Hello :) Its been a while!

[Arniebear]

Hello again! It been quite a while since i last posted but thought id give you all an update before we kick off our season and hopefully get some event reports your way!

So recap! I had one hell of a season with my home produced youngster last year starting with 80s and finishing with 5 90 runs and picking up some top 10 placings along the way! Sadly winter did not go to plan Turns out waaay back in august when i fell of the step in my yard.... not drunk! i completely bust my foot, i did continue competing to finish the season, in my defense i thought i just sprained it, when in actual fact i broke a bone and put some epic holes in my ligaments resulting in inevitable surgery over xmas, so pony had lots of time off whilst i hobbled pathetically about on crutches for 8 weeks. My awesome instructor jumped back on board for me to help get him going again and before you knew it i was back on board on a horse far fitter than i thought!! Since getting back on in feb we haven't done much, lots of flat lessons, SJ lessons and hacking really. We did dust off the comp gear for a dressage where Beanz decided it was rather exciting being back out so our scores weren't amazing, who can blame him! Next up was a XC run at a PC run Hunter trail.... with no prep whatsoever due to the lovely english weather we entered the 90, having not seen a xc course since oct and not jumped on grass yet.... He was epic and stormed round for 10th place! What a dude!

Next up this weekend we have combined training, followed by dressage qualifiers the following week..... I've joined a new RC! will see how this one goes this year!! Other than that we shall just be prepping for our first run of the season...... best season to have been coming out late as we actually haven't missed much with all the cancellations so i haven't been too jealous of everyone!

In other news my big boy has been cleared by the vets and is back in work, its been a roller coaster with him, he bust his hind tendon sheath back in 2015 and ive been struggling to get him sound since BUT we have a new magic trick.... well not really but hes been to see Ken skinner who found a host of issues most probably causing the lameness so now hes sorted those (we've had 2 visits!) im hoping by working alongside Ken and my vets we can get him back on track and in work this year... fingers crossed!

some pics of my 2 boys over the last few months to make this a bit more interesting!!

 

[DabDab]

Hello! I remember your reports from last year - your horse looks cracking. Look forward to your reports this season
Glad you and your other horse have managed to make it through injuries this winter. I haven't heard of Ken Skinner - is he an orthopedic vet?

 

[Arniebear]

Hello! I remember your reports from last year - your horse looks cracking. Look forward to your reports this season
Glad you and your other horse have managed to make it through injuries this winter. I haven't heard of Ken Skinner - is he an orthopedic vet?

Ahh was hoping someone might remember us!! He is pretty awesome but i am very biased! His fan club is growing!
So Ken Skinner is vet who has specialized in Chiropractics so he sees things from a vets perspective but also give an alternative to standard vet go to's with lame horses. So basically with my lad who has damaged his flexor tendons in various legs over the years, my normal vets just said **** happens diagnosed him and treated him for the injuries - completely normal vet treatment, the horse had surgery on both injuries with 80% chance of full recoveries!, whereas Ken explained that horses dont usually damage flexor tendons unless a) they have crap genetics or b) they cant work themselves correctly as the flexor tendons are the ones used when pulling the legs back not pushing forward (extensor tendons - which are the most classic ones to injure when jumping as the leg is extending out)
So on initial examination Ken found my horse had a completely locked pelvis on both sides (a 2% chance of the horse suffering with this!) so therefore he was completely even - which is why the issue hadn't been found by my usual physio but he couldn't use his back end correctly at all which has resulted in the tendon injuries he has suffered, so by releasing the pelvis it has removed the pressure from the lower limbs which has resulted in the rather large windgall he had disappearing completely! hes now sound and back in trot work! My vets were amazed at how well he looked when she saw him in march - he saw Ken in dec and had the winter off whilst i had surgery. He went back to see Ken last week and he said he was a completely different horse to treat, pelvis was out slightly on the left so small tweak needed but other than that he's good to crack on with! Oh and he also required no more steriod injecting in to his hind leg - so for me Ken is a god send who has saved my horse after 3 years of trying all the usual vet routes!

Beanz has seen him too just for a check up and he found a few issues which could explain why he is so tricky to ride on the flat and so tense so he is due back to see him again in a months time to see if there is an improvement in his shoulders!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Wow that was an eventful winter! I remember you and your lovely horses, good luck for the season .

 

[milliepops]

Crikey, Ken Skinner sounds like a miracle worker! What a good result for you.

Lovely pics and look forward to hearing about your adventures this year

 

[DabDab]

Wow, he sounds great - will have to look him up. I could do with someone like that to look over my little mare, just for my own interest sake.