Really quite gutted - long & rambly!

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Safina

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Was not sure whether to post here or the lounge but as I post here more frequently and feel a bit more home here.

So quick synopsis...had the boy for 4 years (pure TB, ex-racer, fuzzy history), he was given to me as a "nasty, difficult and sour" freebie. We've worked hard together and built a good partnership - its taken tears, tantrums and a fair amount of £££ but it has been worth it.

We've progressed from not being able to canter or go near a pole to a brilliant, brave XC'er, a not careful but honest SJ'er and a lovely worker on the flat. He is still a nightmare to hack and flightly to handle but we’ve bonded.

He was diagnosed with a bone spavin in Jan '06 but that is fused now and not a problem although its worth remembering he has it when warming up on a cold day.

Anyhoo - been with my instructor for 11 months now. We made leaps and bounds progress in the first 3 months then steady improvement for about 6 months after that but the last 2 months have been really difficult. We are trying to get him to work more uphill and support himself better but he's not really made any improvement (although I am doing better as a rider learning to not support him so much). In fact he has even taken a step back or two reverting to the tantrums he used to throw pre-lessons.

She recommended I see her equine physio - even though I'd seen the generic yard one a few months before. Well, she came on Saturday and the next 2 hours were a complete revelation. She spent a long time massaging him and felt that a lot of his problems were as a result of pain and underdeveloped muscles but that both of those were treatable with a massage/exercise plan. She anticipated this would take at least 6 weeks and recommended that all comps/hunting/lessons etc were cancelled/postponed as there was little point in trying to work new muscles in the specific plan when he would revert to the old “blocked” way if he stuck to his usual routine. Now that makes sense to me and I only want to do what is best for him but I’m gutted as I had a really busy/challenging/fun Nov/Dec planned and that’s all gone now. Even worse I loose my transport in January so even if he does get fit & fantastic there feels like little point now.

Now for the really bad bit – she found an indication that he had received a trauma to his rear end a few years ago. She felt it would have been a fairly serious accident – rearing and falling on concrete or going over in a lorry for example. Either way its caused some serious muscle trauma and more than likely fractured his seat bone at the time. So the up shot is, even if we can get things working over the back better and get him to engage his bottom instead of pulling from the shoulder, it looks like physically he’ll reach a point where his behind just cannot do a better job.

I feel awful, I knew he was never going to be a Badminton horse (Intro & P-N are/were our aims!!) but its just awful knowing that he has got a physical limit. I’m not sure how I feel now especially as, whilst I love him, my main aim is to improve at home and compete. I know we’ve got a few years getting to that point though on the plus side.

Sorry this is so long and rambly – I guess I am just looking for a friendly shoulder. My family all immediately went down the “sell it” route and my horsey friends don’t really get that neither he nor I will ever be happy hackers.

He had such a rubbish start and I’ve been the most solid presence in his life – I could never part with him (even if someone did want him with a spavin & broken bottom!)

Thanks for listening.
 
That's such an awful shame for you. But don't be too down - horses have a funny habit of surprising us. It may well be that with correct musculature he can compensate considerably for his damaged rear. If you're thinking that it will be a few years before he reaches his limits, don't tarnish what you have now by fretting.
 
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Dont think of it as the end, when someone drops a bomb on you, its hard to see past the smoke; give the dust time to settle and assess where you really are. To be honest if this is only going to be a problem in terms of engagement, I really dont see how its going to provide a massive problem for your eventing plans - intro/pre nov is by no means badminton & you frequently see 5yos having a jolly round them with no or very little engagement! If its going to be a soundess problem, take things one day at a time & perhaps ask your vet for help, as realistically a physio isnt really qualified to dump that kind of prognosis on your horse!
 
Thanks - you are both right. I guess it was a case of [smack 1] postpone everything you've got planned for the next 4-6weeks ish....oh and [smack 2] he'll have a physical limit. Shortly followed up by (on the same day) [smack 3] my transport won't be available anymore.

You've both cheered me up - it really is just an engagement thing, he has no soundness problems (at the moment...touch wood...cross fingers!). It cannot be that bad...we completed MK 3 day twice this year (finishing 4 faults over our drssage score in Autumn) so his flatwork cannot be too dreadful. I suppose the physio program and muscle "retrain" should help his flat improve regardless of his wonky bottom.
 
I had an eventer with a wonky pelvis. I knew that he'd been a prolific young show jumper in Ireland but then he ended up over here, in a field and I got him cheaply. He'd obviously had an accident and that's why he was cheap.

