Opinions and/or suggestions please !

flohelf

flohelf

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Here it is:
Old boy knows it all(ex 2* eventer going 18) but vet's orders on his work routine are the following:
- Light work on the flat and no-no's are : Small circles, canter -walk transitions, lunging so we generally do short light work on the flat (leg yield, shoulders-in, half-pass, transitions etc...) just to keep him and his top line in good shape.
- Jumping big (which he loves !) is forbidden and we're only allowed cavaletti-height fences which he tends to jump as if they were biggies ! (As I'm so scared he might hurt himself I really stick to small heights...)
- We hack and he loves it and I do some of it on the bit, keeping his condition in mind.
AS A RESULT: I feeel (as I know him by heart and can tell) that more and more ofen, he is UTTERLY bored (or downright fed up with it all...?) with the whole thing (especially flat work) and as he has always been an enthusiastic, willing and very bold horse, I wish I could vary the work more without overlooking the health issue as I want to keep him fit, not blase and happy !
Opinions + brilliant and creative ideas would be really welcome !
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THANKS
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What medical reason is there for his work routine to be so light?
IMO one should always listen to what the horse is telling you, if he is saying that he wants to do some proper work, then by all means work him a little harder! He will tell you when he's had enough...
 
Just an idea (and I know you said he jumps big over even the little jumps) but what about doing some little local Hunter Trials or playing over some XC fences. At least it would be something different to look at?
Could you box up and go hacking some where different, what about the beach?

Probably stuff you have already thought off?
 
Hi Flo, where've you been? Not seen you on here for ages! Hope you are well?
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My mum was still schooling her 21 year old boy, I still did a bit of xc on him and he loved it. His conformation was so bad though, he should never have made it as far in life! He is now retired but at 22, he is the picture of health. I think a little more on the odd occasion shouldn't hurt but I don't know the reason why you are only allowed to do minimal work
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Thanks DofftheDerby ! He would def say yes to the eventing offer. Was such a great xc horse, maybe he's just bored from not doing it anymore...
Apart from a sparvin which is no big deal, we found that he had a deterioration of the bone density on one of his cannon (can't find the exact English translation). In fact, it's like ostheoporosis in women except the cause is not hormones but wear and tear.Main reason he can't jump big anymore: It could fracture...
Aside from that, he's still very supple, has practically no arthritis for his age and excellent tissues according to vet.
I'm a bit puzzled as I'm not sure whether the issue isplain boredom or physical weariness
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Aww that is such a shame...sounds like he really does want to go out and party but obviously it would be a risk to do anything more than he is doing now.

How about taking him swimming? Its a change of scene and wont exert his legs. Would just give him something different to think about!

How is he bred by the way, he sounds so cool!
 
Thanks foryour suggestions, JoBo.
They don't do hunter trials in france
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. When we hack, we go over small ditches or branches, or whatever as long as it is small. I get so paranoid about the risk of fracture due to his overenthusiastic response to any "let's jump" signals
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Hi Lou !
Your mother's 21-year old sounds great and an encouragement for any owner of a former competitive but now aging horse...!
I do try to vary activities as much as I can, especially for his morale. And he is turned out every morning until mid-day. But, lately he seems to really resent his routine on the flat.
Maybe I'm just being a silly old poop
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You know,one of my dreams has always been to take him to the beach and I have not given up on the idea... I think he would love it...And so would I
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Still on my agenda when I can work out transport, stabling, etc...
He's a French Trotter. Was not bred for eventing at all !!! Turned out to be an extremely bold and scopey jumper and surprised many for making it past the pre-nov level unlike the few trotters on the French circuit. His weak point was dressage but he always delivered thanks to double clears. had a bit of a nice SJ career too.
 
My horse was diagnosed with bog spavins earlier this year and although now we're back up to full work as they have been treated we had to follow a light work programme for a couple of months.My mare really has to have her work varied and would get very bored if we did only flatwork so I found hacking through fields popping over any small logs,twigs through water and over ditches would really cheer her up as she loves her cross country.It's easy to vary work out and about-you can even chuck a little lateral work in-it got to the point quite enjoyed our outings.probably things you've thought of.
 
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He's a French Trotter. Was not bred for eventing at all !!! Turned out to be an extremely bold and scopey jumper and surprised many for making it past the pre-nov level unlike the few trotters on the French circuit. His weak point was dressage but he always delivered thanks to double clears. had a bit of a nice SJ career too.

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Wow, thats fascintating! I was expecting you to say that he was a Selle Francias with top bloodlines or something like that!

Hope that you can find a way to make it to the beach!
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Thanks loulum.
Yes, I think that what you're describing with your mare is pretty much what I try to do although our hacking sounds less exciting than yours due to very limited hacking ground around here (the local farmers hate us
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Flat work IS varied including ground poles (he likes it !) even if not for a long time. He's a great master with lots of nice push buttons on
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and still teaches me a lot.
Maybe the question is: Is there a time in a horse's life when he no longer enjoys doing his job
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" Hope that you can find a way to make it to the beach!"

Yes, I think I will and as he was born not far from the atlantic ocean, think he might get a kick out of it
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Me better find a way to stay onboard I think
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Maybe you could try turning him out 24/7? is that a possibility? That way he is less likley to be so over exuberant when faced with little jumps because he will have used a lot of his energy walking around his field.

Also i want to say i'm sorry this has happened to your boy when he so obviously still enjoys his work.
 
Thanks, IcarusGirl.
Unfortunately, he can't be turned out 24/7 due to limited space, horse turnover at my yard.
I think you're right in that his head still wants to do what his body can't...
He's always been a fighter and a toughie, never limped once in his life and prob can't understand why we don't do any more of the challenging and exciting stuff !
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