Equine Physical Therapy

1rish · 08-05-2004, 02:30 PM

So last week Guinness decided he was going to jump out of the roundpen from a walk. He may be slick but this time he caught a knee and did a full summersault over the fence landing on his back on the other side. After a week of Bute the Chiropractor was ready for him and after which he gave me a list of physical therapy exercises to perform for 10 days until his next visit.
Has anyone out there tried those? Wholy Cow! This is how day one went.

Attempting to perform physical therapy on a 1000lb equine is anything but easy.

Day One:
6-10 rotations of each front shoulder, clockwise then counter clockwise. Um HELLO! Has anyone out there ever attempted this feat? Let me tell you it isn't easy when all your horse wants to do is eat and his leg weighs as much as your torso. He got so ticked off he bit my butt!
Exercise #2, Pull tail straight out from body keeping constant tension for 1 minute.
Okay, let me get this right, I am supposed to stand behind a horses rear end, lifting his tail (which weighs as much as my leg,) above my head (only way to get it level he is so tall) and pull for one minute? Yea right, and get pooped on in the process.
Exercise #3, massage muscles along spine for 5 minutes. (gotta get a stepstool for that one)
Exercise #4, using thumbs put sweeping pressure down underside of tummy causing him to do mini crunches.
No way, didn't work, he just made the funny horse face that says "oh that feels so good, scratch me there more!"
Guess you could say that day one of physical therapy wasnt that much of a success. Only 9 more days to go. (after which I will require some physical therapy of my own.)

HorseCraze120 · 08-05-2004, 02:35 PM

Wow! Thats alot of stretching, but its good for him so his mucles dont tighten. Im glad hes ok from the fall, it could of been more serious. How tall was the roundpen?

1rish · 08-05-2004, 02:47 PM

He is fine, he's only a yearling so he is made of rubber.

I am not sure how tall the roundpen is, I am 5'4" and the top rail is just above eye level.
Jumping fences is nothing new, Guinness has a history of jumping out of situations he finds less than accomodating.
I just found it amusing how much of a workout I got giving HIM the therapy. I was laughing the entire time I was pulling on his tail.

Post Script:
he was just "hanging out" in the roundpen while I was cleaning around the barn, he is sorta the barn lap dog.

08-05-2004, 02:30 PM	#1
1rish Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Doing Laundry Posts: 1,549 Images: 36	Equine Physical Therapy So last week Guinness decided he was going to jump out of the roundpen from a walk. He may be slick but this time he caught a knee and did a full summersault over the fence landing on his back on the other side. After a week of Bute the Chiropractor was ready for him and after which he gave me a list of physical therapy exercises to perform for 10 days until his next visit. Has anyone out there tried those? Wholy Cow! This is how day one went. Attempting to perform physical therapy on a 1000lb equine is anything but easy. Day One: 6-10 rotations of each front shoulder, clockwise then counter clockwise. Um HELLO! Has anyone out there ever attempted this feat? Let me tell you it isn't easy when all your horse wants to do is eat and his leg weighs as much as your torso. He got so ticked off he bit my butt! Exercise #2, Pull tail straight out from body keeping constant tension for 1 minute. Okay, let me get this right, I am supposed to stand behind a horses rear end, lifting his tail (which weighs as much as my leg,) above my head (only way to get it level he is so tall) and pull for one minute? Yea right, and get pooped on in the process. Exercise #3, massage muscles along spine for 5 minutes. (gotta get a stepstool for that one) Exercise #4, using thumbs put sweeping pressure down underside of tummy causing him to do mini crunches. No way, didn't work, he just made the funny horse face that says "oh that feels so good, scratch me there more!" Guess you could say that day one of physical therapy wasnt that much of a success. Only 9 more days to go. (after which I will require some physical therapy of my own.) __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

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08-05-2004, 02:35 PM	#2
HorseCraze120 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 11,644 Images: 429 Blog Entries: 5	Wow! Thats alot of stretching, but its good for him so his mucles dont tighten. Im glad hes ok from the fall, it could of been more serious. How tall was the roundpen? __________________ Ashley "soft hands, strong legs, and a steady mind" ~ equestrian. Rules and Sebastian <3 my boys, my two angels. You're never forgotten.

08-05-2004, 02:47 PM	#3
1rish Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Doing Laundry Posts: 1,549 Images: 36	He is fine, he's only a yearling so he is made of rubber. I am not sure how tall the roundpen is, I am 5'4" and the top rail is just above eye level. Jumping fences is nothing new, Guinness has a history of jumping out of situations he finds less than accomodating. I just found it amusing how much of a workout I got giving HIM the therapy. I was laughing the entire time I was pulling on his tail. Post Script: he was just "hanging out" in the roundpen while I was cleaning around the barn, he is sorta the barn lap dog. __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.