Kissing Spine - the next step

[Fiorano]

Well, my boy had the staples out of his back today, all 30 of them! He had to be sedated of course, but my vet was really pleased with the wounds and touch wood, there is no oozing anywhere. He is now off the bute and antibiotics so Im hoping he will continue to make progress. I'm going to contact a physio and over the next few weeks start the build up process. Many thanks to everyone who posted and for all the support given - I'm even starting to see a little chink of light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[1964]

hi, my horse had the op on the 17th january so you and i must be at the same stage, my horse had his stitchs out yesterday all 45 couldnt believe it.
he is doing so well he is now walking 15minutes twice daily, he is on top of the world.
as we dont have a horse walker on our yard it has to be done by hand but havent done to well with that so have started to long line him form another horse and he is enjoying that as he his going out and seeing every day normal things that he hasnt seen for a long time, better than going round in a circle.
all the best with your recovery and keep us informed how you get on

 

[Fiorano]

Hi Ozwold, nice to hear your horse is doing so well. Wow he certainly had a lot of stitches. How many bones did he have removed and did they do one long incision or several? Mine had three incisions and 3 bones removed. We're not doing so well on the walking out all he wants to do is to turn himself inside out leaping around like an idiot. Still we'll persevere and maybe use a little sedation!!!!

 

[debradley]

Hi there, mine was done last June - she had 3 removed and had one long incision. She's doing incredibly well and is like a different horse. Well no, she's like she was when she was 5 - great fun. I started my physio at week 7 as until then it was just walking in hand, but was well worth the investment; he kept her so supple and set a brilliant weekly progressive programme for me, she came on in leaps and bounds. Sadly she had a separate injury in October which prevented me from actually getting back onboard. However, I was going to work her from the ground tomorrow in her pessoa and was thinking of popping the vid on forum for people to take a look. It will let you see just how tight the pessoa should be.

I kept Honey on sedalin for the first 6 weeks. We had to break box rest in the 4th week and it was important that she didn't behave like a hoon in her small paddock. It made things so much easier so I wouldn't hesitate recommending using acp or sedalin just to take the edge off. You've invested a lot of money and what will be a lot to time so don't risk anything.

Good luck with your progress and do let us know how you're getting on

 

[Fiorano]

Hello debradley, I'm going to invest in a physio. I'm going to see if my insurance company will cover the cost. I managed to walk him out today - sedated - and life was much easier. He is looking a little depressed at the moment though poor boy, think i might leave my other horse in tomorrow to keep him company. One positive is that I really feel we are spending quality time together, weird I know but lots of time talking, grooming and generally sharing bags of Sainsbuty's best carrotts!!

 

[1964]

hi fiorano, my horse had 4 removed and had one long incission, im so pleased with how he is doing.
my horse was silly in hand so the yard owner where i keep him said about trying him on a long line which we did and he loves it he is so chilled its like he is just one of the other horses on a hack, he is geting to see every day things, if you have a good quite horse i would give it a try, im doing it twice daily and he is doing 20minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon, and im also doing in hand grazing, not had to get to the sedalin yet but i know when it comes to the passoa i will need it as he does go mad when he is on the lunge to start of with,
debradley has been such a great help to me in giving loads of advice so please ask her for help, i will also get a physio in on week 7 like debradley did, and your insurance should cover it mine said they will on advice from your vet.
all the best and keep us up to date and i will do the same

 

[squirtlysmum]

My boy had three out in Dec 06 and I'd just say take it easy and don't hurry things and I found that eight ACP in his breakfast really mellowed him out enough to be able to walk him out, otherwise he was a complete loon. He had physio every week and started to lunge him in a Passoa but he reallly really hated it and bucked and bucked which really did him no good, all was going great guns to get him back into work when he endeavoured to severe his leg last year and somersaulted over his fence which set us back so he's having until April off. Sadly physio wasn't included on my insurance so I had to find the money myself but it was really worth it. Good luck and let us know how things go.

 

[debradley]

Hi there, me again. Just to let you know that I worked Honey today, but weather was so c**p that it wasn't really of any quality and field was really slippy so didn't want to push it too much. If weather improves this week I'll try and get a decent video and post it on for you to have a look. Please bear in mind though that my girl does look like she has quite a short stride. This is because two of her legs are still open at the moment and she is just really learning that she can move her legs again. This was due to an unrelated accident; prior to it she was moving beautifully, so you can expect to see a real improvement in your horses gait once you're a bit further down the road.

Don't worry if your horse doesn't take to the pessoa my physio only incorporated the pessoa in about a third of the work and had lots of other options which made the horse engage the back.

Don't think too far ahead and good luck.

 

[Fiorano]

Hi there. Got in touch with my insurance company this morning and thankfully they are more than happy to pay up to £500 for physio which is great. Thanks again everyone who has given me such good advice. The overall theme seems to be to take time and not rush things, so thats what I'll do.

 

[Resupgirl]

Hi my mare had KS surgery back in Sept/Oct time. 3 removed with one scar.

I have a physio and am back riding my findings are:

As she was young and unfit to start with getting back on board was quite scary. We are doing lots of walking out ridden but we have almost had to go back to the beginning she takes a while to warm up and to begin with her stride is choppy and she is fidgety with her head after a while walking her stride will lengthen and she will relax a bit more. When we first started trotting she was very high headed but she is now coming down onto the bit again long straight trots with a slight incline to get her using her rear. Don't rush it keep at the hacking and walking and hills etc.

Problem is erasing the pain memory and getting them to realise it doesn't actually hurt anymore.

Anyone else at the ridden stage with any tips would be greatly appreciated.