Should I consider a sharer again? Rehabbing horse

[Daniel_Jack]

Some background; my 11 year old cob was diagnosed with some mild but chronic hind suspensory issues in October. Fast forward to now and she's doing well - injections, remedial shoeing and a very, very slow rehab seem to be working. She's now hacking for an hour and we're building it up each week or so. She's also now cleared for ridden work in the arena albeit only in walk right now and only 15/20 minutes.

Before all this started I had a sharer 3 days per week. She mostly hacked her as that's what they both prefer. I ended the share after the issue was identified as at that point we didn't know if she'd come sound again.

I'd originally decided not to bother with another sharer as I didn't want to risk her doing too much but I can only really ride her 3/4 times a week and despite best efforts (restricted grazing, stabling during the day, soaked hay) she's still plump and physio would like to see her in more work.

Forgetting the minefield that is actually finding the right sharer, do you think it's worth the risk of even considering it. My old sharer would have been perfect but think she's found something else and not sure if the benefits of finding someone else outweigh the potential risks of her breaking down again due to increased workload!

 

[Birker2020]

Some background; my 11 year old cob was diagnosed with some mild but chronic hind suspensory issues in October. Fast forward to now and she's doing well - injections, remedial shoeing and a very, very slow rehab seem to be working. She's now hacking for an hour and we're building it up each week or so. She's also now cleared for ridden work in the arena albeit only in walk right now and only 15/20 minutes.

Before all this started I had a sharer 3 days per week. She mostly hacked her as that's what they both prefer. I ended the share after the issue was identified as at that point we didn't know if she'd come sound again.

I'd originally decided not to bother with another sharer as I didn't want to risk her doing too much but I can only really ride her 3/4 times a week and despite best efforts (restricted grazing, stabling during the day, soaked hay) she's still plump and physio would like to see her in more work.

Forgetting the minefield that is actually finding the right sharer, do you think it's worth the risk of even considering it. My old sharer would have been perfect but think she's found something else and not sure if the benefits of finding someone else outweigh the potential risks of her breaking down again due to increased workload!

I don't think there are that many people (out of a massive wide circle of horsey friends and aquaintances) that I can honestly say would know how to rehab a horse.

It's not until you've been through it yourself (in my case a number of times over the years) that you can appreciate how worrying, time consuming and costly it can be.

I used to really enjoy rehabbing my horse from injury, of course I'd rather the injuries hadn't happened in the first place but I knew what to do most of the time which was really useful and I had the Ice Vibe boots, massage pad and LW ultrasound that I borrowed to help me along the way.

 

[EchoInterrupted]

As someone who has shared and is currently looking for a share, a horse in rehab would make me think twice, but you may be able to find someone who is more of a happy hacker than me and has the knowledge and desire to be investing lots of time in rehabbing. If you're looking for a financial contribution and the horse can do very little I think a sharer isn't a great fit right now. Maybe your past sharer, who you know and trust, would be interested in just taking her out once a week or so, without making a financial contribution? That way you could be sure you trust the sharer and that they won't overdo it and they wouldn't have to give up their new share that may be more of a safe bet for them. Or maybe there's a mother/daughter pair at your yard who only have one horse between them who would love to have a second horse one or two days a week so they can hack out together? With them having their own horse already to do the more "exciting" stuff on, they might be less likely to overdo it with yours

 

[I'm Dun]

I don't think there are that many people (out of a massive wide circle of horsey friends and aquaintances) that I can honestly say would know how to rehab a horse.

It's not until you've been through it yourself (in my case a number of times over the years) that you can appreciate how worrying, time consuming and costly it can be.

I used to really enjoy rehabbing my horse from injury of course, I'd rather the injuries hadn't happened in the first place but I knew what to do most of the time whcih was really useful and I had the Ice Vibe boots, massage pad and LW ultrasound that I borrowed to help me along the way.

But they arent rehabbing them. They would be hacking out. No need for boots or anything else surely?

I've got an older semi retired cob sound but wouldnt be if someone hammered him. He gets pimped out to friends and family and I occasionally toy with the idea of finding someone for him, but usually decide its not worth the hassle. If weight was a big issue then it would tip the balance and I would look for someone. I wouldnt charge and would consider them to be doing me a favour. So I'd look and see if someone suitable turned up.

 

[Michen]

I would be paying someone to ride the horse as it sounds like it needs more exercise.

I would not be entrusting a rehabbing horse with a sharer, unless they were a completely known entity.

 

[Birker2020]

But they arent rehabbing them. They would be hacking out. No need for boots or anything else surely?

I've got an older semi retired cob sound but wouldnt be if someone hammered him. He gets pimped out to friends and family and I occasionally toy with the idea of finding someone for him, but usually decide its not worth the hassle. If weight was a big issue then it would tip the balance and I would look for someone. I wouldnt charge and would consider them to be doing me a favour. So I'd look and see if someone suitable turned up.

