Getting a horse fit

[hellybelly6]

Hello

My horse has been off work for nearly 3 months, due to my car accident, him having a tooth out through a hole in his face and the weather.

He is a 16 year old highland x with a previously split DDFT, bone spavins and side bones.

I was thinking of 1 month walking/lunging then introducing trot, but not really sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you xx

 

[Izzwizz]

If its any help to you my mare has had a tear in her DDFT, diagnosed via mri in september. Shes been on box rest since then and before that time (long story). Shes off for a re-scan at end of Jan to check progress of the healing before any work commences. Since diagnosis she had double wedge shoes on for 1 month, single wedges on for 1 month then egg bars since and we are handwalking for up to an hour 3x a day. No ridden work until checkup. All walking is on flat surface so no hills and vets told me that if its healed then it will be hacking out only, no lunging or trot work for some time, in fact no school work until much later in the year. Tendons need time to strengthen as the scar tissue is not as elastic as natural tendon tissue. Thats why we have to do lots of roadwork and it has to be built up slowly so trot work wont be for at least a couple of months after just walking.

Personally if I were you Id do something similar and wouldnt do any lunge work, its quite difficult for them anyway and if your horse has had 3 months off I would imagine he would find it quite difficult. Thats what my vet told me anyway.

Hope this helps and sorry its long.

 

[hellybelly6]

Thanks Izzwhizz.

My horse split his DDFT 3 years ago, but I am very conscious of it and thoroughly warm him up and cool him down.

Lunging would be in a square shape, with me walking on an inner track on the inside of him. We would only walk. I would long rein him, but he refuses and bucks and kicks and I value my teeth.

Before his 3 month holiday, we were hacking for 2 hours twice a week and 3-4 times a week hacking for an hour so he was very fit and I would love to build up to that fitness again without straining his tendons etc.

 

[Izzwizz]

Out of interest, how was your horses recovery from the split in the DDFT? Some of the stories I read make a depressing picture but obviously your horse recovered well for you to be doing that amount of work prior to his rest. My horse wont go in a field until Spring as its not worth it, we have muddy fields and its far too slippery. Her tear is in her hoof so could only be found via MRI and the vets are quite hopeful for a full recovery but its nice to find someone who has experienced the same injury.

Your plan sounds ok by the way.

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse has made nothing short of a miraculous recovery. He split his DDFT and the manica flexora the tissue sling that supports the fetlock.

He underwent and tenoscopy and debridement. He was on box rest for 2 weeks due to his stiches and went out twice a day in hand, then he went into a very small paddock for 30 mins, then after 2 weeks an hour etc. He was also gently exercised in hand in walk which was built up over time.

I took things very slowly and the vets recommended that he had lots of regular, gentle exercise to help the tendon fibres align longways.

By about 6 weeks, I was riding him in walk for 20 mins.

Considering the vets thought he would never be sound, even for turn out, he is a miracle.

Not all tendon injuries end a horse's ridden career.

I also gently massaged my horse's leg and fed tendoneaze and windgall for 18 months.

All horses are different, as you know, but there are some successful tendon recoveries.

You know your horse and be guided by what you feel she is ready for, taking it slowly.

You are wise not to put your horse out in the mud at the moment, personally, I would leave it until the spring, when the ground is soft, but not too muddy.

I wish you well with your mare and hope she makes a brilliant recovery.

I think I will stick to my fitness plan for my boy once the snow and ice have gone!

 

[Izzwizz]

Thank your for that HPL, she definitely seems more comfortable when Im taking her for walkies than she was say 6wks ago. I can tell when we go around a small bend on our route round the stable block. Im hopeful she will come right and we are not rushing a thing withe the recovery. I have access to another to ride so there is absolutely no urgency to her recovery, just want to get it right. I think I will need Sedalin when she goes in the field for the first time!!!

Heres hoping for a good year with her and hope your fitness plan goes well. I will be glad when it warms up to, am fed up of clearing a walkway so we can get around without her doing the splits.