Loan pony is lame...

[ArklePig]

Hello!

I've currently got a loan at a riding school that's closed for lessons etc due to covid. I'm properly obsessed with him he's the most polite, quite, gentle horse but goes straight off the leg. The dream. That's irrelevant, I think, I just love talking about how much I love him.

Anyway, I took him out for a ride on Monday, I felt he was a bit off when tacking up and grooming, and a bit slow when usually he's dying to get into the arena.Brought him back in and asked for others opinions as I'm quite novicey. YO came down and advised he had a sore on his overreach (I think that's the term?). So he's been looked over by the vet who said he also maybe had a pull, and he should be fine to ride from tomorrow, but only in walk/trot and then reevaluate after the weekend. Anyway, that's all by way of background.

My question is, if you've made it this far, what should I do with him to take it easy and not over exert him? I was planning on gentle walks down the laneways at the weekend but tomorrow it'll be dark sadly when I'm out. I should mention his only vice is that he's terrified of poles, raised or otherwise bless him. Just thinking both of us will be bored silly if I literally just walk and trot him around the arena? Conscious of the fact he's not been ridden properly since Saturday.

If you made it this far then thanks, but as you can see I'm clueless. Pic of me and Jack being best mates as a reward, and also like I said, I'm obsessed?

 

[Shysmum]

Can you not just give him a few days off to recover ? Then gradually start work again.

 

[AmyMay]

Is that a picture of him?

 

[IrishMilo]

I’m surprised the YO got the vet out for a nick to the fetlock unless it was very bad? A pair of over reach boots will come in handy!

 

[ArklePig]

Yes that's him Amymay.

Sorry shysmum I meant to state that vet and YO both are of the opinion that he should be ridden gently tomorrow. Happy not to ride him though if that's what people think is for the best, can always take your opinions on board and chat with YO again.

I was surprised re vet too, as in my experience riding schools don't call the vet unless absolutely necessary. The sore isn't too bad looking tbh, but was hard to spot as he's very very hairy. I don't know if vet happened to be out anyway or was called specially. This happened on Monday evening and YO said vet looked at him yesterday. I haven't been out myself since Monday, as a riding school loan he is getting all the care etc from yard staff and I'm doing as much as I can trying to learn but sadly couldn't make it up yesterday.

 

[AmyMay]

Ok, deep breath time. He looks poor, really poor (or he’s ancient and poor).

If he’s lame, please don’t ride him or work him in any way.

 

[ester]

I had the same concerns as amymay to the point that I was presuming he was likely cushingoid and if old age associated poss arthritic.

I wouldn't be exercising something that might have had a pull but understand thats trickier if the vet says to.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks Amymay. Like I said just looking opinions, and I don't know an awful lot. That pic was taken on Monday just prior to when lameness was discovered. If he's lame still and the opinion is not to ride him then I'm totally happy not to ride him. I want to do what's best for him. I'm gonna see if I have another pic of him from last week or before to see if you notice any difference if that's okay, like if you think he looks generally poor? I do not want to be riding a horse who should not be at all, that's not something I would be okay with. Bear with...

 

[twiggy2]

Do you have any other photos of him as in that one he does look like he may be lacking a little in the weight department.

 

[poiuytrewq]

How about just taking him for a little wander in hand, maybe for a pick of grass and see how he looks/seems without the added rider to carry.
An over reach is where a horse catches his front heel area usually with his hind foot. Does he have an injury in this area?
The vets opinion I find a little um, casual. I’d not be overly impressed at that if he were mine.
It’s probably nothing major, don’t stress, take a step back. You look very happy

edited to say, I typed this before some of the other replies. Apologies for repeating stuff.

 

[muddybay]

He looks quite boney in that! Do you know what breed he is?

 

[ester]

how old is he AP?

 

[Sail_away]

He looks very sweet. It sounds like your yard manager and the vet have different ideas of the injury though - not quite sure what ‘a sore on his overreach’ means, is there a sore from an overreach boot rubbing? Or has he over-reached and injured the back of his pastern? If he’s pulled something then that’s another thing and I’d personally take it easy for that, perhaps you could do some in hand work for the next couple of days? And I’d want to know what he’s pulled before upping work again.
I have to agree with amymay- he looks very old and hasn’t held his muscle tone well so to be honest I wouldn’t be expecting him to do much work at any time. It is only one photo and you’ve seen him in the flesh - have a look online at body condition scoring and see where you’d put him at. You’re aiming for a decent covering over his hips, his bum should be filled out and you should be able to feel his ribs if you press gently but not see them (some people like to see the last two ribs on a fit horse).

 

[ArklePig]

Not sure if these are any good? I did think he was a bit thin, but he has a bit of weight on his belly. He gets ad lib hay and hard feed in the evening. I haven't a clue what breed he is. He's about 15h.

 

[Sail_away]

A side on photo without a rug would be easiest to see if you have one

 

[ArklePig]

Just found this. Please excuse my too long stirrups and my distinct lack of matchy matchy ? (oh how I aim to be one of those girls)

 

[ArklePig]

This one is better I think. Sorry I only have ridden or stable rugged photos.

Also edited to add I'm not sure how old he is (as an aside is it just me or whenever you ask any RS how old a school horse is they say '' late teens'

 

[poiuytrewq]

To be fair he looks better covered than the first hip photo hinted at I think.
It’s so hard when a horse isn’t yours and there’s a problem. Do you know how old he is?

 

[muddybay]

He looks like a poppet kind of like a pony I used to ride until he was into his 30s! He lived until 40

 

[AmyMay]

I’d hazard a guess at ancient, rather than late teens.

