dollymix
Well-Known Member
Putting this in the veterinary section in the hope of some genuine veterinary advice!
My mare had surgery to remove a tumour from her ovary at the beginning of April. It was full abdominal surgery as she became ill very quickly and at first the vets suspected colitis.
She was a model patient during recovery. 6 weeks box rest with in-hand grazing twice a day, then 8 weeks in a small paddock.
She then did two weeks long-reining and started ridden work 3rd August.
We are up to 45 mins hacking in walk 5 days a week...and a very short trot on the straight. In addition to this, 1-2 a week she does some long reining over poles or on a hack with an elasticated bandage round her back end to encourage her to step under.
The physio has seen her twice post-op and is pleased with progress. My own vet has seen her too and they seem happy enough.
On physio recommendation she also had a trip to the beach this week to paddle in the shallow water for 20 mins. I will aim to take her every couple of weeks as the beach is a short trailer trip for us.
I am wondering what others would do next?
Would it be ok to introduce a little more trotting? Ordinarily it’s what I’d do in an unfit horse but as it’s post abdominal surgery I am more worried about her!
She also has spavins- she is 14 and has had them since she was a 5 year old so I am aware I need to support her hocks as she comes back into work too. She can be a little stiff but all the hacking helps and she wears hock boots overnight.
Previous to the operation she was super fit and in full work, schooling 3-4 times a week and hacking the rest of the time. We only complete low level unaff/RC but I’d love to get back out doing dressage, SJ and combined training again eventually. The vet at the hospital was very positive about a long-term prognosis in terms of returning to her normal activity levels.
I just need to get her fitness program right and everything I find online is focused on getting an unfit horse fit, not a post-op horse back in work.
My mare had surgery to remove a tumour from her ovary at the beginning of April. It was full abdominal surgery as she became ill very quickly and at first the vets suspected colitis.
She was a model patient during recovery. 6 weeks box rest with in-hand grazing twice a day, then 8 weeks in a small paddock.
She then did two weeks long-reining and started ridden work 3rd August.
We are up to 45 mins hacking in walk 5 days a week...and a very short trot on the straight. In addition to this, 1-2 a week she does some long reining over poles or on a hack with an elasticated bandage round her back end to encourage her to step under.
The physio has seen her twice post-op and is pleased with progress. My own vet has seen her too and they seem happy enough.
On physio recommendation she also had a trip to the beach this week to paddle in the shallow water for 20 mins. I will aim to take her every couple of weeks as the beach is a short trailer trip for us.
I am wondering what others would do next?
Would it be ok to introduce a little more trotting? Ordinarily it’s what I’d do in an unfit horse but as it’s post abdominal surgery I am more worried about her!
She also has spavins- she is 14 and has had them since she was a 5 year old so I am aware I need to support her hocks as she comes back into work too. She can be a little stiff but all the hacking helps and she wears hock boots overnight.
Previous to the operation she was super fit and in full work, schooling 3-4 times a week and hacking the rest of the time. We only complete low level unaff/RC but I’d love to get back out doing dressage, SJ and combined training again eventually. The vet at the hospital was very positive about a long-term prognosis in terms of returning to her normal activity levels.
I just need to get her fitness program right and everything I find online is focused on getting an unfit horse fit, not a post-op horse back in work.
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