Exercises to loosen old mares hind legs up?

[ATrueClassAct]

Old mare fell over in her back end nearly two weeks ago this Saturday. Turn out is very limited, she went out today for first time in three weeks for three hours to stretch her legs. Seemed better when I rode her but still really stiff on her back legs in trot but improving in walk. Danillon course finished today so none of that left. Any advice for exercises that could help loosen up her back end either on the floor or ridden? We are still only walking since only ridden her four times since she hurt it. Advice would be great!

 

[ATrueClassAct]

No one else got stiff oldies? :/

 

[unbalanced]

My instructor has me work my 21 year old in hand for fifteen minutes before riding especially turns around the forehand getting her stepping well under with her hind legs. She also does travers/renvers/shoulder in in hand to loosen her back and hindquarters without my weight before I get on and supple her, although I am still learning to do those from the ground my horse finds them easier than I do so she does them with my instructor. The horse has spavins.
She also does A LOT of hacking which helps.

 

[ATrueClassAct]

We usually hack a lot but obviously with ice and dark nights etc it's much harder! Cheers for the In hand tip. I'll try her with it. Just kinda sad seeing her getting old :/

 

[Bikerchickone]

My first horse was 32 when I came by him, absolutely stunning IDxTB at about 16.2, but he had terribly stiff hind legs. I would spend at least 15 minutes riding in walk, on soft ish ground (not roads) in as straight a line as I could manage, ie out on a bridle path before he would loosen up enough to be comfortable. Unfortunately you'll probably get other people telling you not to ride your lame horse as I did, but this was vet's advice at the time and did work.

 

[madmare1]

try Alphabute to help with stiffness..it's NOT a painkiller, just anti inflammatory. It's got Turmeric in to help with joint stiffness...Global Herbs make it, and my old girl got chased in the field and pulled her tendon....I got 2 tubs of this, and after just 4 days I was riding her in walk, and a week later we were starting to trot again...she's 25!!!

Fab stuff, has helped my younger mare after she escaped from the horsebox at a show and pulled her back...it's just helped to settle the inflammation, on the advice of my vet and physio.

Also, Bioflow boots..friend of mine has an old mare, and she's terribly stiff....and she wears the Bioflow magnetic boots on her hind legs overnight..I was sceptical, but they seem to have really helped her.

a lot of hacking helps, especially if you can trust her on a long rein..get them really swinging along in a forward walk...

Good Luck..

Emma xx

 

[Rose Folly]

I find a few drinks works wonders for me!!!

 

[julyaric720]

You just saved me the trouble of reposting

 

[unbalanced]

Deleted - computer just duplicated my above post for some very bizarre reason.

 

[AmyMay]

Turnout, turnout, turnout. And a continued low dosage of Danillon to help her out.

 

[Brandy]

I have a 30 yr old tb, ex polo pony. He now lives out which has improved matters a lot - he was worse when he was stabled overnight. There is NO WAY i could keep him in for any length of time, he would just cease up altogether.

He has improved immeasurably since I stopped feeding cereal mixes. He is now fed on Allen and Page Veteran Vitality, which comes in pellet form and is soaked in 3 minutes. He also has fast fibre from Allen and Page. My farrier had started to struggle with shoeing the old boys hind feet - he was struggling to stand for long on the one back leg and hold the other one up. However, since changing feed he has stood perfectly and the farrier is very impressed!

Both farrier and vet have commented on his improvement.

He is on one bute per day and has been for a few years now.

Also, I find turnout boots in very cold weather help keep his legs warm, and this also makes a big difference along with using bioflow boots overnight.

 

[ossy]

another one for lots of hacking and turnout.

 

[Spotsrock]

buteless By equine america. My old lovey is very unlevel without it and totally sound with. If it's result of the fall, a physio would be able to make her more comfy. I also massage all my horses. Roll a tennis ball in small circles round and round across her back and quarters. Work out how much pressure to use by trying it on ur arm. Firm but not hard.

 

[rubysmum]

my big girl is in exactly the same place as yours - a couple of falls in the last few weeks - so will watch this thread with great interest
my biggest issue is ignoring the waves of disapproval from other liveries when i ride her - i want a sticker on her bum that says
"yes - i know she looks stiff BUT she is better ridden then retired - take your uninformed opinions elsewhere"

 

[Morgan123]

Interested in this too - I have two oldies and also closely helped another friend who had an old broodmare who kept falling over and needed lots of theraputic work.

I agree wiht the turnout and exercise, and also with whoever suggested fifteen minutes of in-hand work before riding - I do that too, lots of turn on forehand, backing up etc, and then I do another fifteen minutes of walking exercises, leg yielding etc - even if i'm just hacking out. Also poles helps, but i don't get round to it often enough! There are lots of interesting exercises on the T-Team programmes?

Gentle hill work?

I do think magnet boots help a little but can't be sure....

 

[4x4]

Hi,
How long is it safe to give bute for and is alphabute better? We have been prescribed a month's course of bute for a 12 year old who is a bit stiff behind but she had also slipped over in the field the day before the vet came. Will try the massage and in hand work - did a lot of in-hand when she was younger instead of over-riding her so thanks for the tips.

 

[Brandy]

my biggest issue is ignoring the waves of disapproval from other liveries when i ride her - i want a sticker on her bum that says
"yes - i know she looks stiff BUT she is better ridden then retired - take your uninformed opinions elsewhere"

Yes this annoys me no end!! My boy is 30, and has had a very active life (high goal polo pony) and he is honestly happier mentally if he gets to hack out one a week or fortnight or so. My vet recommends that he has gentle exercise as this helps with the stiffness. I have tried leading him out in hand, but he is so ridiculous that its a job to keep hold of him! So the vet has said to ride him.

 

[4x4]

Well, Brandy, the vet has spent many years and a lot of money gaining the knowledge to give the advice whereas the average livery...noway! I expect I will get looks of disapproval when I sit on my buted mare in the New Year but hey- rise above it!

 

[Brandy]

I know, still annoys me though!!

I woudln't worry about a months worth of bute. My old boy has been having one a day for several years - the vet said that 'long term' doesn;t really come nto it at his age.....bless him. I used to give him cortaflex before the bute, and it worked for several years but then just seemed to stop.

 

[madmare1]

Hi,
How long is it safe to give bute for and is alphabute better? We have been prescribed a month's course of bute for a 12 year old who is a bit stiff behind but she had also slipped over in the field the day before the vet came. Will try the massage and in hand work - did a lot of in-hand when she was younger instead of over-riding her so thanks for the tips.

Alphabute is safer..still gives the anti-inflammatory response you want, without the damaging side effects of long term use. Use the Bute up, with your vets advice, but if it's long term, use the Alphabute....and you can still use it if you want to compete!

Emma xx

 

[ATrueClassAct]

Thanks so much for all the advice guys. No turbout yet, fields are so boggy because of the rain! But did walk in hand for 15mins then rode for 1/2 an hour after I'd massaged the offending leg. Was so much better again in trot. Think its just gonna take a while. Are these supplements safe for horses with cushings? She had laminitis mildly last November so I wanna keep her as active as possible and I'm careful with what I feed her