flying_high
Well-Known Member
Has anyone come across a fit adult competition horse that seems to find travelling and clinics / competing / lessons tiring / creating sore muscles? He’s 12 and has competed to medium, and is currently working below that level, and reasonably muscled and reasonably fit.
I think it is any significant exertion that leaves him tired and grumpy and sleepy the next few days, and I would say a bit non specifically sore through his muscles. He doesn’t look keen to be tacked up! Very expressive face. Though we cant find any specific soreness.
I am pretty sure diet / bodywork / footbalance / saddle / teeth / soundness etc are good.
He is a bit of a marmite horse and very up and down. I have to say I have always previously had fit adult horses who could do 2 elem / medium tests one day, and then do a lorry trip 20km pleasure ride next day and not think anything of it. Or a clinic flatwork lesson one day and a polework session next day.
I have noticed that schooling him Sunday / Wednesday / Saturday seemed to produce much better results.
My gut feeling is he’s got something slightly wrong muscle wise which means more exertion than normal makes him sore.
My vets havent been terribly helpful. Nothing obvious on bloods to indicate should test more. I have absolutely put in the leg work to say he is fit - hill work / polework / gallops / long hacks / boxing to new hacking / pleasure rides / schooling / raised poles / clinics / lessons etc. He's not really schooling much above Novice.
I think it is any significant exertion that leaves him tired and grumpy and sleepy the next few days, and I would say a bit non specifically sore through his muscles. He doesn’t look keen to be tacked up! Very expressive face. Though we cant find any specific soreness.
I am pretty sure diet / bodywork / footbalance / saddle / teeth / soundness etc are good.
He is a bit of a marmite horse and very up and down. I have to say I have always previously had fit adult horses who could do 2 elem / medium tests one day, and then do a lorry trip 20km pleasure ride next day and not think anything of it. Or a clinic flatwork lesson one day and a polework session next day.
I have noticed that schooling him Sunday / Wednesday / Saturday seemed to produce much better results.
My gut feeling is he’s got something slightly wrong muscle wise which means more exertion than normal makes him sore.
My vets havent been terribly helpful. Nothing obvious on bloods to indicate should test more. I have absolutely put in the leg work to say he is fit - hill work / polework / gallops / long hacks / boxing to new hacking / pleasure rides / schooling / raised poles / clinics / lessons etc. He's not really schooling much above Novice.