Troggy
Well-Known Member
I know a few people have been asking for an update on Toff so thought I would give one for those who are interested.
Toff had 4 1/2 weeks off to see if that would help her behaviour and negative attitude with regards to hacking/jumping and life in general (couldnt get her to leave yard without a fight or jump anything). During her month or so off she had her saddle checked, a physio out, a vet visit and her teeth checked. We found that her shoulders are asymmetric so the saddle was tipping me to one side, which has been fixed with a pad under one side of the saddle. The physio found a build up of knotted muscle behind the saddle area caused by her conformation (long back) and her age making her back sag and the tension being collected in one area so had that sorted. I was concerned about her spooking which had suddenly started and the vet found she had a small cataract in her left eye which would explain it and the spooking was probably her adjusting to it. Her teeth were fine.
She came back into work by firstly a week of walking hacking, with a friend and/or boyf coming with me on foot and then progressed to hacks in company, all going well. Then crunch time, hacking on my own, and, to my amazement, she didn't nap!!!
She was a bit stiff and slow to start with, but she didn't stop! Since she has been back in work, if I hack alone I stick to a couple of routes that she is familiar with and comfortable with, I leave longer routes for when I have company. As an experiment I took her to a local show to see how she would react as she had been so unwilling. It was just a small show and we only did the novelty classes but came away with two 2nds and she was perfectly well behaved
. I had a go at the clear round and she refused at the first and was still quite reluctant so going to give that a bit more time.
Last weekend I went for a hack with a friend and we had a long long gallop along stubble, not done that for years and Toff was wicked! The next day took her for some XC schooling and she only refused once and was on her best behaviour!
Since then I have hacked her alone and she was also very good and a bit looser and less stiff.
So there you have it, it looks like she was uncomfortable and needed a break and some time to chill. She has completely changed and is back to the happy willing pony I used to have! Still got a long way to go but we are getting there.
All those with napping horses, please dont give up!!
Toff had 4 1/2 weeks off to see if that would help her behaviour and negative attitude with regards to hacking/jumping and life in general (couldnt get her to leave yard without a fight or jump anything). During her month or so off she had her saddle checked, a physio out, a vet visit and her teeth checked. We found that her shoulders are asymmetric so the saddle was tipping me to one side, which has been fixed with a pad under one side of the saddle. The physio found a build up of knotted muscle behind the saddle area caused by her conformation (long back) and her age making her back sag and the tension being collected in one area so had that sorted. I was concerned about her spooking which had suddenly started and the vet found she had a small cataract in her left eye which would explain it and the spooking was probably her adjusting to it. Her teeth were fine.
She came back into work by firstly a week of walking hacking, with a friend and/or boyf coming with me on foot and then progressed to hacks in company, all going well. Then crunch time, hacking on my own, and, to my amazement, she didn't nap!!!
Last weekend I went for a hack with a friend and we had a long long gallop along stubble, not done that for years and Toff was wicked! The next day took her for some XC schooling and she only refused once and was on her best behaviour!
So there you have it, it looks like she was uncomfortable and needed a break and some time to chill. She has completely changed and is back to the happy willing pony I used to have! Still got a long way to go but we are getting there.
All those with napping horses, please dont give up!!
