staying motivated with rehab

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impresario08

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My boy has kissing spines and arthritis and his rehab programme is long and tiring. I'm really struggling to stay positive and keep myself motivated with it. Can anyone help? :(
 
Sorry to hear this :-( mine is doing a second batch of 3 months walk work after coming sound then going lame again with a mystery lameness (maxed out insurance!) so I kind of know how you feel.

I find it helps to either set in advance, or keep as I go along, a diary of progress with how it's going - even if that's just so I can see improvements by five minutes walking a week! It helps to remind me that although it feels like forever, it's only been a month (or whatever) so far....

Secondly, not sure what sort of work you're meant to be doing, but I found getting a classical type instructor really helpful, even if just for ground work. They aren't remotely fazed by giving a lesson entirely in walk and it's super helpful for looking at way of going and thinking of interesting exercises to get your horse working properly - I've also found many classical dressage instructors are also 'back people' of one sort or another, or at the v least have great interest in biomechanics, so are really useful in helping analyse how the horse is moving and what you can do to help, even taking into account phsyical problems such as lamenesses.

Not sure if that helps, but good luck!! and you're not alone....
 
I've been doing rehab for four different injuries since 2011 with my my boy (PSD, tendonitis,tenosynovitis,DDFT) I'm thoroughly bored with all the walk routes we go on for in hand, and previous long rein walking, and hacking walking, timing the minutes to do the right amount and then just turning around for home. I feel like I haven't enjoyed riding my horse for years, apart from a short stint in 2014 when I competed at one 80cm sj comp.

I've just asked someone if I can use their private lane 1-2 times a week for walking on, just for more variety, and might venture out on a longer hack at the weekend, and go somewhere we've not been for a while. My horse was lively in 2013 during his long rein rehab, I could barely keep hold, at the moment I'm practically dragging him along, its very annoying!
 
My horse had six dorsal spines removed on the 5 December it was tough and cold doing the rehab stuff through the winter .
He's being worked as a normal horse now and has been to his first shows .
I was at a clinic last night and it struck me he feels like a different horse I am struggling to remember the rehab already .
Your time will come .
 
Goldenstar said:
My horse had six dorsal spines removed on the 5 December it was tough and cold doing the rehab stuff through the winter .
He's being worked as a normal horse now and has been to his first shows .
I was at a clinic last night and it struck me he feels like a different horse I am struggling to remember the rehab already .
Your time will come .
Click to expand...

thankyou x
 
Been rehabbing on and off for 3 years now, I now follow the straightness training, gives a focus and great for horses with issues!
 
Ugh! Rehab! You have my sympathy - I've done more than my share of it - digging deep and living in a perpetual state of exhaustion! What helped me was a lovely new livery at my yard who was happy to hack out with us, keeping within the parameters of the rehab schedule. I downloaded the Viewranger app and sussed out all the local quiet roads and tracks and we had lots of lovely hacks last summer. It just helps you to feel that you're doing something normal and enjoyable rather than a rehab programme. I was building up trot work at the time (in 3 min sessions) and I was able to incorporate that into the hacks. Hope that helps!
 
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