Anyway, I certainly wouldn’t be riding until he’s sound. But ultimately I guess you’ll be guided by the riding school. What a sweet little guy.

 

[paddi22]

I love his fluffy legs, he looks so cute and he is loving you fussing over him!

When you said he felt off, what did you notice? did anyone trot him up and does he look visibly lame? are there any cuts visible on his legs from an overreach?


We get rescues in that often can't be ridden or do much at the start but there's tons of stuff you can do if he is off for a while

a few of the things I do are
- learn how to do carrot stretches properly. they love this and its great for keeping them flexible. there are lots of online demos
- learn basic massage, it's a great bonding thing to do and it really helps you spot where muscles might be sore. loads of online videos and books about this
- there's exercises that Le Trec do that are brilliant for establishing a relationship. these can be done on the ground and give them great manners for standing and mounting.

 

[poiuytrewq]

When the RS is open is he used for lessons?
I wonder if they might be willing to retire him from that side of things and just loan to you. He just looks like he deserves some quiet fuss and attention.
Also wonder why he’s in that bit at a RS

 

[IrishMilo]

He looks much older than late teens. I'd put him at 25 judging by the absolute lack of muscle and how thick his coat is. The belly is probably from poor quality forage. None of that is your doing, obviously!

 

[ArklePig]

Sorry for silly question poiuytrewq by better covered, is that horse speak for not as bony as you first thought? I really appreciate all of your help. I do want to categorically state that I haven't any concerns about the school there's a lot of horses and ponies there and they all look well, and happy to my untrained eye, so I definitely appreciate all of you giving advice on what to look for. My Jack is definitely the only weird looking one there. Whne I first started with him I did think will you're a bit odd looking aren't you, but in a cute way, like a miniature cart horse. He's definitely loving being someone's special horse for a while the wee baby, he's an angel.

To answer what I meant by felt off, I just felt he was a little quiet, not really that fussed about being fussed when usually he's loving it and shows affection back. He just kinda stood there while I put his bridle on when normally he practically does it himself. I walked him into the indoor school and didn't feel great about him so walked him around in hand for a min and thought his leg looked.. Wrong. But like i said i didn't know really what I was looking for so brought him straight back to yard. I do also have a tendency to be a sap about animals so at this point I thought perhaps I was imagining things He was trotted and walked up for YO by a yard staff member. he has a nick on his fetlock under those big hairy legs. Sorry if I'm not explaining this all well, I've never had a horse in my care even slightly before so I might have some terms etc wrong.

Thanks so much Paddi for the ideas, will deffo look up some videos.

 

[ArklePig]

When the RS is open is he used for lessons?
I wonder if they might be willing to retire him from that side of things and just loan to you. He just looks like he deserves some quiet fuss and attention.
Also wonder why he’s in that bit at a RS

Can I ask about the bit please? I just don't really understand this comment and I want to. Its hard to get properly chatting to people at the yard with Covid not being able to get close and everyone having jobs to get on with.

 

[Rumtytum]

He’s lovely, no wonder you adore him ?. My RS horse absolutely loves our post-lesson massage sessions. He also loves grooming, especially with a grooming glove on his hind quarters (not that I can do them at present ?).

 

[Sail_away]

Can I ask about the bit please? I just don't really understand this comment and I want to. Its hard to get properly chatting to people at the yard with Covid not being able to get close and everyone having jobs to get on with.

The bit is a three ring gag - it’s got a million other names too so you may hear people call it something else. It’s fairly severe and you’d usually see it on showjumpers or for a strong horse out hacking. It works by way of a lever action - whatever pressure you put down the reins, it increases it.
Not your decision of course but it’s good to be aware that the bit will increase the force you use with the reins

 

[paddi22]

To answer what I meant by felt off, I just felt he was a little quiet, not really that fussed about being fussed when usually he's loving it and shows affection back. He just kinda stood there while I put his bridle on when normally he practically does it himself. I walked him into the indoor school and didn't feel great about him so walked him around in hand for a min and thought his leg looked.. Wrong. But like i said i didn't know really what I was looking for so brought him straight back to yard. I do also have a tendency to be a sap about animals so at this point I thought perhaps I was imagining things He was trotted and walked up for YO by a yard staff member. he has a nick on his fetlock under those big hairy legs. Sorry if I'm not explaining this all well, I've never had a horse in my care even slightly before so I might have some terms etc wrong.

You are a natural if you picked up something wasn't right with him. a lot of people starting out don't notice stuff like that, so well done. always go with your gut, you are usually right.
People are questioning the bit because usually quiet riding school horses are in a very simple bit, that one is stronger. is he strong when you ride him? It could be a case of the riding school just mixing and matching what they have. as regards his bridle he will be comfier if the throat latch can go a bit longer. easiest way to check is if you can fit a fist between the cheek and the throat latch

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks for that Lillian. He pretty much stops on voice command and a slight shift in my seat so I'm not sure why that's the bit they've chosen for him.

Can I just say while I'm here that this is the most helpful corner of the Internet ever? I find the horse world a bit intimidating, I rode a bit as a child and ultimately stopped as I wasn't competitive and I couldn't with the cliqueyness of teen girls. My sister kept ponies but I was never involved in their care and that was years and years ago so while I do get advice from her, I really rely on this forum.

 

[ArklePig]

Thank you Paddi. I'm pretty good with animals in general to be honest but horses are a different beast all together. Thanks for the tip re throat latch. I want him to be comfy and chilled out. If all I can do with him is take him on in hand walks then that's fine by me for now cause I've really fallen for him and would rather have him and not ride than have a superstar I could ride. I'm a sap ?