Six month owniversary (and advice on UFP)

Jill Crewe

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Been just over six months since I got my boy and there have been several ups and downs!

Have sorted out his periodontal disease which involved removal of two teeth (he had grown an extra two anyway bless him!), so he is now putting weight and condition on, slowly started getting fitter, sorted out new saddle, enlisted the help of an amazing friend who has been schooling him for me and making great progress with him including enabling me to lunge him and finally start on canter work. Slight set back with him now as his upper fixation of the patella was giving him grief last weekend so in hindsight I should have delayed the lunging and schooling. So now just waiting for the physio to get back to me so we can build up the muscles to help his stifle and go back to building up hacking and raised pole work.

Had a proud owner moment today so took some photos - have included an older one for comparison

This is when I tried him out

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And today

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You can still see the lack of muscle on his hindquarters which is affecting the UFP

And just because he is so scrummy!...


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As I said, I am waiting for physio appointment, but would be interested in any advice ref upward fixation of the patella and building muscle or to hear other people's stories

From research I have seen:

Better turned out
Avoid circle work
Lots of hill work in a working walk/trot
Raised poles
Maybe using myoplast supplement


PS - please let me know if the pics are massive and I will attempt to change them
 
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You are on the right lines with your plan to build him up, plenty of slow steady work getting him using himself correctly so the back end gets stronger, turn out as much as possible it will help keep everything mobile as well as naturally encourage muscle to develop, a good quality source of protein, vitamins and minerals such as a balancer, linseed may also be good.
Your physio should also be able to give you exercises that can be helpful.
 
WE have a pony with UFP. She's 17 this year, and we got her when she was 4. We've always done lots of steady. regular work with her, and advised her loaners to do the same. Backing when it sticks will free it quickly. This winter she hasn't done much work - weather and loaner doing A levels, and now she's gone to a new loaner, the stifle is a little weak again, so regular work is definitely the key.
 
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