Veteran horse advice needed

H

horsebenny

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2012
Messages
201
Visit site
Hi, I've not posted before but I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. I have a veteran horse who is between 24/26 years old, 17.2 IDxTB. This time last year we were competing in veteran showing classes, he was enjoying himself and generally healthy. He had a sinus infection on and off and when it began to get very smelly the vet recommended we refer him to the equine hospital which we did. He ended up having a C-flap operation as the bottom sinus was compacted but he was making a really good recovery (he had been exercised as usual to a couple of days before his op, cantering circles, popping little cavaletti etc) so much so that he was discharged a day or two early. He was his usual cheeky self only more so (no sinus headache any more!) and he was prescribed antibiotics and I had instructions from the hospital to rest him for a week then bring him back into normal work.

I went away for work and he developed an allergy (probably to the antibiotic but perhaps to the disinfectant used to clean his box before his return) and began rubbing himself raw. By the time I saw him he had huge sores running virtually the length of his body on the off side, including his neck and etc. He was rubbing himself raw til they bled which looked horrific. As soon as I saw him I naturally got the vet out who was equally horrified and changed the antibiotic and prescribed cream to sooth the sores. I ended up using Sudocrem which seemed to sooth him more.

Anyway, the sores eventually cleared up and his coat grew back and I started riding him gently again (he seemed quite keen and was even doing his favourite cantering on the spot, which is always a good sign), he had lost a lot of weight while on box rest, particularly muscle tone. Unfortunately he then went lame having done something in the field so was on box rest, again. I am bringing him back into work slowly - long reining 10 mins a day at the moment - and he is on limited turn out (he frets if left out more than an hour or so). I am feeding him three feeds a day of 1.5 scoops Sixteen Plus, 1 scoop Coolstance (only started this week but he seems to like it and it is putting on a little weight), alfalfa, Build and Glow, chopped carrots and apples and a general supplement for joints and old age. He gets adlib haylage (he can't cope with hay these days) as well as a big bucket of Readygrass overnight. He is on two Danillon (one morning and one night). The vet came out to check him today and he is still lame in trot (and very reluctant to trot) although he has been keen to work, does a dropping when he comes back in and then sets about his haylage (all his normal routine).

My question is, does anyone have any ideas what I can do to build his muscle, particularly over his hind end and back without putting too much strain on his joints (eg hill work would be out of the question). My hunch is that his lameness is largely due to lack of muscle now and I think if I could get that built up that would help generally. Certainly the vet has said getting him working will get everything moving. I am too heavy to ride him at the moment (at least, I don't think it would be fair until he has build up some muscle) and don't have anyone lighter to help.

Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble but I know a lot of people think I should call it a day with him, but the vet agrees that as long as we are getting somewhere he deserves a chance. I can't help thinking that it was only in February, two days before his op, that he was cantering circles and popping caveletti....

Any ideas anyone????

Cheers

Ben
 
If he is only out for such a short time each day he will be missing out on the movement required to help him both muscle up and loosen up.At his age having lost the muscle it will take longer to come back.

Can he not go out more, several times a day for an hour, it may be time consuming but would really help his overall health. Good grazing will also help his weight and he could have less hard feed.
 
Good point - I did have him out for shorter periods more frequently during the day but it is labour intensive for the yard, I do pay a girl there to help do stuff with him when I am not there (eg during the working day - and when I am away for work) and I'm quite happy to turn him out evenings, weekends etc myself. I'll see what I can negotiate with the yard...
 
I'm a shade under 14 stone - he is a big strapping lad and up to weight but he has lost so much muscle and so much weight in the past couple of months I don't want to put any unecessary strain on him...
 
Would he stay out longer with haylage in the field? After box rest its not unusual for them not to want to stay out a lot, but if you gradually increase it he may get used to it. I agree turnout would help a lot.
 
Hi, Im new to all this but just read your post and thought I would offer some moral support as I have a 24 year old KWPN mare who is just coming back into work after 5 months off due to a suspensory injury. Like yours she has lost a lot of muscle and as she is a dressage schoolmistress she had a lot to lose. I know exactly how you feel as before her injury she was still doing pirouettes, half pass and flying changes just because she was enjoying herself! Again as the others have said I think extra turnout would help enormously as I think the warmish winter and all day turnout has really been a life saver for mine while not in work, other than that I would recommend just some polework in walk, transitions and 'stretchy' long low work to loosen up the back again and slowly build up to being ridden again. Also I am using a back massage pad on mine to help her loosen up and work more freely which I must say really does make a difference when ridden afterwards, she will also have an equine physio session next week to help with any problem areas which need a bit of a hand (with the approval of my vet of course!). The very best of luck with everything, I really hope yours comes right for you. Oh and also I found 'Barley Rings' were great for popping a bit of weight back on her after she dropped off a bit - didn't have to feed huge amounts of them either. :)
 
