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  Discussion on How to train an older formerly injured dressagehorse
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Member:
paardex

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 6:03 am:

About six weeks ago I got a 14 year old Hanoverian gelding formerly Prix St George level as a boarder and a gift for me to learn how to ride. I posted about him because I wanted to change his food[he was thin] and he is doing well.
He is now fed according to the schemes of HA. Dewormed ditto and more or less got over the hurdle from 24/7 stabled to 24/7 out[with acces to a box and locked in about 4 hours a dy for his meals]
Now I try to decide what training will be best for him. I don't have vet diagnosis what really happened to him but he is sound in the paddock though a little bit stiff, his legs show many signs of hard work but stay cool although not entirely 'clean' even when out all the time.
I was planning on lungeing him [his owner insists I must work him 'hard' to get his muscles back] but read all the articles I could find on this site and came across Dr. O mentioning lungeing being not first choice for arthritic horses.
Would a big pasture and lots of play with a friend and every other day a calm trailride with a little bit of lungeing for quiet and 'souplesse' or some dressageriding [about half an hour?] not be a better initial training?
I am used to very young horses and so are very carefull not to do too much so please advise me on how to tackle this?
My goal is to keep him amused and healthy.
Jos
PS my weight is no problem he is big and doesn't seem to mind being saddled and ridden
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 7:52 am:

Hi Jos, I don't quite understand what is wrong with him? Is arthritis the concern? Has the vet cleared him to be ridden? I'd be worried if I didn't have a firm diagnosis of his problem before I put him back to work.
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 10:05 am:

Jos, As Diane mentioned I would want clearance from the vet, then I think the general rules for 'fitting' a horse apply.
Like you think I would stay away from lunging, enough lunging to actually condition a horse is a lot of circles.
I would try ponying him every other day, monitor his legs etc, if he stays sound add another day or perhaps one day of lunging in the largest circle you can make.
If ponying is not an option I would ride him, imho
since he is broke already, a gentle ride would be less stressful on his joints than lunging.

Rehabbing an injured horse would be quite similar to bringing along a young one, very slow steady work to develop and strengthen.
He will tell you if you are doing too much, soreness or heat, add either time or intensity to the workout every third or fourth workout, very important not to add both at the same time and have a few workouts at the new level before adding more.
Lori
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 10:48 am:

Hi Jos,

In general, bringing a horse like this back to work is similar to reintroducing work after an injury (see Chris's rehab thread for a great example). Except your horse can be turned out.

So lots of walk under saddle with increasing periods of trot, starting with 5 minutes and increasing as the horse stays sound. I'm not fond of the lunge line for conditioning or for suppling, it doesn't do a very controlled job of either. I suppose the exception is for horses that are too high or too weak to carry a rider safely.

A horse of that training will be best suppled with the various gymnastic exercises he already knows-- turns on forehand and haunches, leg yield, shoulder-in etc..

How very exciting for you!
Member:
stevens

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 11:40 am:

Lucky you! My boy is also trained to PSG but as Elizabeth pointed out, we're on the slow road of rehab.

I second her suggestion of some lateral work. I won't be able to do any lateral work until my horse is cantering (hopefully) in June or so. Just be careful not to overdo it.

It's great that he has a lot of room to move around, if he actually moves around. Play is also good, but it's sustained exercise (even at a low level) that is going to condition him.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 1:50 pm:

He is certainly vet declared fit for riding but selling him for the big bucks became a problem[not even impossible though] due to a tendon injury in front[no heat no changes there anymore even after behaving like a foal in the fields now 6 weeks]His owner just is frightened he will break down at high level training. Apart from the tendon injury he had muscle atrophy in/on his shoulder same leg. I wasn't there and don't completely understand what happened all hearsay hence my trouble to decide how to handle this. The language poses a problem for understanding and the fact owners often [imo] give a byased version, but I am certain the vet overhere[alas not Dr.O quality] declared him fit for riding.
And don't underestimate lungeing with gogue, chambon or with double lunge it really is a way to put muscles where you want them but a 14 year old horse with a carreer with two[succesive] riders on Prix St George Level must have a bit of arthritis or at least be spared a bit doesn't he?
Ponying is certainly no optionHorses like him are usually calmer under the saddle then if you walk next to them so walking next to his fat half arab 25 centimeters smaller friend Grace and none of us any experience with ponying... Apart from that he is a big horse and I am not that heavy so I think I might conclude: Of in the forest for half an hour in walk and some dressage at home?
Please remember never even rehabbed a horse before only trained young ones so this is new to me so if I sound stupid...
Thanks for the advice
Jos
PS Nice change to be able to sit on a horse who understands and listens if you don't make any mistakes though.
Member:
stevens

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 5:16 pm:

Yes, there is lunging and then there is LUNGING. Big difference as you point out. Since he sounds to be out of shape, I would treat him like a young horse and not be too aggressive with the lunge equipment until he's a little more conditioned.

Depending on the extent of the tendon injury, which unfortunately you don't know, maybe it's not time to trot him yet. UC Davis has a tendon injury protocol on their website that is similar to that provided by my vet. If the vet cleared him for riding, why not just ride at the walk, on the straight away, for 30 days and see how he holds up.

If there's no heat or swelling, then add a little trot. It doesn't seem like you're in a rush so taking the 30 days to just walk is no big deal.

I can definitely relate to the "calmer under saddle" part!
Member:
freshman

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 5:22 pm:

I think your slow approach is a very sensible. I can't imagine that the horse should be ridden hard to bring him back into work. That doesn't make sense for any horse, especially one that is rehabbing an injury.

In this case, I think the owner is just plain wrong.
Member:
cgby1

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 11:03 pm:

I think that Chris's suggestion is excellent. I also would walk him adding on time until you are doing about 45 or 50 minutes. Then I would start replacing a few minutes at a time every fifth time or so with trotting until you can do about 20 minutes of it during your ride. Then you should be able to start a few minutes of canter. I would take it slow so as not make him sore if he is out of condition.

Cynthia
Member:
paardex

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 5:30 am:

Thanks very much I feel comfortable with these suggestions and will tell the owner I will proceed like you suggested. I am in no hurry [certainly feel more comfortable on him when taking it slowly as he knows about 100 times more about riding then me apart from the training benefits]
As he is full time out with a friend and on the skinny side I cannot imagine what harm patience would do to him.
Thanks again I needed this advice!
Jos
PS Ofcourse in a few months I will bother everybody again about the next step
Member:
terrido

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 12:36 pm:

You know it is possible to add a bit of longing without contraptions and still help him a bit more than just riding out.

You can longe in straight lines, you can use very large circles by walking with him and not standing still, etc. and you can just walk, but ask him to use his rear legs and push thru his topline. There is correct longing and then there is the usual longing. ;) The shoulder and foreleg muscling will come along.

Yes absolutely slower is better, and walking only for at least 30 days is an excellent start.

Enjoy him, he will be an excellent teacher.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2008 - 2:11 pm:

I'll need to lunge him a bit because I am way better at lungeing then as a rider and already found he needs to keep a little respect for mebut I will keep it down to a minimum and try to make the most of the forest around me with it's natural uphill and down again and at least three different footings.
Still it IS strange a horse who is way more reliable under the saddle then walking next to him
Jos
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