A few years ago now I went to see a mare who had been used as an RDA horse, but they were selling her.

It was explained that they had put her out on summer loan, and that they couldn't use her for RDA anymore on her return as she had "bolted" with the person who'd loaned her during the summer break. Apparently she had met a tractor with trailer, and the saddle had slipped, and she had then "bolted".

I saw the mare in the school, moving, and liked her. There was just something about her. I rode her, and then took her out solo. I felt confident to do that even though I'd had to sign a disclaimer that I was riding her at my own risk because of the "bolting". (someone from the RDA centre did follow me in a vehicle though just to be sure).

I ended up bringing her home. I needed a Companion for my other horse, and so figured she would have a use. Went to mount her when I got her home and she immediately, and very deliberately, moved away from the mounting block. So I got my physio/McTimoney out to look at her, who upon examination said she had various soreness issues, probably arising from being used by assymetrical and/or uneven riders in the RDA centre, and that the main issue was her sacro-iliac area. After treatment, and rest, I tried riding her again. She was fine.

She never ever bolted with me, not even on open ground, and was a real sweetie. Sadly I had to make a tough decision about her when she was only 10yo as she'd developed trigeminal nerve headshaking, and it had got to the stage where she couldn't even be led and go in a straight line because of it, poor mare. I only had her for two sweet years. She was an absolute darling and I still miss her very much.

 

[maya2008]

I just want to add that the New Year is a terrible time for selling horses. No one has any money, the days are dark, the worst of the winter is upon you then. Lots of people don’t even bother to advertise between end Dec and March! Sometimes I bargain hunt at this time because people can be desperate to offload, but often there’s not really anything much even advertised.

So I would say before Christmas or March onwards would be your best bet.

 

[Waxwing]

The rehab yard have messaged to advise she is now trotting and she is still very relaxed and behaving well. I just really hope that whatever future plans I make for her she can now be pain free and comfortable. I am doing everything recommended to help her at present. If she stops bucking and the rehab yard can take her out for some rides and she can cope with cantering out on a hack etc without loosing the plot, then it will be easier for me to find her a good new home or she might stay, although the jury is still out on that one. In the meantime I am paying to ride twice a week to keep my hand in and it keeps me sane. I can't afford paying to ride plus rehab livery in the longer term but its doable for a few months. Thankfully I had saved a bit for horse contingencies. I do appreciate that the New Year may not be the best time to sell but I won't be doing it before Christmas as I want to be very sure she is sound and back in full work before I make any decisions about her future.

 

[Tiddlypom]

That’s a very encouraging update from the rehab yard .

 

[Waxwing]

Sorry feeling a bit down today, I have kept people updated about how the horse is doing and a couple of people have responded that she shouldn't have passed the vet when I bought her as they haven't noticed any change in her hind action since I bought her. The vet was very clear and the lameness was hard to spot and secondary to the sacroiliac issue so I wouldn't have expected a significant difference to be noticed, nor a lack of change to indicate she wasn't sound when I bought her. The scans completed by the vet found nothing wrong with her hind legs, her back, pelvis and sacroiliac have been excluded by the insurance company from next year but her legs haven't. I don't think it was their intention but I then felt they were stating a I made a huge mistake buying her. I have just watched a video I took three days after she arrived of my daughter happily cantering in a lesson with other horses and zero issues and thought, whatever has happened subsequently, no we didn't. My daughter has also had some ups and downs emotionally, due to the horse, and some non horse -related issues, and a relative told me at the weekend she was very concerned about her mental health and needed to see a Doctor. DH and I actually don't agree and I now feel I as well as being an uninformed novice horse owner I am also a neglectful parent.

Apologies just needed a space to vent. I am very aware I don't get everything right either horse or parenting related but I do do my best, and while I am always open to different opinions I don't like being told you must do this or you shouldn't have done that.

I have reminded myself that my intuition about the horses issues being pain related, rather than purely a behavioural issue , was right and I am doing everything I can to get the horse's issues resolved. DH and I are also the ones who live with our daughter 24/7 and consequently have the best understanding of what she needs.

 

[nagblagger]

In the horse world you have to learn to develop a thick skin @Waxwing , there are always people 'that know better' ignore them. Sieve out the advice that may be relevant and ignore the others. Some people are just jealous or, to me, it shows their lack of knowledge.

