When to start jumping?

WellyBaggins

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I am in a bit of a situation, a good situation but an unexpected one :D horse was diagnosed with impar ligament strain last feb, tried all suggested treatments and barefoot, no success so I turned him away for a year, brought him back into work with imprint sports on, sound :eek: he has now been in work for 9 weeks and we are now schooling in walk, trot and canter!!! I am now tentatively thinking about having a jump but not sure when to do it!!! Any ideas welcome :)
 
It is a chance I never thought I would have so I intend to make the most of it, within his comfort zone of course, I was convinced he would be a field ornament! Will ring vet next week, he said to build up gradually but to be honest I don't think either of us thought we would get this far so it went a bit wooly after light schooling :)
 
Well, my rule of thumb to take the time it took to come sound, and keep everything at low level for that same length of time, then you have done all you can. Of course technology might help , and vet should be in a position to take a view.
If there was a problem at one stage, I would certainly wait two months ..........
 
9 weeks in work after over 12 months off is not very long, I would still be doing walk and trot in straight lines personally but as you are schooling already I would still be extremely cautious.
I brought one back into work after almost 12 months off with a tendon injury, he did 7 weeks walk, 4 trotting before starting steady cantering all out hacking, he jumped after about 6 months of fitness work, that may have been extreme but worthwhile long term.
 
I know it is not that long, previous to this we have rehabbed for KS and a tendon injury and did 8 weeks walking for the tendon but when vet came to see him before I brought him back into work this time he was sound so he recommended 2 weeks long reining, 2 weeks walking ridden, 2 weeks trotting 2 weeks trotting in school then canter which I have done, he feels great. I plan to continue with mostly walking with the odd light schooling session for a few more weeks but as he feels better than I ever expected for the first time I am thinking I *might* get to jump this horse again :)
 
It is great when they come back, especially if the prognosis was poor, with our horse we did extend the walking, vet said 4 weeks but I wanted to really make sure as he was going back to racing at the end of rehab, which he has and stayed sound but now retired as just not enjoying it enough, he will have a short break then be aimed for ror classes, if he had broken down again he would have more than likely been pts as his owners would have no interest to bring him back again from injury to just be a hack.

I hope your boy continues to do well and you never know he may come back to compete again, it sounds as if you both deserve some fun after all the work you have put in.
 
That is so pleasing to hear! I am so pleased to have a 2nd chance with this horse I hope it works out too, I won't rush him as I know I am extremely lucky to have this chance! I am just starting to believe it might after the heartache of thinking I had lost him :( I hope yours is successful and enjoys his ROR :)
 
This is a great post for me, I've rehabbed from 3 leg injuries now over three years. After last years tendonitis he was rehabbed then had 4 months completely off. I'm six months in to barefoot rehab in work now, and I'm still only walking and trotting on less than half hour hacks, I can only get out 2-3 times a week. I'm hoping to jump before the end of summer, judging by his field antics I'm hoping he should be able to pop a fence. (Just remembered I was doing some raised poles in walk, must do that again!)
 
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