Do I bring her back into work?

[Wagtail]

Two and a half years ago my horse of a lifetime suffered a devastating injury in the field. We don't now what she did (was either the splits or collision with a solid object) but she chipped the front of her shoulder blade and ruptured her biceps bracchi tendon. She was non weight bearing for a few days but gradually became more comfortable and so I did not have to PTS. It was 12 weeks before the joint was stable enough to travel her to Rossdales where the diagnosis as made. Basically, they said PTS or see if she could eventually become paddock sound. I chose the latter, as I owed it to her and she was the horse love of my life. Also, she was full of good spitits and did not need more than one or two danilon daily to begin with, and by 3 months she was off it completely. I was told that her lameess pain wise was only one tenth, but that she had a reduced swing through with that shoulder. I was also told that the joint was very unstable and that she may never be safely turned out in the field.

Fast forwards two and a half years. She has been diagnosed with Cushings which is controlled with prascend. But she looks better than ever and ony half her 18 years. A couple of days ago she beat the other horses in a flat out gallop up the field, includng my ex racer and a fully fit eventer. She has suffered no ill effects or stiffness since. I rang the specialist who treated her and she said that often it is the most hopeless of cases, like hers that come right despite all the odds, and that so long as I took it slowly, there is no reason she coudn't return to light work. I was mainly wanting to do this during the winter because her turnout is only 3 hours a day and it would give her some variety in her life. In the summer she is quite content with 24/7 turn out.

What do others think? I dont NEED to ride her. She has retirement home for life with me. It would be more to keep her fit and occupied. I have other horses to ride (my liveries) and my gelding to bring back into work. But she loved to work and she looks so fab right now, I look at her and just cannot believe she is retired.

 

[Cazzah]

You vet has given you the all clear to start gentle work if you want. I guess really there are only two questions:

1. Do you want to?
2. Will she benefit/enjoy doing something?

The answer to the second will depend on her nature - some are happy grazing and lazing, others like a purpose. It sounds as though you have limited turnout in winter - how does she cope with this? Would she benefit from a nice hack then to give her some variety?

If she were mine and I had the time I would go for it. You can always stop if you get any signs its not making her happy.

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks. I have tried to think hard about why I want to do this. I know that I want to. Part of me thinks it will make her fight the Cushings more easily if she is kept in a slightly fitter condition. I would only be talking about steady hacking or a pootle around the school. I would also ensure that I built her up slowly with flat work (long reining) to strengthen her back again before getting on. But then part of me says 'Are you mad? She is looking great, and she's happy, why ask any more of her?' Would it be cruel?

During the winter turnout is limited to 3 hours a day in an all weather turnout area. I usually do something with her such as gentle long reining or clicker training once or twice a week to give her variety. She copes very well with the confinement, but think she would be even happier in light work, so long as she can tolerate it. She is very stoical, and does not show pain very readily. I would have to be extremely vigilant so that I did not ask her too much.

 

[be positive]

If she were mine I would get my trusted physio involved before starting any ridden work, they are trained to pick up any weakness and will be able to give you advise on whether this is a good idea or not. Regular checks as you progress will help assess from an objective viewpoint rather than just yours, sometimes harder when you own them and see them every day, just to make sure all is well.

From the cushings perspective being fitter should help, both with the laminitis and her overall health, my vet says he sees cushings less in riding school ponies as they are working so much more than the family pony does, so in his view keeping them fit helps with keeping the symptoms at bay to some extent.

You can only go with your instincts, they always seem to be good, you know her and have her best interests at heart, good luck

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks BP. Good suggestion getting my physio out. I am pleased it could have a positive effect on the Cushings too. I have always had it at the back of my mind that her early onset of the disease could have been partly due to her forced retirement.