Fingerontheneckstrap
Member
Hi everyone,
My mare has recently been diagnosed with some mild arthritis and the vet suggested not to jump too often and to jump small if I am jumping. This is a horse who lives and breathes showjumping. I used to have her years ago and she brought me around my first more competitive tracks before I sold her to go to college, and I repurchased her about two years ago and she has been jumping for fun since.
Even though I usually only jump her once every two weeks or so, I don’t want to jump her now if it’s just for my own selfishness, especially if it could cause her pain, so I’m trying to come up with ideas for things to do that don’t require jumping but could fill the jumping shaped hole in her heart!
She’s such an arena horse - by that I mean that while she is happy to go on hacks but she doesn’t really enjoy it and much prefers her flatwork and having a job. I was thinking of trying some liberty with her to give her something new to work on that she hasn’t tried before, and try to bring her out to a different venue once every two weeks for a hack or some dressage - but any other ideas? She has amazing flatwork so I fully intend on doing some dressage competitions with her for the next while as she loves the show atmosphere too!
I just want to keep her happy because she is a sporty mare who absolutely loved jumping and loves to please - so suggestions would be appreciated !
My mare has recently been diagnosed with some mild arthritis and the vet suggested not to jump too often and to jump small if I am jumping. This is a horse who lives and breathes showjumping. I used to have her years ago and she brought me around my first more competitive tracks before I sold her to go to college, and I repurchased her about two years ago and she has been jumping for fun since.
Even though I usually only jump her once every two weeks or so, I don’t want to jump her now if it’s just for my own selfishness, especially if it could cause her pain, so I’m trying to come up with ideas for things to do that don’t require jumping but could fill the jumping shaped hole in her heart!
She’s such an arena horse - by that I mean that while she is happy to go on hacks but she doesn’t really enjoy it and much prefers her flatwork and having a job. I was thinking of trying some liberty with her to give her something new to work on that she hasn’t tried before, and try to bring her out to a different venue once every two weeks for a hack or some dressage - but any other ideas? She has amazing flatwork so I fully intend on doing some dressage competitions with her for the next while as she loves the show atmosphere too!
I just want to keep her happy because she is a sporty mare who absolutely loved jumping and loves to please - so suggestions would be appreciated !
thank you