Poles for KS rehab

[Tingo]

We’re 5 weeks post surgery, all going well so far. He’s walking out up to 30 mins, some hills introduced, daily stretches, and now time to do some pole work. He gets bored easily so apart from straight line and raising, circle fan, and square, what else is good for kissing spknr rehab and keeping horse interested? Thanks you!

 

[GypsGal1718]

good luck for rehab! Sorry no ideas

 

[Tingo]

good luck for rehab! Sorry no ideas

Thank you. It’s an emotional roller coaster!

 

[SEL]

If you can leave them down then I'd build a pattern that you can go straight down, across etc etc. For instance if you're going A to C then a few straight, a diamond, a few more after the diamond and some out E & B so you could do short sides.

But take it slowly because just a few repetitions on each rein is enough to start with or their muscles get tired and they stop using themselves properly.

 

[Tingo]

If you can leave them down then I'd build a pattern that you can go straight down, across etc etc. For instance if you're going A to C then a few straight, a diamond, a few more after the diamond and some out E & B so you could do short sides.

But take it slowly because just a few repetitions on each rein is enough to start with or their muscles get tired and they stop using themselves properly.

Thankyou, good idea and advice, we’ll
start of with a few minutes following in hand walk and build up. Feels painfully slow at times but he’ll be better for it.

 

[J_sarahd]

As someone also in the midst of KS rehab, I feel your pain with the horse getting bored. I try and vary it every time but like SEL said, I don’t do long sessions as it’s very tiring.

I downloaded the Fancy Footwork app. Some of the stuff on there is too much for in-hand/rehab (plus I don’t have time to put out more than a few poles) but there’s some good ideas on there.

 

[Tingo]

As someone also in the midst of KS rehab, I feel your pain with the horse getting bored. I try and vary it every time but like SEL said, I don’t do long sessions as it’s very tiring.

I downloaded the Fancy Footwork app. Some of the stuff on there is too much for in-hand/rehab (plus I don’t have time to put out more than a few poles) but there’s some good ideas on there.

Thank you. I’ll take a loook. Good luck with the rest of your rehab.

 

[sbloom]

I would recommend exercising extreme caution. The work you're doing should be progressive, helping change the movement patterns, the fundamental way of moving, rather than any generic listening/conditioning/strengthening. I'm absolutely passionate above this and get a little frustrated to say th least at the sorts of plans handed out to owners by many vets and physios.

It's HOW the work is done that matters - is the horse moving correctly, straight, starting to push up in front. We actually need to stabilise them but so much work increases range of motion and adds "load" when the horse isn't moving correctly yet.

Have a look at the FB group 7 Secrets of Self Carriage, the first exercise is in part diagnostic, read carefully as there are caveats. I can recommend various online and in person programmes depending on where you horse is at, and that exercise can tell us quite a lot.

IF he's moving correctly then there are loads of things like Jec Ballou 55 Exercises book, but most of them miss the fundamentals, the absolute minute-detail basics. The best thing we can do is train our eye to see whether the exercise is appropriate, is actually helping the horse. If you find me on Facebook and follow my page I reference a lot of this stuff.