KS Support Group!

[HollyP]

Hello all,

just wanted to know how everyone is getting on, hows rehab going etc....

I have finally got an answer about surgery except havent spoken to surgeon, but she is going ahead with it....possible 2 or 3 removed or what not....but sven has now gone away for 10days so I have to wait a while....again! she has got a bit erratic on the lunge so iv stopped that because its not worth it and my vet has said not to i could get hurt and she could (even more!)! She is also getting worse in the stable the poor little thing but she has been turned out recently so thats been nice for her!

 

[Bounty]

Pleased to hear you have decided on your plan of attack

Nothing particular to report here - Rage has just begun working on the lunge and OMG it is so good to see him move again!
Will get some photos

His physio has given him some new stretches and inhand exercises over poles and he is also having laser therapy to help aid healing over his back. All systems go.... healthy horse here we come!

 

[Julieq]

Glad to here you are getting somewhere holly p hope all goes well for you.

Lass is doing really well i have got the vet coming up friday to see how she is hopefully she can be turned out and start the work in the pessoa.

Bounty how many times a week do you lunge Rage?? Did Rage have the op aswell or have you gone down an alternative root??

Be nice to see some pictures of how your getting on

 

[HollyP]

booked to take her down on the 15th op on the 16th....im thinking i might need to find a rehabilitation place...does anyone know anywhere near somerset/in somerset......

 

[Bounty]

JulieQ - the lunging is a bone of contention here atm! Svend has prescribed daily lunging walk/trot/canter in the pessoa (I use an EquiAmi instead) but this horrifies my physio!

She would prefer him to be lunged in the EquiAmi at walk 3 times a week and do pole work inhand on a daily basis. Her emphasis is on strengthing his abdominal muscles first otherwise she thinks we will have problems in the long run

Am going to get her to speak to Svend and let them battle it out between them - could be an interesting convo as they are both strong personalities with strong beliefs!

Nearly forogt to add; Rage had the surgery - T13, 15 and 17 removed

 

[hellspells]

Holly P I'm sure I've heard of a good rehabilitation near you - I will think about it when I'm not at work and post if it comes to me.

My mare is doing very well although I popped her over some jumps last Tuesday, she lit up as soon as she saw the built jumps but on wednesday was quite still through her back

so its swings and round abouts.

 

[Julieq]

[ QUOTE ]
JulieQ - the lunging is a bone of contention here atm! Svend has prescribed daily lunging walk/trot/canter in the pessoa (I use an EquiAmi instead) but this horrifies my physio!

She would prefer him to be lunged in the EquiAmi at walk 3 times a week and do pole work inhand on a daily basis. Her emphasis is on strengthing his abdominal muscles first otherwise she thinks we will have problems in the long run

Am going to get her to speak to Svend and let them battle it out between them - could be an interesting convo as they are both strong personalities with strong beliefs!

Nearly forogt to add; Rage had the surgery - T13, 15 and 17 removed

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for your reply have heard different opinions o the lunging as well its quite worrying to know what is the best route to take. I am so worried bout doing the wrong thing my vet is coming out next friday so i will see what he suggests and go from there.

I am not sure my mare will take to the pessoa as havent used one o her before.

How differnt is the equiami??

 

[BethH]

Hope you don't mind me adding a comment about the lunging!

Follow vets advice, he knows what he is doing, Svend has done 100's and 100's of these ops and best success is when the horse is worked straight away. The important thing initially is to get your horse moving. I couldn't use pessoa on my ned so long reined with reins attached through bridle to girth. The long and low stretch is so important but the back legs have to work too.

I worked Ryan 5 -6 days a week but you don't go straight in with a tight pessoa and a load of poles, you spend a couple of weeks gradually building walk up to 20 mins and then walk and trot to 20 mins and then add canter in. Once your horse is coping with a bit of canter, introduced poles maybe week 3 just on the ground around the school initially, it is just to get them elevating their back feet as with KS they have to learn not to drag there hind ends which they are likely to have been used to doing. If your horse is coming correctly through from behind I would have thought it would be using it's abdominals, the worst thing to do would be to work it 3 times a week and do nothing else but that is just my opinion and I am not a qualified vet or physio.

Having been through this my horse enjoyed the opportunity to use his brain a little each day you will be surprised at how they move forward, don't overdo it, take your time but don't waste it would be my advice for what it's worth.

