Birker2020
Well-Known Member
I took my horse to my local riding club yesterday to hire out the outdoor school so I could up the ante prior to the vet coming out on Tuesday. Hopefully he will be able to start canter work, he was last seen on the 31st March and was meant to be seen after a month but it will be 6 weeks to give him that bit extra time. I thought I would do a little canter work prior to the vet coming out, so I could push him and the vet could then see the results especially as I am certain the vet will say to carry on and he had an extra two weeks more than was anticipated. He has a suspensory branch injury which is a very mild sprain and vet said he would be back jumping after three months of careful bringing back into work.
I did lots of trot work in large circles and some canter on large circles on both reins. They had just finished the dressage show and everyone had gone so I had the whole arena to practice in with a couple of arenas marked out that I just rode through. I got him used to the banner and was able to despook him as well!
I am really pleased as his leg stayed down and afterwards (my Ice vibe boots have been a real help) and he was sensible as yesterday was the first time since mid October that he had been out at grass as they have been in a sandpit all winter for turn out so I expected him to be a bit silly but he was very well behaved apart from a little spooking at the banners around the fence line!
Afterwards when I went back into the office, the staff who are very experienced had watched out the window and said that they couldn't even tell what leg he had been lame on! So I was really pleased. He boinged out into the paddock today like a spring lamb, with no stiffness, fetlock down and cool, - its just me that's stiff as my back was killing me today after three months without cantering! Will have to build up some muscle again as his stomach is very dropped and his bum is all weedy again, but these things will take time. Off for a nice hack later this afternoon. So glad he was such a good boy, bless him - straight in the trailer to come home as well, couldn't have been more proud of him.
Here are a couple of photos after I'd ridden him before I untacked him with his ice vibe boot on cooking!
I did lots of trot work in large circles and some canter on large circles on both reins. They had just finished the dressage show and everyone had gone so I had the whole arena to practice in with a couple of arenas marked out that I just rode through. I got him used to the banner and was able to despook him as well!
I am really pleased as his leg stayed down and afterwards (my Ice vibe boots have been a real help) and he was sensible as yesterday was the first time since mid October that he had been out at grass as they have been in a sandpit all winter for turn out so I expected him to be a bit silly but he was very well behaved apart from a little spooking at the banners around the fence line!
Afterwards when I went back into the office, the staff who are very experienced had watched out the window and said that they couldn't even tell what leg he had been lame on! So I was really pleased. He boinged out into the paddock today like a spring lamb, with no stiffness, fetlock down and cool, - its just me that's stiff as my back was killing me today after three months without cantering! Will have to build up some muscle again as his stomach is very dropped and his bum is all weedy again, but these things will take time. Off for a nice hack later this afternoon. So glad he was such a good boy, bless him - straight in the trailer to come home as well, couldn't have been more proud of him.
Here are a couple of photos after I'd ridden him before I untacked him with his ice vibe boot on cooking!
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