Hi there I was very touched by your post as you obviously love your horse so much and care for him so well. I have a veteran and what I would say is that after a nasty illness they can suddenly 'age' and it is a shock. My boy took 18 months to come back after colic so give your horse time and slowly build up as he will get very tired. More turn out would help and long reining is great. You don't sound too heavy to me, so I would hack gently and build it up. It will take time if that's what you decide to do. I would trust your instincts though and not the vet's opinion. You may need to change what you do with your horse so that he has a good quality of life.
 
Our (then) 25 yr old cob mare took months to get right after colic. In fact I would say 12 months, really and we retired her, as the vet couldn't tell us why she was colicking. We are now maintaining her weight with grassnuts, dried grass, Speedibeet with a splash of molasses, and linseed.
 
Thank you everyone both for your sage advice and your support - the biggest thing I've taken from it (apart from the increased turn out which I am going to organise - two or three spells out during the day) is that I should see it as a marathon not a sprint, he has lost weight and muscle quickly but it will take a lot longer to rebuild it than it took to lose it. My main objective is just for him to be happy and healthy, if I get to ride him again that will be a bonus but it's not my main priority.
 
Can you get your hands on a massage pad and use it daily, i would also speak to an equine bodyworker/ physio to get some ideas for massage and exercises you can do to help build muscle, occupying his mind and body, like carrot stretches for longintudnal and lateral stretching, gently building the stretch up.
Speak to your vet and ask about introducing some poles on the ground in walk, not a grid but just poles placed around in the school to walk him over and provide gentle lifting exercise for his limbs in walk, if he copes ok, ask the vet/physio about lifting the poles on pole pods ( or £1 shop potties ) for the same effect. Also ask your vet/physio about progressing to in hand lateral work to start working the muscles in his quarters, then if hes managing ok put poles out and walk over them laterally again lifting one end onto pods or potties to work the different areas building the lift up as he progresses up the length of the pole from the lower to raised end. :)
Also agree with everyone re increasing turnout time
 
Last edited:
What great ideas, thank you - we have an equisage unit at the yard and he is supposed to get that every day, I'll remind them because I think you are right. I also think he would enjoy pole work, he has always loved jumping and I think it'll be more interesting for him.

We don't have pole pods so I may take the £1 shop option - do you mean children's potties?
 
I have been using A&P veteran vitality on my 27 year old Arab,also with veteran chaff,C&C and fast fibre,and she looks fab.The previous winter she struggled a bit with weight and energy,but now she can still show the youngsters her hooves,has loads of stamina and does not look her age at all.
 
I don't know if you have this problem but my mare switches between a 6 year old event pony and a 25 year old cripple on the flip of a coin !! If only I could get her to behave like the 19 year old with navicular that she really is
 
Ha ha, yes he does that too. He has been pulling faces at his neighbours in the past day or so which is a sign he is feeling like himself again and certainly he was keen to work last night..I've got the equisage on him every day and I've discovered we also have a hand-held one at the yard which I'll use directly on his bad leg which should also help I think...

Seems there are a few of us with veterans!
 
I don't have much extra to add from the good advice that has already been provided apart from don't be surprised if you can't get his muscle tone back to what it was pre op.

My old boy started loosing muscle tone gradually each winter and I could never get it back to what it was going into winter (less exercise etc due to dark / poor weather etc).

He's now 37 with pretty much no muscle tone over his croup or back but then he's now been retired for a year. He's out in the field for as much time as possible and taken for walks in hand every couple of weeks to stave off boredom.

Good luck:)
 
Just a wee update. I've taken on board much of the advice here - he is now having four smaller feeds at regular points during the day and Readigrass/chopped carrots along with ad lib haylage overnight. I've been working him from ground in a kind of hybrid lunge/long reining action as he didn't like straight long reining (kept stopping and turning round to look at me as if to ask what the hell I was doing) which seems to be working. I've thrown in some pole work and even taken him for a short 'hack' from the ground. He is much more interested in what is going on around him again and has put on 36kg in weight so far - much of it muscle as his hind end is looking much more filled (though still a long way to go).

He is getting longer turn out but we are also taking him out his mid day feeds/haylage etc and he is in a small field close to the yard which seems to be working - as long as he gets a visit with his haylage/feed he seems to understand he hasn't actually been abandoned!!

He's also getting Equisage every day which he really enjoys.

So, fingers crossed, it's looking positive!

Thanks everyone for your help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top