Exercises for muscle wastage ?

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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Its me again, after visit from vet yesterday, he noticed muscle wastage on my boys back either side of his spine in middle of back. Horse has sway back. He is not going to be ridden anymore due to arthritis and ataxia. Is there anything I can do to build up the muscle, I can do a bit of lunging but because of ataxia and navicular not too much on circling. Is there any sort of massage etc that I could do ?

Didnt think to ask Vet re this was as was so busy being relieved that he wasnt going to be pts.
 
How about leading him over poles, gradually raising them a little. Would help if he would go over them with his head lowered too. Not sure if this will definately work but wouldn't have thought it would do any harm? Do you know any physio's that you could ask? I used to have cut down railway sleepers laid out in a line on to my horses field and she used to be led in and out of them as a form of physio, but this was in her back end and hind legs rather than the back... We worked it up so that the sleepers where eventually on their thin side so that they were higher..
 
Carrot exercises can be helpful - just getting him gently stretching to side, to each fetlock and between the legs. Equine sports massage or physiotherapy can be good too.
 
Long reining over raised poles etc, regular physio and possibly looking into getting massage pad would help keep the muscles active without causing any possible damage.
 
Long-reining, maybe over poles but go with what vet suggests as beneficial. A nice massage may also help
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Thanks, will try long lining, never done it with him before
May have trouble keeping his head off the grass though! We do have a few poles so I will have a go this weekend. Thanks all.
 
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