He went intermediate and was a cracking horse. I bought a muscle stimulator that I used after every event to keep him right. When I retired him, he went hunting and is still out hunting every week. Don't despair but be aware of the problem and work to keep it right
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Dont despair as one of my horses has been a similar battle- just liike yours, I could say that both horses share many similar things. My horse- after 4 years of hell- is now physically superb, can jump the moon and is working up the grades in dressage. .No physio or vet can fault him- the same physios and vets that once thought he should be retired and would never amount to much.
The thing is that all horses change so much once they are using the correct muscles and they become strong, then they just go from strength to strength, the stronger they get the more athletically capable they become, and old injuries become a real thing of the past.
H wave machines are brilliant. I want to buy one for myself because I reckon they are the only machines that keep the muscles supple elastic and stop them becoming blocked. But many physios dont use them when they should do. Saddles. Look at what saddle you are using- one with serge panels or a WOW saddle.
Also have you heard of Gavin Schofield?he is an osteopath/healer- I swear that he is mostly responsible for getting my horse sorted out.
Do not take your physio's words as Gospel. Never accept that it is the end.. Wonders do happen, and can happen.
 
Not a good day then. Don't forget that every single horse in the world does have a limit. I had a lovely horse but he couldn't jump bigger than a Discovery. He was still a lovely horse and I had loads of fun on him. Most horses will never get past PN so it isn't really hadicapping him.

The other thing is that this has never been mentioned to you before, surely your vet would have spotted it when the Spavin problem was first noticed. I would get a second opinion before writing him off, what qualifications does this lady have?

I'm sure you'll be writing loads of competion reports in the future and look forward to reading your first Novice report
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If I were you I would follow the expert's programme and see how he goes.
A horse that has had an accident often has mental worries too, such as "If I step under that bit more it may hurt!"
You can only ask what he will give and if you do too much as you have seen, he lets you know.
When we started with Chocolate (broken pelvis aged 5, 18 months box rest, then nothing but hacking occasionally ever since) he was unlevel and weak behind.
It's taken a year of schooling and lungeing and now he is sound and can work much better.
I would stick your horse on a good supplement (Chocx responds to Multi-Plex HA better than anything else we've tried), give plenty of oil in his diet and turn him out as much as poss to avoid any stiffness.
We now use the pessoa on him but couldn't have done that a year ago, it was too severe.
Don't give up, at least try and see how he improves after treatment. We have the McTimoney practitioner out to him regularly and it does nip in the bud any likely tight areas.
I think you have put so much effort into him it would be daft to stop now, just give him every chance and see what happens.
The best of luck, go and look at the vids in the gallery of Chocx (Cazcrazyjonty) and you will notice the stiffness is only on the sharp turns, and it takes a good judge to spot them!
 
[weep] All thank you so so much for your replies. I am touched that you've taken the time to respond and I can honestly say your posts have cheered me up no end.

Its been lovely to read about your individual success stories and see that there are plenty of other horses out there with muscle/skeletal problems that have responded well to treatment and been successful as competition horses and been lovely rides as well.

In response individually -

Loneranger - loving the idea of a muscle stimulator, I've seen rugs that do the whole body and with Christmas coming Santa might be kind! I've recently started hunting him and he loved it - something tells me that a (post successful eventing career) retirement hunting would suit him fine!

Christmas Derby (loving the name btw) - what a fabulous story and a real inspiration. I agree that once he starts using the "blocked" muscles he'll find it easier to build them up and use himself properly - if he can remain pain free I know 100% he'd put in every ounce of effort he has for me. Another vote for a muscle stimulator of some sort...def on the Christmas list along with a new saddle methinks. Its checked and flocked frequently but it was not made to measure and with his pronounced wither and dipped back he'd probably benefit from a WOW. I've not heard of Gavin Schofield - I presume he is local to you? I might have a google!

DieselDog - my vet noticed the slightly pronounced lump at the seat bone on the near side but did not feel it was cause for concern although mentioned that it make have caused increased pressure on his hock (spavin is near side). I agree with you about not agreeing blindly with what a physio says but I've checked out her qualifications (can PM you her site) and as the recommendation came from my instructor I feel I can put faith in her prognosis. Its not all doom and gloom....like you are all saying its not about writing off the horse, just being aware of potential hurdles.

HH - I must look at your vids at home tonight (evil work has blocked them!). Another great success story and confirmation that horses with physical and mental barriers can achieve balance and correct carriage. I hope that I am giving him all the help he needs to get there - luckily he is turned out at least 8 hours a day and I've got him on soya oil (lovely coat) and NAFF Super flex as well so that should help.

I guess that we need to just keep going together and if we ever reach a point that - even with the best saddle, muscle stimulator, regular back treatments, supplements/oils, rest, turnout etc - he tells me that that is as far as he can go then we'll stop right there and enjoy the level that we reach.

Something tells me we have got a way to go and I am going to make sure I enjoy every minute of it.

Thanks again [hugs all round]
 
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