Does travelling to exercise your horse count as Welfare?

[Hackback]

Say you had a horse that had multiple managed issues - Cushings, mild arthritis, early navicular changes etc. Vet advises not too much trotting on roads, physio advises consistent work using back and hind end to support hock strength. Horse was previously quite fit, being ready for the hunting season that never took off. The rider is very unmotivated towards schooling so in normal times has a lesson every week and half-heartedly 'practises' once or twice, to ensure the horse gets the strengthening work advised by the physio. The hacking in the local area is nearly all roadwork and very flat, so no chance of hill work or fast work, therefore the horse is bouncing with energy but unable to expend it. The school is waterlogged so the last bastion of school and/or pole work is denied. Horse lives in 24/7 due to a combination of practical (fields are mud) and medical needs (can't be turned out in mud because of skin issues), so is taken for a very short (20 min) hack almost daily, longer at weekends.

Would a 30-40 minute lorry ride to the nearest off-road hacking with a hill be classed as Welfare? If I knew this situation was going to end in a couple of weeks I wouldn't think about it, but it could be months.

Also, does anyone know if he loses muscle enough so it doesn't support his joints and his arthritis gets worse, will it get better again once he can do more work and get his muscle back, or will it be permanent damage?

 

[Caol Ila]

I would say so. If anyone asks, you don't have suitable facilities where you live, and the horse needs x, y, z for his health. But I find the travel bans as far as outdoor activities goes tiresome, stupid, and pretty bad for my mental health, so take what I say with a large salt block.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I agree!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Travelling short distances is ok if you can’t hack from home. To me, short is 10-15 mins away.

Travelling 30-40 mins regularly? IMHO, that is too far. Can you do longer hacks from home, albeit on the flat?

Though I do commiserate with you on managing an older horse with issues with no turnout.

 

[ycbm]

I think it's fine as long as you are not going to a busy area full of walkers and don't stop anywhere on the way for a coffee, so you contact nobody and touch nothing that anyone else can touch.

But if the horse is only doing 20 minutes a day on the flat, not even every day, and in a stable the rest of the time, then I wouldn't think he's ready for hills yet anyway.

To answer your last question i think you are risking a permanent loss of ability. Bone remodels in arthritis and if he isn't kept moving I think there is a possibility that it will remodel into places where it will interfere with the joints. If he was mine I'd be looking to get him moved to somewhere with turnout, even if that means turned right away until the spring.

 

[Hackback]

Thanks for the replies. Its such a tricky one trying to balance what's right for the country with what's right for my horse and I know his health isn't that important in the grand scheme of things but to me it's sleepless nights.

Thanks for the commiserations @Tiddlypom. I can hack for miles (on those routes that aren't currently under water) but all flat and roads. The horse is feeling fit and I really don't want him to lose it.

@ycbm I can't move the horse. There is some winter turn out at the yard but my delicate flower has to keep his legs dry and it's wall to wall mud here. And in all other ways the yard is perfect, the YO is amazing at caring for his many other issues, I'd be lost without her truth be told.

And the horse was fairly fit until the latest lockdown, even up to a couple of weeks ago we were having lessons (and my RI is a slave driver!) and we were out and about - have to travel to find hills round here and go hunting in hilly country so work hard at keeping hill fit. My concern is that he's going to lose his fitness, especially now you've confirmed my fears that I might be causing permanent damage.

God it's hard!