kissing Spine Rehab

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Resupgirl

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Hello I am new to posting here but have been reading for a while now and have been intrigued by the KS postings.

I have been reading a lot of posts on here about KS in particular by a lady called BethH who has offered some terrific advice.

My mare has just had KS surgery (in Sept) and has been doing very well she had 3 removed but I have now got to get back on board. We had some serious accidents before the op including her rearing up and going over backward on me and I am slightly nervous of what the outcome might be.

I have been long lining and walking out for a few months now and Friday is D-day my physio says its all good. I am a little aprehensive any advice for first ridden exercises. Thank You.
 
Welcome to the KS club, my boy also had three removed in Dec but due to various other problems we've not really managed to get back into proper work yet however I would definatly recommend giving about 8 ACP before you get on which will just take the edge off her, I will be taking this route when I do eventually get back on my boy. I say about 8 as I gave my boy eight a day in his breakfast whilst he was on box rest from his latest little spin with the vet and it made him really nice to handle as he's usually a hot head. BethH is the font of all knowledge where this is concerned and has given me fab advice too so I'd recommend a PM to her. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
 
I just got on and went for a hack! But I knew that my horse would be ok.

First does the saddle fit well. Ideally a saddle with serge panels that is made to measure ( I reccomend saddle company saddles, which are £550 new and made to measure) A old fashioned stubben cord girth. A high wither nu-med numah. Saddle comfort is so so important.
Lots of lunging and long reining with the saddle on. Have someone leg you up into the saddle to start with and only ride on the lunge for 10 mins for the first few times.
 
Hi welcome aboard the KS journey. My girl was done in June this year and I was supposed to be back on board October, but unfortunately due to an unrelated accident that has been delayed until about March next year.

I know just how you feel though as I was a bit anxious about going back on Honey. I did start out by long reining and two line lunging her in all her tack and also introduced sandbags onto her back for weight, so I could watch her reactions from the ground.

I also had my instructor lined up for the first time onboard and agree that a small amount of sedative (I use sedalin) sounds a very sensible idea. You won't be doing that much first of all anyway, even if you can just manage a five minute walk up and down the drive will be great. I think what gives me confidence is that I've seen Honey move from the ground in ways that would once have caused major reactions, with no sign of difficulty at all. Hopefully you'll have seen the same in your girl.

I think it's just one of those cases where we have to bite the bullet (and wear a nappy); your confidence will grow in time; but do have someone who knows what they are doing with you the first few times.

Good luck and don't forget to post that picture of you both together.
 
My saddle fitter will be there and that is the main reason for getting on on that day.

Her saddle is a made to measure as at first like most people I thought it was her saddle causing her problems and since her op she has lost a lot of muscle and condition so I need him to check it.

Did any of your horses have any scarring my mare only has a slight thickening but her back has slightly dropped where the bones have been removed my physio said that with work this would not be a problem. Thank you all for your support.
 
Where did you have your girl done? As you probably know Beth me and a few others on here went to Willesley and Svend does the op in a slightly different way.

Honey has very little scaring at all, just a very fine line and a few white hairs. She does have three little dips in her back where the three that were removed are, but apparently as her back strengthens and the ligament across the back thickens this will become less apparent.

Do you not have an instructor or an experienced friend that could be with you at the same time as the saddler so that perhaps, and I know it sounds daft, but you could then have a lead or even start off on a lunge; just so you can gauge how she feels and the saddler can watch her movement without having to worry about anything else.
 
She had her op in Lambourn. The surgeon was known to me already as the previous year she was kicked in the head and suffered a fractured skull my surgeon put her head back together so well that a couple of months later we were showing and placed in a large field at county level.

I did know of Sven Kold and if my horse had not already had a large op the year before she would have most probably have gone to him, he really leads the KS field but I know that this surgeon is also excellent from prevous experience.

She doen't have any scarring but like you say a slight dip she will need to lift her back to get rid of this. But early days still as she had her op late Aug/Sep.

I will have my friend with me and also my OH its more a confidence boost.
 
Good that's all you need is moral support - you'll be fine. Just think of the great feeling and big grin you'll be wearing afterwards.

Let us know how you get on. (PS. I've loads of bubble wrap if you want some)
 
If you want to PM me, please do, would also be happy to talk to you on the phone.

To be honest, I just had a feeling Ryan was going to be ok, a little like debs with Honey, I could see he was moving well from the ground and had stopped the tantrums and just thought today is the day.

Make sure you have a friend with you that your horse likes and feels comfortable around with a big tube of polos! (Ryans were sugar free as he is a bit of a foodaholic!!) Is she comfortable doing her ground work in her saddle and bridle and used to the feel of it on her back? I made sure I was in a safe environment, i.e., a fenced in sand school and had my hat and body protector on etc, I treated it as though I was getting on a youngster for the 1st time, and for his ridden rehab we basically re-backed him as he was still quite young and very green. I hung over his saddle for a couple of minutes to make sure he was happy with my weight, then sat on him for a few minutes, walked around the arena 2 or 3 times and then got off. I was amazed at how how relaxed he was in his back all of that razor blade tension seemed to be gone and that gave me a massive amount of confidence to carry on.

Ryan had some severe behavioural issues so my main aim was for it to be as stress free and enjoyable as possible for him. I kept it very short and sweet. I do believe rushing things is counter productive in the long term and I definitely didn't have the guts to go out for a hack which I think is pretty brave of Christmas Derby, not that Ryan was able to cope with hacking at that point (pre-op experiences etc etc!)

You know your horse best and how far and fast you want to push things, make sure you don't let anyone make you go faster than you are comfortable with and listen to your horse. I am sure your mare will have become expert at explaining to you when she is unhappy! If you go slow, you won't damage your horse in the long term, if you go too fast you may especially mentally.

Good luck, fingers crossed for you and please let us all know how you get on. I am sure I speak for everyone on here when I say I hope it goes smoothly and you are back having fun on her before too long.
 
I long lined my mare before I got on and she was a complete nightmare (most probably picking up vibes from me) had second thoughts about getting on board but I had set the date I had the saddle and there was no going back. I got on and sat on her for a while before I asked her to move off.

She was a bit apprehensive to begin with but a total angel. If it was going to happen it would have been in the first 5 minutes. I was so happy best Christmas present ever.
 
Well done! Norm had KS surgery at Liphook in April 2006 and when I first got on in the school in Nov 06 he still bucked and didn't want to go forward, but fine out hacking. Persevered and gradually the bucking stopped and he began to go forwards. We won our first prelim last Sept! I think to begin with he associated being in the school with the pain he obvisouly felt when first backed, but he has now learnt it doesn't hurt anymore and started to enjoy his work. Still a long way to go, as with all youngesters, but I think we're on the right track! Good luck with your girl!
 
Went out for our first hack today. I have some pics. but not sure how to put them on. A bit reluctant at first but after a mile walking out she was good.
 
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