Has anyone rehabed a colic surgery horse?

[Paint Me Proud]

As you all probably know Chico is 5 months post colic surgery.

He has done superbly and is back doing ridden work now.

However,

He doesnt want to trot under saddle (tried just a few short stretches) and I wondered if it is due to his muscles being weak.

Has anyone else brought a colic surgery horse back into work and what sort of riding schedule did you follow??

(vet is out next week and i will talk to her but would like other first hand eperiences)

 

[3Beasties]

Crikey has it really been 5 months?!? Where does the time go!!

No help sorry but hope you get to the route of the trotting problem, glad to hear he's back in work.

 

[be positive]

It was a long time ago and I cannot remember exactly how I worked him, it was over winter which did not help, freezing cold and sharp horse doing steady work, trying to avoid traffic as he was not good with heavy vehicles. I took things slowly, as you are, built him up as he had lost a huge amount of weight following 2 ops in 48 hours, he returned to full work, competed in all activities including showing and ODEs until he was lost to colic about 12 years later when he was 22 years old.
Chico's core muscles will be weak, do plenty of steady walking, is he turned out most of the time to keep him building up his strength in a natural way as that will help. If he is not comfortable trotting yet just give him time and let him dictate the pace for a while.

 

[Chocy]

Not myself but friend at yard has.
Btwn vet/instructor/herself they decided on 6wks walking- started with 10mins hack long rein no contract just a leg stretch really
Increased 10mins every week & week 4 went in2 school still walking did large circles began 2 take contact
Wk 6-8 she did

 

[Chocy]

Sorry phone posted by mistake!
Wk 6-8 started walking over poles introduced very short trots
Then just gradually increased trots

 

[Chocy]

Sorry phone again!
Gradually increased trot work/ length of schooling time & treated him as a normal 'unfit' horse coming back in2 full work
Hope that helps!

 

[nikicb]

Yes, my mare had 35 foot of her gut removed under emergency surgery when she was 25 due to pedunculated lipomas. I lost her earlier this year at 35. She came back into work, even the odd bit of jumping on a surface (due to her legs rather than colic op). Successfully showed her in veteran (6th in SE finals). Just gradually built it up really - same as any horse that had had some time off.

 

[vetsbestfriend]

I started off with 3 weeks walk work gradually building up from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, mixture of school and hacking. Then started introducing short periods of trot, again increasing the length over the following couple of weeks. Followed by some canter work at week 7. Didn't jump few months after the canter work to give him time to try and restrengthen his core. During surgery they cut the main ligament I believe so it will take longer to get back to somewhere near normal.

Does Chico trot freely in the field when not ridden or on the lunge? Could be that his scar is sensitive to the girth and that is why he is reluctant to trot when ridden. A sheepskin girth sleeve maybe might help if you are not already using one.

Good luck. x

 

[ester]

how long has he been walking OP? I haven't done one myself but think I'd be tempted to be guided by the horse as to how capable they were and suspect longer doing walk/in hand work won't do him any harm .