Would you ride?

[doodle]

Waiting for Robin to go for a scope to check for ulcers. Vet said I can ride lightly meantime after his hocks being injected. Part of me wants to ride but part wants to wait incase he has ulcers and if he is in comfy that isn’t nice for him. Would you?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

No, personally I wouldn't but I'm soft lol. I'd want to know my horse was completely comfortable first x

 

[wren123]

Do you know I probably wouldn't, I wouldn't want to set him up for bad behaviour.
Can you lead him in hand safely?

 

[doodle]

That’s fine. Correct responses! I thought I was being too soft.

 

[milliepops]

i am in same boat currently and will be ambling on the days they can't get turned out but not doing much otherwise.

 

[doodle]

He is out every day unless the weather is horrendous.

 

[BBP]

I wouldn’t. I’ve had ulcers and wouldn’t appreciate someone asking me to run around. I didn’t ride BBP until he was 4 weeks into treatment as he made it really clear he was in pain, he was very anxious and would pin his ears and plant if I asked him to trot, so we just tinkered around in hand in walk only whilst I waited for him to feel better.

 

[MuddyMonster]

It's a no from me.

I might try to do light in-hand stuff with him though, if I felt he'd benefit mentally.

 

[Roxylola]

Maybe, lightly, if it's of benefit to the hocks or in a situation with limited turnout etc. But I wouldnt ask much and would make sure he had a scoop of alfa or chop etc to try and stabilise his stomach contents before I rode

 

[windand rain]

Would depend on whether it was the lesser of 2 evils hock pain needing sorted by movement or ulcers but generally no I wouldnt unless necessary

 

[SEL]

I walked in hand when the PSSM mare had an ulcer flare up. She needed to keep moving but she was so unhappy with the saddle that I just couldn't bring myself to get on her - I don't need to ride a poorly horse!

 

[doodle]

I won’t ride. He has been tense to ride and reacting to me touching his body when he is having a bad day (not every day) so I think best not to.

 

[Leandy]

Depends a bit exactly what the vet said. If he said you can ride lightly if you want to I wouldn't if I didn't want to (it seems you don't want to or you wouldn't be asking). If he advised light exercise in the interests of the horse - maybe to keep his hocks moving, then I would.

 

[doodle]

If I wanted to.

 

[NinjaPony]

Just to reassure you, my Welsh with arthritic hocks hasn’t been ridden for 10 years now, his exercise has all been in hand, and dependent on how much spare time I have, and his hocks look basically the same as when I retired him. He only looks stiffer if he’s been standing in. As long as he is turned out and moving around, it really won’t do him any harm to have a bit of time off while you try and sort the ulcers out.

 

[doodle]

Had a chat with yo. She agrees with me he is not a grumpy and “don’t touch me” horse. He was happy to be groomed today but seemed a bit sad.

 

[Muddywellies]

My horse is prone to ulcers (caused by hormones and stress) and weve battled with them for years, under various vets. I would certainly go for a quiet leg stretch providing he's had a decent amount of lightly damped chaff half an hour beforehand. Just a walk though.

 

[Equi]

I would keep him moving lightly to help the hocks but maybe just in hand or a low request hack/leg stretch, and as said with a chaff feed in his belly. Good luck for the scope.

 

[Fjord]

Maybe a walk in hand after some hay or chaff but I wouldn't ride either.

 

[doodle]

Well today is out! First snow and the yard, road up etc is sheet ice!