 

[Kirstd33]

Sorry feeling a bit down today, I have kept people updated about how the horse is doing and a couple of people have responded that she shouldn't have passed the vet when I bought her as they haven't noticed any change in her hind action since I bought her. The vet was very clear and the lameness was hard to spot and secondary to the sacroiliac issue so I wouldn't have expected a significant difference to be noticed, nor a lack of change to indicate she wasn't sound when I bought her. The scans completed by the vet found nothing wrong with her hind legs, her back, pelvis and sacroiliac have been excluded by the insurance company from next year but her legs haven't. I don't think it was their intention but I then felt they were stating a I made a huge mistake buying her. I have just watched a video I took three days after she arrived of my daughter happily cantering in a lesson with other horses and zero issues and thought, whatever has happened subsequently, no we didn't. My daughter has also had some ups and downs emotionally, due to the horse, and some non horse -related issues, and a relative told me at the weekend she was very concerned about her mental health and needed to see a Doctor. DH and I actually don't agree and I now feel I as well as being an uninformed novice horse owner I am also a neglectful parent.

Apologies just needed a space to vent. I am very aware I don't get everything right either horse or parenting related but I do do my best, and while I am always open to different opinions I don't like being told you must do this or you shouldn't have done that.

I have reminded myself that my intuition about the horses issues being pain related, rather than purely a behavioural issue , was right and I am doing everything I can to get the horse's issues resolved. DH and I are also the ones who live with our daughter 24/7 and consequently have the best understanding of what she needs.

Feel free to rant away WW, as I have empathy with how you feel. I'm in a not disimilar situation as the cob I bought cheapish last summer has had a raft of issues and is currently rehabbing and virtually unrideable and the amount of "I told you so's/you're too novice" type comments has been incredible. NOT ALL but so many horsey people are santimonius and belittling of novice first time owners. I just think crikey, first time parents don't encounter the same derision and questioning do they? as said above try and grow a thick skin to it x

 

[Waxwing]

Thank you, it's probably a combination of comments about the horse and comments about my daughter that has made feel feel more vulnerable/ peed off ( a mixture of both). I am also aware that not keeping the horse in the longer term is probably the likely outcome which DD will find it hard to get her head round. DD is now saying she wants to ride her, but she has already had several falls and I don't think the horse particularly likes her riding style; as in if the horse is unhappy or in pain I appear to get a lack of performance whereas my daughter gets bucked off. Trying to explain this to a teenager with some additional needs who takes everything I say the wrong way isn't easy. I have also been told she should have her own horse or pony, which on full livery, which is what I need to do, is not affordable. This was in front of DD who now thinks we are being mean not getting one just for her.

 

[eahotson]

Thank you, it's probably a combination of comments about the horse and comments about my daughter that has made feel feel more vulnerable/ peed off ( a mixture of both). I am also aware that not keeping the horse in the longer term is probably the likely outcome which DD will find it hard to get her head round. DD is now saying she wants to ride her, but she has already had several falls and I don't think the horse particularly likes her riding style; as in if the horse is unhappy or in pain I appear to get a lack of performance whereas my daughter gets bucked off. Trying to explain this to a teenager with some additional needs who takes everything I say the wrong way isn't easy. I have also been told she should have her own horse or pony, which on full livery, which is what I need to do, is not affordable. This was in front of DD who now thinks we are being mean not getting one just for her.

Thank you, it's probably a combination of comments about the horse and comments about my daughter that has made feel feel more vulnerable/ peed off ( a mixture of both). I am also aware that not keeping the horse in the longer term is probably the likely outcome which DD will find it hard to get her head round. DD is now saying she wants to ride her, but she has already had several falls and I don't think the horse particularly likes her riding style; as in if the horse is unhappy or in pain I appear to get a lack of performance whereas my daughter gets bucked off. Trying to explain this to a teenager with some additional needs who takes everything I say the wrong way isn't easy. I have also been told she should have her own horse or pony, which on full livery, which is what I need to do, is not affordable. This was in front of DD who now thinks we are being mean not getting one just for her.

Can her father get through to her?

 

[Waxwing]

Unfortunately not really about horses, she generally listens to him more than me, but as he knows nothing about about horses she discounts his opinion on this. He also doesn't really get the loss of confidence and horse riding so isn't the best person to talk to her about this anyway. He doesn't really get why I may not want ride her if the rehab is successful and feels I should be able to work through any misgivings I have. He is fully supportive of having a horse and assists with the cost but doesn't get some of the associated complexities.

 

[eahotson]

Unfortunately not really about horses, she generally listens to him more than me, but as he knows nothing about about horses she discounts his opinion on this. He also doesn't really get the loss of confidence and horse riding so isn't the best person to talk to her about this anyway. He doesn't really get why I may not want ride her if the rehab is successful and feels I should be able to work through any misgivings I have. He is fully supportive of having a horse and assists with the cost but doesn't get some of the associated complexities.

Oh dear.You know the situation you are in of course but eventually she has to learn that she can't have everything her own way.I don't want to be at all critical because I know that it is easy for me to say but an awful lot harder for you.

