[sarahhowen]

Hi Guys,

Recently I have been having a few issues with my mare, due to a combination of poor confirmation and having a farrier that shall we say didn't help matters!

Approx 6 weeks ago, my mare came up lame with a slightly swollen knee, My reaction was that it was probably a knock caused my our 10 week old filly that has a tendancy to leap over anything and sure enough after a few days of cold hosing she was fine, I have progressively noticed a detiroration in her hoof confirmation, she is badly pigeon toed on one foot and the other was sowing signs if turning in also and the vets raised this concern about my previous farrier until they heard who I used and then said well he is good so it can't be him, eventually I changed and my new farrier came out two weeks ago, he found that she was being shod in such a way that was causing the problem to get worse and that she was now indeed sore on her feet, she also had some pretty horrific flaring and he was lets say none to impressed with this other guy. So we have now started the process of sorting this out.

She has now had two weeks getting settled on her new feet, and I am now bringing her back into work, something that I want to do slowly as she has had 6 weeks off, she is 15 years old and also her tendons are now being used slightly differently than before she was reshod ( I will point out that the farrier is only making very gradual changes)

So my question is guys any suggestions of what I should be doing with her daily to in essence strengthen her up and build her fitness.

I will point out that I don't particularly want to lunge her as I don't think this is great with her poor confirmation and her pigeon toes!

Yesterday was the first day that I rode her and I literally just walked her
down the lane for 20 minutes, not even asking for an outline.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated, timescales also before increasing her workload etc

[Auzzie Honey]

G'day,

At 15 they're still in their prime, so age shouldn't be too relivant.
The tendons .. I'd be seeking a vets opinion on this - check how they are going, and what the vet suggests is the best plan of action.

I could give you a few exercises to do, however, I think it's best that before doing this, you have a vet examine her legs and check they're ready to start a fitness program

Good luck xx

[sarahhowen]

Thanks Auzzie Honey, She has been cleared by the vet to come back into work, I have been told just to take things easy with her at first but in all honesty I am the one wanting to take things especially slow with her, she has been really sore until the recent change in Farrier and I now want to get her re started and give her the best chance of srengthening up those muscles and tendons so any excercises you could recommend would be greatly appreciated!

[DiamondRio]

I had to bring my horse back from a two week vacation from which i came back to find my horse lame from growing pains and gaining a whole bunch of weight while I was back.

AFter the vet gave me the okay to ride her I did a lot of riding sessions when I would walk for about 10 minutes and then do a lot of trot work on the rail and some balanced circles. The trot work helped her shed some of the gained pounds and strenghten her legs without over working her.
After about a week of trotting we added 2 minutes of canter each day until she could walk, trot, and canter for a resonable amount of time without being off or tired.
Three weeks later she is completely sound and is jumping and riding in a frame.
Before every session I would be sure to stretch her legs out and made sure she was completely cool at the end before putting her away.

You just have to move slow and make a plan for bringing your horse back to work.

[PeggySue]

Start out WALKING straight lines just short period of time until she is 100% on her new hooves/legs... big gradual turns nothing strenuous.. keep things as flat as you can ground wise

[JBandRio]

Walking work up to an hour of walking a day if you can. Walking, as long as you're marching along, is GREAT exercise for all parts of the body. Start out at 20 minutes though, which you can do daily as long as she's had enough turnout for the last several weeks.

Do keep your turns as wide as you can, although you don't really have to tippy toe around. No sharp turns is really what it boils down to.

After a week or so of just walking, start to incorporate more demanding work, including some light lateral work and some more "collected" walking work, even poles and hills. Introduce everything new slowly.

Once she can walk at least 45 minutes and not be stressed, start adding trot work, 5 minutes at a time, increasing by a few minutes every 2-4 days. Once she can trot for 15-20 minutes a ride, for a few weeks, then start canter work in the same way.

Of course, monitor the condition of her legs, her willingness, her soundness along the way, and back off if things take a turn for the worse. You may find she's fine for w/t work, however long you want, but can't handle much canter work at all, for example.

[sarahhowen]

Thanks guys, I know I am possibly over reacting but I really want to make sure that she is given the best possible chance of strenthening her legs and muscles fully.

I have actually just got back from exercising her today, we have literally gone for a walk down the lane - which is pretty flat and overall done about 25 minutes, I am aiming to keep this up for 5 sessions over the next seven days and then start to gradually increase the sessions so fingers crossed she stays sound!

She seemed to enjoy being out today which is good, I think she was a little fed up with seeing the same scenery for the last 6 weeks!

I am also scheduled for a massage therapist to come and visit her inbetween each visit the farrier makes just to ensure that her muscles are not tensing up - do you think this is a good idea?

I am planning on this process taking a couple of months - I don't mind this though, she's worth it (well most days anyway!)

[clinchblock]

nothing woks better then leather rim pads - theres a nice cup to the foot wile the leather molds itself to the hoof wall ( no toe clips , stay away from pointy toes ) for the hind -- squair toes (slightly) pulled back & a slight trailer, your horse will respond more colectively and more comfortable , part of the balance that makes the game fun

[clinchblock]

you will be surprised (note) drill holes in the pad & shoe 1 in each heel and 1in the toe, fix with copper rivet... time consuming but - youll be suprised

[pippy]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Walking work up to an hour of walking a day if you can. Walking, as long as you're marching along, is GREAT exercise for all parts of the body. Start out at 20 minutes though, which you can do daily as long as she's had enough turnout for the last several weeks.

Do keep your turns as wide as you can, although you don't really have to tippy toe around. No sharp turns is really what it boils down to.

After a week or so of just walking, start to incorporate more demanding work, including some light lateral work and some more "collected" walking work, even poles and hills. Introduce everything new slowly.

Once she can walk at least 45 minutes and not be stressed, start adding trot work, 5 minutes at a time, increasing by a few minutes every 2-4 days. Once she can trot for 15-20 minutes a ride, for a few weeks, then start canter work in the same way.

Of course, monitor the condition of her legs, her willingness, her soundness along the way, and back off if things take a turn for the worse. You may find she's fine for w/t work, however long you want, but can't handle much canter work at all, for example.

BINGO - Wlaking is what strengthens the tendons and ligaments - but as JB says - a march not a dwadle. Walk, Walk, Walk and more Walk its just so good for them.