FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
Link to my first post about this horse:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...aghetti-Legs&highlight=Project spaghetti legs
Thought I would do an update as things have changed rather a lot!
Since the last update I stopped jumping her and did a 6 week walking programme as instructed by the physio. I walked her out either under saddle or led from my other horse 5 days a week for an hour a day and this made a big difference to her musculature.
I also found out what I had long suspected, that she had had a serious fall with a rider on and landed on her hind end. Presumably this is when she also broke her tail. She carries her tail to the side, this will probably not change as the tail is now bent but happily causes her no pain.
The walking programme worked extremely well and she stopped brushing behind with every step. Previously she trashed brushing boots on a weekly basis.
I built back up to trotting but still wasn't cantering due to previous *behaviour* which put me off a bit! Nothing serious but I am a bit of a wimp if I even think they might buck so with no real grounds for it, we mainly walked and trotted.
Then I signed her and Daisy up for a week of intensive lessons with a really good instructor between Christmas and NY.
This was really a turning point:
Daisy pleeeeeeease will you be my fwiend??
However she only actually had three lessons before getting an abscess:
And then not to do things by halves another one at the same time!
This put her out of work for a week and then guess what. Daisy got three abscesses concurrently which put her out for 2 weeks plus another 2 weeks out of lessons and competitions because she has PSSM and any time off means a slow measured return to work:
And this, is when it finally all came together for Peaches. She has had all Daisy's lessons and competition plans to herself.
Bearing in mind she couldn't canter round the school at the start of January, she is now, flying.
6 months ago I could barely hold her in a bridle, now my 6yr old can hold her (closely supervised of course!).
And last night we got this:
Only a little 55cm class however this was a new venue for her which even Daisy always acts the goat at as it's quite a lot to take in and she didn't put a foot wrong. Cantered the whole round of 13 jumps and was extremely forward, amazing and impeccably behaved throughout.
Then perhaps even more exciting today I schooled her here:
Which I absolutely wouldn't have dared do even a month ago, and we cantered circles and everything no problem at all.
Like I said the last time we still have a mountain to climb however at this point I now have a mentally and physically well horse to start with. Literally every time I ride her is an improvement on the last and every ride she improves from start to finish. I really couldn't be happier with her, she has already far exceeded my expectations and really I feel she has a long way to go yet before we hit the ceiling. Her paces are now so nice that people keep admiring them, so, no more spaghetti legs, she's now a show jumping dressage diva / eventer in training. (I'm going to have to seriously man up this year!).
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...aghetti-Legs&highlight=Project spaghetti legs
Thought I would do an update as things have changed rather a lot!
Since the last update I stopped jumping her and did a 6 week walking programme as instructed by the physio. I walked her out either under saddle or led from my other horse 5 days a week for an hour a day and this made a big difference to her musculature.
I also found out what I had long suspected, that she had had a serious fall with a rider on and landed on her hind end. Presumably this is when she also broke her tail. She carries her tail to the side, this will probably not change as the tail is now bent but happily causes her no pain.
The walking programme worked extremely well and she stopped brushing behind with every step. Previously she trashed brushing boots on a weekly basis.
I built back up to trotting but still wasn't cantering due to previous *behaviour* which put me off a bit! Nothing serious but I am a bit of a wimp if I even think they might buck so with no real grounds for it, we mainly walked and trotted.
Then I signed her and Daisy up for a week of intensive lessons with a really good instructor between Christmas and NY.
This was really a turning point:
Daisy pleeeeeeease will you be my fwiend??
However she only actually had three lessons before getting an abscess:
And then not to do things by halves another one at the same time!
This put her out of work for a week and then guess what. Daisy got three abscesses concurrently which put her out for 2 weeks plus another 2 weeks out of lessons and competitions because she has PSSM and any time off means a slow measured return to work:
And this, is when it finally all came together for Peaches. She has had all Daisy's lessons and competition plans to herself.
Bearing in mind she couldn't canter round the school at the start of January, she is now, flying.
6 months ago I could barely hold her in a bridle, now my 6yr old can hold her (closely supervised of course!).
And last night we got this:
Only a little 55cm class however this was a new venue for her which even Daisy always acts the goat at as it's quite a lot to take in and she didn't put a foot wrong. Cantered the whole round of 13 jumps and was extremely forward, amazing and impeccably behaved throughout.
Then perhaps even more exciting today I schooled her here:
Which I absolutely wouldn't have dared do even a month ago, and we cantered circles and everything no problem at all.
Like I said the last time we still have a mountain to climb however at this point I now have a mentally and physically well horse to start with. Literally every time I ride her is an improvement on the last and every ride she improves from start to finish. I really couldn't be happier with her, she has already far exceeded my expectations and really I feel she has a long way to go yet before we hit the ceiling. Her paces are now so nice that people keep admiring them, so, no more spaghetti legs, she's now a show jumping dressage diva / eventer in training. (I'm going to have to seriously man up this year!).
!
