Quick straw poll: would you consider a rehab yard?

Natch

Natch

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Would you consider sending your horse to a rehabilitation yard, and if so under what circumstances?

Just wanting to do a quick straw poll as its something some friends and I are considering setting up.

Honest opinions and all replies appreciated. :)
 
I've left it deliberately vague Joanne, as i'm interested to hear from people who are interested in all sorts of different avenues. e.g.

behavoural problems
Weight issues
return from injury
and so on.
 
Naturally said:
I've left it deliberately vague Joanne, as i'm interested to hear from people who are interested in all sorts of different avenues. e.g.

behavoural problems
Weight issues
return from injury
and so on.
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LOL ok, i'm with you.
Unless the cases are severe, or the owner lacks the facilities, I am more of a mind to try and work with the owner in the horse's usual setting.
 
Never thought such things existed, do they do them for owners lol Personally I would want to sort problem my self with assistance from someone experienced in that field. Hence why as soon as I have full time work in Feb/March Samba is going onto a yard with onsite tuition.
 
I did, but only as a last resort, after I had been sent unconsious to A&E. I sent him, after my vet, dentist, chiro, and saddler had all told me they could find no problems, and after my instructors were refusing to ride him, as his random explosions of vertical handstands, corkscrewing, followed by rearing were deemed far too dangerous to be worth risking. He was branded an evil b******* by his dressage trainer who thought he had simply learnt how easily he could ditch me to get out of doing any work.

He was a 17.2hh, 9 yr old TB who, in the space of 6 months had turned into a loonatic, yet he appeared to be sound, and all the normal checks concluded the horse was in good health with perfectly fitted tack.

I was very picky about who I sent him too, and I chose a highly regarded, specialist with over 30 years proven experience in rehabilitating horses who have 'lost their way' and who has an enviable record of breaking in and bringing on successful eventers, and as if by magic within 24 hours I had a phone call and I was told that when certain aids were applied, my horse's reactions showed the trainer where the problems were stemming from, and I booked the horse into the vets for scans and xrays, and we found out even though the horse appeared to be sound, he must have been in absolute agony at times - hence the random behaviour.

Sending my horse away to the right person was the best thing I've ever done, but I'm fully aware that had I sent him to a less experienced 'trainer' who, like the instructors and everyone else who saw my horse, thought they could see no physical reason why he was behaving in this manner, he'd probably have been shot by now.
 
Well I did. After a couple months box rest following an injury my usually quiet horse turned into a complete nutter and nearly killed me and himself by his stupid behaviour. I struggled for 3 weeks with Sedalin from the vet - but things didn't get any better. So I sent him to a livery yard and with the aid of different sedation from the vet, a very experienced YO and staff, a horse walker, and a large menage, lots TLC and frequent work he returned home sound and back to his normal self.

It depends on what you mean by rehab. From injury, as above, or behaviourial?
 
At the moment I'm looking at all rehab, including injury and behavioural. Interesting range with just a few answers here. Anyone else like to comment, even if its just to say they don't know or would't consider it?

By the way it comes from a background of 3 people on a therapeutic equine course, and between us without the course have specialisms in massage, teaching, backing, reiki, intuitive animal communication and natural horsemanship. Post-course we will also have nutrition and science (equine biology type) qualifications, and hopefully a shed load of contacts for specialists in physio, remedial trimming/shoeing, dentistry, physio etc etc. So lots of potential for different directions, just wanted to sound people out about what they would use a rehab yard for :)
 
I think I would be suspicious of a yard which offered 'all' rehab unless it was a massive setting.
I would only send an injured horse there if it had suprb rehab facilities-the hydrotherapy, massage pads, walker, menage the lot, which is going to cost a lot to install. However, I would send a horse there.
As for behavioural, that's a whole different area imo, and I would be relying on word of mouth recommendation to send my horse there.
 
To add, having seen about your 'qualifications'. I would only be sending a horse for tendon/ligament injuries, or controlled walking. All the 'fluffy' healing such as reiki etc. would not encourage me to go, but someone who was for example a veterinary physiotherapist would. IMO that is the only qualification that would stand out to me beyond pure experience.
What knowledge will you have about treatment for suspensory ligamenets? For tendon injuries etc?
 
Sorry, I'm obviously not making this very clear.

I'm enquiring about what type of rehab you would, or have, or would not use.

I'm not suggesting we will be able to offer it all.

Its a possibility that is really only in its very infancy at the moment - we haven't definately decided to offer anything, and are well aware there will be additional qualifications and experience to go out and get. It was just a post to test the water very broadly.
 
It isn't something that I personally would be interested in as generally speaking I can cope with anything (with my 2) and if my personal circumstances changed etc, my yard owner is really good.

As others have said, if I did need a professional to my horse, I'd much rather they work alongside me at my yard. I.e. I have an appointment with an equine sports massage lady this week. :)

If there was livery on a rehab centre and depending on what it offered (i.e. Reiki and communicatin etc), then I would consider moving my horse here, so I had pro's onsite but only if required rather than that being the sole purpose of my horse being there
 
SusieT said:
I think I would be suspicious of a yard which offered 'all' rehab unless it was a massive setting.
I would only send an injured horse there if it had suprb rehab facilities-the hydrotherapy, massage pads, walker, menage the lot, which is going to cost a lot to install. However, I would send a horse there.
As for behavioural, that's a whole different area imo, and I would be relying on word of mouth recommendation to send my horse there.
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I agree with this
 
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