When would you start working a horse following an illness?

[Wishfilly]

Sorry for the slightly vague title and possibly silly question!

The week before last, Blue developed a cough. I had the vet out on the Friday of that week, and Blue had a course of antibiotics. He's stopped coughing now, and seems well in himself- so when I spoke to the vets, they said they didn't need to see him again, and I could start working him again "when he was ready".

The problem is, I'm not exactly sure what that means! I'm tempted to give him another week off, to make 100% sure he is fully recovered now that he is off the antibiotics. (Also, the weather this week is looking pretty atrocious).

If I leave it until next weekend, he'll have had three weeks off work- which is fine, but ideally I don't want to leave him so long he loses fitness or forgets the things we have been working on!

 

[milliepops]

I think the horse is the best placed to tell you when it's something like that. Once signed off I tend to think just hop on and try and sensitively introduce some light work and see if the horse is up for it or not. if they are, then crack on. that said, if you want to give it a swerve until the forecast looks better then I am sure he won't mind a longer holiday.

Mine is mid way through ulcer treatment, vet said she could continue light work but horse was telling me she didn't want to so I just did twice weekly checks to see if she was feeling any better. I'm on board now as she has looked OK on the lunge for a week or so, just quiet bimbling around and when she seems to be on a chipper day I will ask a bit more.

 

[Wishfilly]

He seems well in himself- he was cantering around in the field this morning, and he certainly doesn't seem low in energy!

If there's a nice evening in the week, I'll try hopping on and see how he is. If he feels unenthusiastic, I'll leave it a bit longer! We've only got an outdoor school, and much of our hacking is waterlogged (and the short route on the lanes has flooded) so if we have to wait until next weekend it's not the end of the world. I definitely won't be pushing it for the first week or so, and if we're in the school I can hop off as soon as he starts to feel tired.

Thank you!

 

[milliepops]

sounds like a good plan glad he has made a good recovery, it's horrible when they are under the weather.

 

[Wishfilly]

sounds like a good plan glad he has made a good recovery, it's horrible when they are under the weather.

Thank you! I'm really pleased with how quickly he improved- the start of the week felt pretty stressful!