 

[seabiscuit]

I am sorry if I offend anyone here, but how on earth could any of you even consider disregarding the vets advice?!! Svend is the surgeon here and and he has far more experience/expertise knowledge about this whole thing then any physio would. In fact, most physios dont think that the KS operation is any good for horses- that is the extent of their knowledge! Both my physios told me 'dont do the op!' Bounty this is make or break time- they HAVE to be worked hard and made to work in the pessoa- every day- walk trot canter- lots of polework., and that means hard work! Yes, that method makes them work in a tight and stiff outline but once you start riding them you can then get them suppling up and working into a softer and lighter frame.

I am sorry but the proof is in the pudding-nearly every horse worked lightly/flaffed about with in walk post KS op- the horse is retired. Every horse that is worked hard post KS op- usually goes on to have a usefull career! Svend has experimented with all different ways of post op rehab exercise- and the routine that he has decided on works the best, this method is based on 20 years of experiments.

 

[HollyP]

Hi everyone, I'm getting pretty nervous think its starting to hit home that this is happening! again still getting the I dont know why your putting yourself and horse through this...just put her in foal lark but im sticking to my guns!

Hellspells let me know if you remember it? to be honest im considering finding anywhere even if it means i can only see her weekends....i want it done properly and dont think i have the time after work if you know what i mean. i dont want to have to rush!

what were you all told to feed them? as i think i need to rethink what shes on....1/2 calm and condition 1 scoop alfa a oil am/pm lunch one scoop pony nuts and 1 scoop alfa a oil....theres a rubbish joint supplement in pm i think! iv found a supplement im interested in called 326 conditioning from equineanswers (?!) which is a feed balancer.....so i might take her off C+C and go to pony nuts (cheaper for me!)

any advice welcome.....im so glad also that she will get to be rugged up i was dreading them saying because she has stitches/staples that she wouldnt be able to wear a rug! but she can!!

 

[Bounty]

Ouija_Board - No where have I said I am going to disregard Svend's advice

What I did mention was getting my physio to speak to Svend as I feel it is important that everybody is working on the same understanding towards the same goals. The last thing I need is to be pulled in differing directions and constantly having to justify my actions to the physio, or indeed to Svend.

Julieq - the EquiAmi is much less fixed than the pessoa and I find the horses aren't able to lean on it in the same way, so they have to work much more 'properly' than they do in the pessoa. My bunch are far less argumentative about the EquiAmi than the pessoa too, which can only be a good thing!

The principle is the same though - to get the horse working over its back and stepping through with the hinds

 

[seabiscuit]

Sorry Bounty !!

I didnt read through your post properly, I was just so worried for a moment there ! I am sure that everything will be fine and that Svend/your physio can reach a conclusion! Really hope that all goes well for you, how has everything been going so far? x

 

[squirtlysmum]

My horse wouldn't and still will not accept a Passoa and I've lunged him using a bungee to strengthen his back and he's doing really well so there will be some who can't follow the advice.
In relation to the rug I had an old stable rug which I cut a square out of where the staples were and he was so much happier. He had the Op in Oct a couple of years ago and had been clipped before the op was decided on and he was freezing without his PJ's.
I gave him mainly High Fi lite and Speedibeet and after he recovered I gave him Baileys No 1 as he's always been a skinny chap and he filled out beautifully and I believe the pain from his back kept him thin.
Its not been an easy trip as we've had some problems and as I mentioned he declined the passoa big time. After he's had a bit of time off following him trying to sever one of his front legs last year he was bought into work and still unhappy. Following his spine being medicated in May we've not looked back and he's fab and even cantering beautiful circles without his legs becoming disunited.

 

[Bounty]

LOL, your panic was evident, don't worry!

Everything is fine - Rage is looking really well considering. We are 7 weeks behind schedule because of infections and subsequent proud flesh, and those extra few weeks that stopped us getting out of the stable to handwalk have really made a difference to his condition - we have alot more topline to build up than other horses I have known at this stage

but it will come I am sure!
He is either longlining out or going out ride and lead everyday, does his pole work before he gets chucked out and then lunges (walk and trot only atm, week 1 of lunging!) at some point too. He is VERY pleased to be back in proper 'work'

 

[seabiscuit]

Ouch it sounds like it hasnt been a smooth start at all

Owen had a few hiccups along the way as well but he always got back onto track quite easily. But it looks like Rage is on the right track now though- he sounds like he is loving it!!

Keep us updated!!