Working to develop back muscle after soreness

[dwi]

Daisy has mild soreness down the left side of her spine, she isn't lame and you wouldn't know unless you knew where to poke but it does twitch slightly if you run your nails firmly over the right spot.

Chiro reckons it is due to my old saddle not fitting as well as it used to so I have saddler coming out tomorrow. She said that I should be fine to ride four days after her treatment, D actually ended up with nearly two weeks off ridden work because I've been ill but she was lunged or walked out briskly in hand instead to keep her muscles working and supple. She is much less sore than she was but there is still a little bit there.

Obviously I'll talk to the saddler about it tomorrow but I am interested to hear other people's opinions on how they reintroduced their horses to regular work after saddle fitting problems and associated soreness.

 

[marieE]

lunge (use pessoa,chambon) or long line.

though i have to say most of my horses would hit the floor if i ran my nails firmly down thier backs, and they are regularly seen by physio and sound!

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

Lunging - I had a brillant back lady and now don't use pessoas, harbridge, side reins etc on her adivce and the difference I've seen. By just lunging in a headcollar the horse streachs and relaxs insted of being pinned into shape. I personaly really get my horses working and using them selfs on the lung and are able to get them using their engines which can be harder when riding. I also do abit of smaller circles like you would ridden to get them bending and flexing.

 

[Diggerdog]

Lunging, with trotting poles and later cavalletti. Definitely no Pessoa/Chambon/De Gogue etc.

 

[marieE]

ok. stike me down about the pessoa, but i was recommended it by my 'back lady' who also competes to a high level and i would say knows her stuff from both sides of the fence. i could lunge my horses all day without side reins etc gettingg them working forwards and using engine yes (that goes without saying if you know the first thing about lunging) but without encouragement they will happily nose around with thier head in the air going forwards and hollow, not lifting thier back as required or truely engaging the hidquarters.

 

[Tiffany]

I'd try lunging with a Pessoa or similar. They don't force them into an outline, encourage them to work from behind and over their backs. I think they are fabulous if used correctly

 

[magic104]

Strange I thought the idea of the Pessoa was to work them through their back without tying them in? I also have to say that it was recommended to us as well by the "back lady". The alternative could be to use 2 reins when lunging.