When you are bringing a horse back into work (depending on what the injury is) it's useful to use certain 'tools' like Ice Vibe boots as they warm the tendons up prior to exercise and you can cool them down on the cold setting. So if you have a tendon injury they can be really useful. So this works in conjunction with any exercise plan that you may have developed with your vet or physio.

Same with a massage pad, when a horse is injured or in pain this can be a useful item to have as it improves stiffness and promotes relaxation due to stimulation of the muscles. Horses overcompensate which is why you often have other areas that develop pain in response to injury because they will be holding themselves or carrying themselves differently. The massage pad will tease out any areas of inflammation and its handy to have prior to having a saddle on and following a ride.

 

[I'm Dun]

When you are bringing a horse back into work (depending on what the injury is) it's useful to use certain 'tools' like Ice Vibe boots as they warm the tendons up prior to exercise and you can cool them down on the cold setting. So if you have a tendon injury they can be really useful. So this works in conjunction with any exercise plan that you may have developed with your vet or physio.

Same with a massage pad, when a horse is injured or in pain this can be a useful item to have as it improves stiffness and promotes relaxation due to stimulation of the muscles. Horses overcompensate which is why you often have other areas that develop pain in response to injury because they will be holding themselves or carrying themselves differently. The massage pad will tease out any areas of inflammation and its handy to have prior to having a saddle on and following a ride.

But none of that is anything to do with a sharer surely? I cant see it hurts, but its not something thats ever been recommended by my vet or physio etc. If it was I would do it myself, rather than expect someone who doing me a favour hacking out an overweight horse.

Seeing OP never mentioned massage pads or boots or any other "therapy" I'd imagine its not an issue in this instance.

 

[Daniel_Jack]

Sorry just to clarify; horse is good to go according to vet/physio and it's just a case of gradually increasing exercise - no rehabbing per say. No boots/massages/therapy. It's more a question of whether the risks out weighs the benefit.

Rider weight is definitely an issue though so may be a limiting factor.

 

[EchoInterrupted]

Sorry just to clarify; horse is good to go according to vet/physio and it's just a case of gradually increasing exercise - no rehabbing per say. No boots/massages/therapy. It's more a question of whether the risks out weighs the benefit.

Ooh if it's just a matter of getting fit then may be worth trying to find a sharer, but being up front about the fact you may be a bit "micromanagy" to begin with and that he's just coming back into work. If there happens to be someone available that is recommended to you by someone trusted, I would say go for it but be super direct about your horse's needs. Advertising and having to find someone unknown... not sure, with the amount of time spent talking to people, trying out new sharers, monitoring them when they first start, etc it may be less of a headache to just hire an exercise rider (or have the yard do it if that's a service they provide?) until he's fully back in shape and you wouldn't be as worried.

ETA - if you happen to be located in London give me a shout (though if you say rider weight is a limiting factor, I may be too tall to fit the bill)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would not just trust a stranger with just walking my horse coming out of rehab, and I think it's cheeky to charge someone to essentially just walk for an hour

 

[FlyingCircus]

I was a sharer for many years and wouldn't be interested in paying to bring anyone else's horse into work. If it was an exceptional horse, then maybe I would do it for free but even then doubtful.

 

[Winters100]

Maybe going against the grain here, but if I just wanted a nice safe horse (assuming that he is this) to go for a hack in walk then for sure I would consider this, and would be happy to pay some kind of contribution. There must be older riders whose days of racing around are over, but who would happily get back in the saddle and pay a small fee for it. I think you have to be realistic about what someone would pay, probably just a nominal amount, but it might be worth putting feelers out. You don't have to go ahead unless you are happy with the fit.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

If your previous sharer is trustworthy and presumably she is genuinely fond of the horse then she may be pleased to be asked if she could help. Definitely no charge - you could even offer her something towards her other share / petrol. Good luck.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It's more a question of whether the risks out weighs the benefit.

If this bit is currently unclear perhaps Michen's suggestion of paying someone to ride might be a good one. Then once things are a bit more established in terms of the increased workload a sharer could take over?

I agree with Winters that a nice safe horse to go out for a walk on could be good but the added sense of responsibility around whether the horse was up to the extra work with me would be a worry (possibly unduly, my inexperience speaks here).

 

[Wishfilly]

I think there are sharers out there who would be happy with a safe hack to go for a walk on, but wouldn't necessarily want the worry of bringing a horse into work- and you'd have to trust them a lot.

If something went wrong, it could be really stressful for you both.

I think you may need an arrangement where you are a bit more "in charge"- even if that's not you paying someone, maybe asking someone you trust specifically to exercise your horse how you want it done?