When supercob met the super(osteopathic)vet...

Still working low, still doing some in hand.
Tonight we did some walking backwards, some in hand shoulder in both ways - straight neck lots of angle. Then finished off with a tail lift as recommended by Dan Wain.
I think his bum is looking a bit rounder and smoother now.
Some pics from February and tonight attached
 

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I've recommended Tom to so many people. He's literally saved one of mine, PSD and Kissing spine and close to be written off. The work Tom did and a very, very strict rehab plan and pony better than he's ever been. I really like that he judges the whole animal rather than the limb that is showing lameness. His treatment approach involves everything from stable management and turn out to feeding and daily care. The exercise plan is a key part but everything else has to be in place to give recovery the best possible chance.
 
Thanks Sprat, I'm pretty happy with him, hes not as fit as I'd like but lock down has impacted our plans there. I definitely think there's a difference in him.
Our regular physio is coming on Saturday shes not seen him since before Tom, so will be interesting to see what she says
 
Sprat said:
Have you noticed much improvement in the schooling work since you started?
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Its hard to say for a variety of reasons. Mainly, I don't really use our arena at home - its small and tends to be deep, it worries me that it's a strain on ligaments etc and he hates it - lots of humpy back and not wanting to go forward. So our schooling tends to be out and about but of course there has been no out and about since January.
His medium trot is getting stronger and stronger- its his little party piece now, he'll offer it whenever he can now rather than just teasing it out of him.
His transitions seem better in my opinion.
The main thing I noticed a week or two back is that his saddle seems to move slightly less to the right, particularly in left canter - although again its more pronounced in an arena and we've not tested that recently.
The other thing is that I've mostly (except last Sunday when he turned in to a green 4 year old ?‍♀️) been working him lower than I would normally. Even hacking id normally spend some of the time in a "dressage" frame whereas Tom said the goal was more western pleasure horse so we shall see when we come to lift up again.
I've also been quite disciplined with myself to not allow him to fudge things like shoulder in - I'm really pushing for the whole body to angle but stay straighter not just cheat with bend. I sometimes accept good enough in schooling rather than better and best - mainly because I want to get out and do
Overall, I think his push from behind has definitely improved.
 
I used Tom for my mare. She was rehabbed first a medial branch suspensory injury two years ago and I’ve been ever watchful and never 100% happy since despite clear follow in scans. Tom came out in October and identified tightness in jaw, poll, neck, lumbar region and SI - he worked on this at the time but I was told not to school ridden for 3 months, work in hand and do loads of carrot stretches. I did as told and I can’t explain the difference in her gait on hacks. She loves her in hand work (which I know I could be better at) and her canter on the lunge is vastly improved. He was really pleased when he came back but I’m happy for him to see her every 6 months to keep her where she needs to be. He looks at the whole horse and noting some of her issues was clear I should consider hind gut sensitivity and also seasonal sensitivity.
 
Lunged over some raised poles this morning. Mostly bronked, cantered and jumped them but he's beena bit jolly the last few days anyway. Physio came, massive improvement in the left fore he had been reluctant to lift originally, generally good, quite a few ooh thats nice grunts. He mithers a bit generally and spent a large part of time ragging my zip up and down and being generally childish.
He got a bit handy with his back legs at one point - hes funny about whos allowed to touch where at times and bloody fast. However he also accurate and they were only warning shots although still unacceptable.
She was happy with his movement, we walked and trotted up before, and spun both ways with stepping under from both hinds.
He was reluctant to stand square and really allow much sacrum work today - Tom sedated him. I'm not hugely concerned, I know it is improving, but also work in progress - hes 12 not 2, somewhat built that way (to pull not sit and push) so its probably always been weak.
Overall she was happy to see him in 6 months whereas last time she felt there were areas of pain so we booked a 3 month appointment so nice overall that there is confirmation of improvement
 
So glad to hear of such good progress. Tom is awesome, everyone has their detractors, and he's no different, but he has massively good reviews and I too love his holistic approach. For anything that's not quite right but the bodyworker can't find anything wrong, or for intractable problems that seem beyond a regular vet, I haven't found anyone better so far. If I had a horse I think I would use Tom as a routine thing once or twice a year as I could afford - he's cheaper than a vet workup but more expensive than a regular bodyworker.
 
Roxylola said:
Exactly my thinking with using him sbloom. And as Dan Wain posted this over weekend I'm using it as the reason we apparently couldn't behave on Saturday on the lunge over raised poles?
https://www.facebook.com/446605245429923/posts/3838158392941241
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This is such an important message! How often do you see on here people recommending raised trotting poles, but it's not practice makes perfect, is it - perfect practice makes perfect. and it's hard to get a horse to practice in a perfect way sometimes.

I think it was IHW that generously shared a vid of her young horse doing some raised poles, to illustrate how few he could really maintain form over before it started to not be such a constructive exercise.
 
milliepops said:
I think it was IHW that generously shared a vid of her young horse doing some raised poles, to illustrate how few he could really maintain form over before it started to not be such a constructive exercise.
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I think this may be what I have in mind, a horse being walked away from the camera down the left long side of an outdoor, and the hocks seriously wobbling over poles on the third pass? I've long wondered where I saw it as I'd love to share it with my customers.
 
So we had our follow up today.
Goal was a 50% improvement on where we were which Tom says we've achieved and a bit more. The sacrum still needs to lift more ideally, he'll never have a jumpers bum but there's more we can do.
Hes remained largely symmetrical although his right jaw was tighter than the left but less tension in withers, shoulders, bottom of the neck, and back until you get to behind the saddle. Some tension in the poll and mid neck which improved when Tom manipulated the sacral area.
He was very happy with our progress, noted (again) that with age conformation etc there will be some arthritis too which we can medicate but he doesn't feel its necessary at this stage.

Ridden wise, in my most recent flat lesson we found a huge improvement in self carriage, and his ability to reach out to the bridle . I've got another flat this weekend.
He's got much more confident and bold taking on his fences now, far less likely to shuffle a stride in to get under them and he's truly developed his proper gallop under saddle.

He was also able to do the manipulation today without sedation (although Charlie did wriggle a bit) whereas last time he was so guarded he wouldn't relax enough for it at all.

Keep on keeping on with building in the walking backwards, pole work and carrot stretches more geared to the mid neck. Tom agreed with my approach of doing a few bits at the end of a ridden session being more productive than doing a full session as he's better after he's warmed up.

I may send some ridden video to Dan again and ask for further input, Tom did say if there's anyone locally who specialises in ground work but I'm not sure there is really, I've done my own research and have a decent background other than someone like Diane Thurman-Baker but her only clinics I'm aware of are midweek ?
 
milliepops said:
sounds very positive. you must be chuffed.
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Thank you, yes I am pleased. I've noticed differences but sometimes it's a case of confirmation bias and only seeing what you are looking for. I must admit I had a brief panic that he'd be asking why I hadn't managed to make any improvements or anything ?
 
If you haven't already have a look at the Masterson Method book and/or DVD

Simple and effective, easy to pick up and does no harm. Its addictive once you start getting big blinks and yawns. It might help with tension in the muscles to keep them ticking over between Tom appointments.

Well done on a great report card ?
 
Ooh I shall have a look for that TPO, I'm a total nerd at the best of times so I'd just enjoy the research anyway
 
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