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wezzie

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I have a question, I have a horse he is 16.3 was meant for the track but had operations when he was 2 1/2 and 3 because of ocd. This does not seem to have an affect on him anymore and has been sound for 7 years. He was a free horse and so far has surpassed my expectations. I have been doing lessons with him for a year and we have started trail riding. I am wondering how to get him into top shape without over working him. His right leg is slightly shorter and his right hoof a tad smaller. Any excercise ideas? to strengthen him up?
 
Sorry OP but OCD is a degenerative joint disease and as such doesnt get better, but worse over time. I find it difficult to see how he can be Completely sound if he has 1 short leg, this surely must show as a lameness in his gaits ?
Has a vet passed him as fit and sound ?
Im glad youve had good years with him and hope he continues to be ridable for a while, but as said the condition is degenerative.
 
I have only had Rico for a year, the vet said he is fit as a fiddle, all I plan on doing is pleasure riding, and yes he has a hitch in his giddy up but in the year I have had my lessons on him he has never been lame. Ferrier believes with shoes we can make the legs a bit more even, All I am asking is for maybe some exercise routines to help stregthen him up
 
Wezzie, you are cleary a member from the other side of the Atlantic. I would suggest hillwork and steady walking - the best fitness programme there is for any horse.
 
fatpiggy said:
Wezzie, you are cleary a member from the other side of the Atlantic. I would suggest hillwork and steady walking - the best fitness programme there is for any horse.
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I think it depends, my boy has ocd in his hocks and found hillwork painful, even on a small gradient, speak your vet first
 
Sorry to disagree but if the horse had ocd chips and they were removed in an operation as a youngster there is no reason why the horse wouldn't make a full recovery. Yes there's an increased risk of degenerative changes in later life but ocd chips are very common in large horses especially tb and warmbloods and removing these chips is common place on many large studs. As for being lame, a horse can be uneven without being lame, obviously we aim to have our horses as even as possible to avoid uneven wear and tear which will lead to lameness. If the vet thinks he's good to go then crack on =D

What I would suggest is get him seen by a physio as often as possible because he will be using himself differently than a more symmetrical horse.
As for exercises hill work, pole work, lots of long and low and getting him to really stretch his nose to the floor to open his back and then work on getting him to really bend around your inside leg independently of your inside rein and some shoulder in to get him stepping under with hind leg.
That's what I would try =)
 
milo'n'molly said:
Sorry to disagree but if the horse had ocd chips and they were removed in an operation as a youngster there is no reason why the horse wouldn't make a full recovery. Yes there's an increased risk of degenerative changes in later life but ocd chips are very common in large horses especially tb and warmbloods and removing these chips is common place on many large studs. If the vet thinks he's good to go then crack on =D

What I would suggest is get him seen by a physio as often as possible because he will be using himself differently than a more symmetrical horse.
As for exercises hill work, pole work, lots of long and low and getting him to really stretch his nose to the floor to open his back and then work on getting him to really bend around your inside leg independently of your inside rein and some shoulder in to get him stepping under with hind leg.
That's what I would try =)
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This ^^^ If horse is sound then enjoy him! YES he MAY have an increased risk of suffering arthritic changes later in life but then he may not. Look after his joints by supplying him with omega oils (micronised linseed is a good source) and a good quality joint supplement and there is no reason why he shouldn't continue to be sound for years to come. The trick is to build him up slowly - making sure his muscles, tendons and ligaments have plenty of time to adjust to any increase in workload.

A sad fact of horse ownership is that they can go wrong at any time with no real explaination so we should just enjoy them (without abusing them!) while we have the pleasure of having them.
 
The ocd started in his shoulder 2 operations and they worked on tendons and connective tissue, he does well going up hill have not done a canter on him, walk, trot mostly, working slow as I do not want to cause him harm, and I really enjoy who he is as a horse. the operations were all done before his 3rd birthday
 
I like milo & mollys suggestions. I would get a physio to access him and give you a plan...you may also find that the physio can give you some exercises to do on the ground too - I do lots of stretches with my mare.

Glad you are enjoying him. It is great you are being so careful with him, hopefully a physio can give you the go ahead to do a little more.
 
milo'n'molly said:
Sorry to disagree but if the horse had ocd chips and they were removed in an operation as a youngster there is no reason why the horse wouldn't make a full recovery. Yes there's an increased risk of degenerative changes in later life but ocd chips are very common in large horses especially tb and warmbloods and removing these chips is common place on many large studs. As for being lame, a horse can be uneven without being lame, obviously we aim to have our horses as even as possible to avoid uneven wear and tear which will lead to lameness. If the vet thinks he's good to go then crack on =D
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I agree with th above. i had a horse with OCD both hocks were operated on and the bone chips taken out and the cartlege scraped back. a year later I had the vet x ray and check him out. He gave me the all clear to sell him. He felt that there would be no reason why he would have an issue in the future.

If he has not been lame in 7 years, then I think you will find he should be ok
 
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