 

[Waxwing]

I don't take it as critical at all; she has a level of additional needs which don't make those discussions easy. Ultimately I will make the decision that I feel is best for me, her and the horse and we will support her with coming to terms with that. We are paying for her to have lessons twice a week so she is still getting to ride regularly.

 

[Kirstd33]

Unfortunately not really about horses, she generally listens to him more than me, but as he knows nothing about about horses she discounts his opinion on this. He also doesn't really get the loss of confidence and horse riding so isn't the best person to talk to her about this anyway. He doesn't really get why I may not want ride her if the rehab is successful and feels I should be able to work through any misgivings I have. He is fully supportive of having a horse and assists with the cost but doesn't get some of the associated complexities.

I'm in a similar situation to yourself
1) bought coblet to hack out with teen daughter on her share pony last summer
2) Coblet got injured spring, then had surgery, rehabbed and is now virtually unrideable for me and totally unrideable for teen daughter who is too big for him and too novice to cope with his regular outbursts
3) Hubby is also supportive of our hobby but totally disinterested and uneducated in horses and just says "sell him and get another" - not that easy and currently not sure what to do with coblet as teen daughter gets very upset with even talk of him going anywhere
4) Teen daughters share horse was sadly PTS in August and I'd LOVE to get her, her own but do not have the financial resources or time available to get another even on DIY livery.

 

[Waxwing]

Thank you for your response. It would be a lot easier if if was just me making a decision about the horse. I am hopeful the rehab will continue to go well, the rehab yard love her as she is very easy to handle on the ground. Despite having had several months of ridden work she behaved well when they got back on her. We will have to see how she behaves in canter, if that goes well and she stays sound I will then be happy about considering selling on with full disclosure. She is still young, the issue appears to be confined to the SI joint, a couple of her spinal processes were slightly close but the vet has queried if there is any clinical significance to this as other horses have no presenting issues with the same profile. The physio feels this is manageable with exercises and stretches. She hacks alone and in company and is very good in heavy traffic so could make a good happy hacker. Anyway I am rambling again, thank you to everyone who has "listened". It helps.

 

[eahotson]

Thank you for your response. It would be a lot easier if if was just me making a decision about the horse. I am hopeful the rehab will continue to go well, the rehab yard love her as she is very easy to handle on the ground. Despite having had several months of ridden work she behaved well when they got back on her. We will have to see how she behaves in canter, if that goes well and she stays sound I will then be happy about considering selling on with full disclosure. She is still young, the issue appears to be confined to the SI joint, a couple of her spinal processes were slightly close but the vet has queried if there is any clinical significance to this as other horses have no presenting issues with the same profile. The physio feels this is manageable with exercises and stretches. She hacks alone and in company and is very good in heavy traffic so could make a good happy hacker. Anyway I am rambling again, thank you to everyone who has "listened". It helps.

You are welcome.

 

[JenJ]

I have reminded myself that my intuition about the horses issues being pain related, rather than purely a behavioural issue , was right and I am doing everything I can to get the horse's issues resolved. DH and I are also the ones who live with our daughter 24/7 and consequently have the best understanding of what she needs.

Of your whole post, THIS is all that truly matters

 

[Waxwing]

Another positive update from the rehab yard, the horse decided to pick up canter when doing some trot poles, without any bucking so they asked her to do a few more trot/ canter transitions which she was happy to do, also without any bucking. Her trot is also more active. She has been having weekly Indiba treatment and that plus the physio exercises seems to be really helping. The yard report that she is very settled, the leave her last to bring in and turn out as she isn't bothered by the other horses coming and going and if the horses in the adjacent paddocks are spooked by anything she just ignores them and carries on grazing. I have possibly found a share pony my daughter can ride once or twice a week; she is quite up for this idea so even if this one doesn't work out I will try and find another. If she has something else to focus on riding then she will be less worried about whatever eventual decision I make regarding our horse. I can't afford, and don't want, two horses but one horse and a financial contribution towards the cost of a share pony wold be entirely doable.

 

[Waxwing]

The horse is still doing well and has been happy in canter with no bucks. I have agreed she will remain on the rehab yard until mid January and assuming all continues to go well I have asked that get her out on some hacks and cantering with a couple of other horses to see how she behaves. The rehab yard has access to good off road hacking on sandy soil so can access this all year round.

I can then hopefully make an informed choice about whether she stays or goes. If I do decide to sell (which is currently the more likely option) I will hopefully be able to demonstrate she has been rehabbed successfully. If I do decide to sell it will be full disclosure of vet and phsyio records. I am still riding a couple of times a week and really enjoying it. The rehab livery isn't much more than I would have had to spend over the winter on her usual livery plus bringing someone in to school her