Starting back from injury- long sorry

[Tamski]

What's the best way to start a horse back from injury?

My boy has been off since last June with suspensory problems and subsequent surgery. He was declared sound again in November but due to dark nights and a lack of time I turned him away.

Now it's starting to get light I need to get him going again. However I'm not sure of the best way to do it? I lost my confidence with him last year as he was a sod before he got diagnosed. I like to think his bad behaviour was pain related as he's lovely to do on the ground. Therefore I'm worried about getting back on him again, he's big 17hh so it's a long way down.

I'm lucky enough to have him at home but that also means that I don't have any help on hand every day. Also, he has never been great to hack out alone as he's still very green. I have got a sand school but I don't want to bore him senseless going round and round. Also as he's coming back from injury I can't lunge him before getting on.

I'm thinking of long reining him to start with but have never done this before!? Any help welcomed?

In my heart I'm not sure if he's the horse for me but after surgery he's not worth selling either. Should I put him out on loan or persist and try to get through my confidence crisis and get back on?

At the moment I can't afford to send him away to be restarted and I don't think I actually solve my problem doing this anyway.
Help!

 

[FigJam]

My mare came back from a hing leg ligament injury at the end of last year. (5months full box rest

) We started with 5min walking in hand in a straight line on hard ground. This was increased gradually over about 4 weeks to 45-50mins in hand walking.

We were then able to start ridden walk work, again starting back at 5mins walk and progressing up gradually to over an hour over 4 weeks ish. This is just to get all the various muscles, tendons etc conditioned to moving properly and working again.

We could then slowly add small periods of trot over the next month and following that start doing very light work in the school (big circles, nothing strenuous).

I'm sure you get the idea now! Basicallyvery very slowly increase what you are doing. With a big feisty horse, prob best doing in hand work in a bridle/chiffney or poss with some calmer (ask vet?) to make sure neither of you gets hurt or confidence knocked.

Good luck! We are only now back to hacking for "proper" lengths of time (2hrs+) and doing proper schooling again. I've only just recently had my first gallop since last March (I was like this ->

!!) and popped a couple of wee fences. Fingers crossed it's all going well and no reoccurance of injury, this has taken us almost 6 months coming back into work slowly.

 

[southdowns]

Hi Tam

Poor you, i understand the stress. This is how i was with Eric in the end, it was very bad timing that just as i lost my confidence with him and decided to sell him he injured himself and was on 3 months box rest. Its fine all the time they're healing but the thought of getting back on is horrible and i really had to make myself.

Could you not ask a friend (i can think of one) to help you with long reining whilst you get going - i bet you'd pick it up easily.

Have you got something else that you could ride to get your confidence up whilst your still on long reining/initial stages of fittening? I found that the only thing that kept me wanting to be involved with horses when i lost my confidence with Eric was riding Lucy - had i not had that i think i would've thrown in the towel completely.

You have had ups and downs but you have come far with him when you thinkof the highs, i'm sure i'd heard of you taking him to some jumping clinics etc at some point.

If you really decide enoughs enough why don't you put a relatively open ad on Project Horses and see what calls you get from people?

Its also worth remembering that there people for horses and horses for people so if you do decide to let him go to someone else its not anything to feel ashamed of and is infact sometimes the braver thing to do.

Keep smiling

 

[cellie]

If you are really nervous ask a instructor to work a programme out for you and you can build on that.When my horse came back I did a month walking then month trotting then onto canter.Hacking was the best way forward our school was hard work after a acute injury.Could you get someone to walk out with you or go on a bike for support.I ve done this about 3 times now and will be doing it again in another month,I have aaccident prone horse.It does take some guts and patience hope it goes well give him a chance he might surprise you.

 

[RachelB]

Gosh that sounds like a difficult situation. I can't help with the confidence issue I'm afraid but as for the re-hab work, I would ask your vet. Even though your horse has had extra time off, that's what you pay your vet vast sums of money for - their advice. It's always worth a call

My horse has just been given the go-ahead to start work again (well, in mid-April) after a tendon injury and nine months' field rest (14 months' rest overall). I have been told to do ten minutes' walking in-hand twice per day for a month, building up to 40 minutes' per day, then I am allowed to get on board and walk her from 30 minutes a day at the start of her second month, building up to 60 minutes' walking a day by the end of the third month. But then my horse's injury is different to your horse's. My friend's horse had bone spavins in both hocks and a check ligament strain in her front leg, and was advised after box rest to walk her in-hand for a month or so, then to long-rein her, gradually building up to being allowed a sit and a walk around after a long-reining session. She then built up to hacking, all over a very long period of time. My point is, each horse and each injury is different so we can only give so much advice on here. I would recommend that you talk to your vet if you do decide to keep your horse.
I am in the fortunate position though that although my horse can be spooky, I would have no qualms about taking her out tomorrow in a headcollar and bareback, as she is so bombproof and laid-back! I don't evny your position and I hope you come to a decision that is best for both your horse and yourself

 

[meggull]

It can be really difficult, especially if you are worried about getting on. I would personally walk in hand in straight lines to start and then get some help getting on. I would avoid circles for a while as it puts additional pressure on and take everything slowly. Good luck.