After a much needed getaway I am back at it. On Monday I rushed out to the barn after work for my first ride on the ginger since her injections/stall rest/time off. Previously I asked my vet if he wanted me to lunge her – specifically with the fauxssoa rig to encourage her to use her back and he advised no lunging… I know that there is a time and place but I was happy that wasn’t a requirement. Until I remembered that Annie would probably be a kite.
I climbed on my fire breathing dragon after 3 weeks off with no prep and my fingers crossed. I have to say that for the most part she kept it together. There were only a few moments where I thought I might get launched. Not too bad for a baby(ish) TB.
Unfortunately the next couple weeks will be lightly building her back up and I am supposed to avoid contact… Not so awesome when you feel like you are riding a runaway train. Tuesdays ride was not really an improvement but we hacked out for 20 min and got in a few stretches of trotting. Slowly but surely we will get back to the norm. I know that quite a few of you have brought horses back from injuries of some kind or another. Do you have any tips or specific exercises you like to do when you are a bit more limited in the scope of work you can ask for?
No specific exercises, other than, you know, just surviving it. It can be a frustrating time.
Survival is key. I credit wine 😉
Yay for getting back in the saddle! I can’t think of any specific exercises since your contact should be limited, maybe focus on turning off the leg, and moving specific parts of the body independently (shoulder, haunches etc). Good luck and keep up updated with her progress!
Thanks Kelly. Yeah its hard when I have been advised not to touch the reins essentially. Which is the opposite of what my body wants to do when shes a rocket haha!
Can’t lie, in this I am glad I have a Miles. Two weeks of nothing and he was just a tiny bit up — no theatrics or fireworks for us.
Usually 2 weeks wouldnt be that big of a deal. But she had no turn out for a week and then no work on top of it. She’ll get there 🙂
Unfortunately, all the rehab I’ve done has been so basic, there’s really nothing to do but what little work you’re told. 5 minutes of trot? Yep. trot. 5 minutes. No framing up. No lateral work. No sitting trot. No small circles. Just five minutes of trot loose and forward (and try not to die).
Rehab is pretty boring (you know unless they’re trying to kill you). But if you take your time and do it right, it’s worth it in the end.
Yeah trying to live is a biggest goal haha.
Murray and I have been schooling the w/t transitions and free walk-walk transition. Those are two things we always struggle with on our tests AND I’m happy to say I’ve seen and felt improvement. I’ve also been working on the T3 serpentine with him, really trying to get both of us in the habit of changing bend without over-management of the contact or over-use of my hands. I feel like it keeps us working and moving forward, but doesn’t require too much loading of the hocks (or bending of the neck, really!). Harder to do when you aren’t supposed to tackle contact yet, though!
Yeah the no contact is what makes it hardest. 🙂
Just take it day by day and be patient. It’s frustrating but once you start to see progress, it’s all worth it.
Very true. Thanks Sarah!
Hacking as much as possible…hill work. Something to keep the mind occupied! I have one of those kites too lol
Hacking has been the main MO. Tried a hill yesterday but since her manifestation of being up is to spook at everything we got half way and froze and wanted to spin off the hill/mound it was awesome 😛
I like to listen to books on tape while doing rehab. Keeps me from going insane. Thankfully Nilla was not a nightmare for rehab.
That’s a very good idea! 🙂
I do the same thing!
When I was rehabbing Candy, I took the time to go back to the basics. We did a lot of walking/trotting dressage tests (so…. lots of 20m circles at the walk), working on straightness/bend/adjustability. It’s never fun! Hoping the process goes quickly!
I work on me. Am I sitting evenly? Am I sitting up? Where are my legs? My hands? Is my seat following? How about my hands following? Is she listening to my seat and half halts? Can I make her stride longer or shorter just from my seat and legs? Etc. You can work on your position and core and her attention to your aids without ever touching the reins and start building muscle and muscle memory even at the walk.
I think the hacking suggestions from a few other posters is a great idea. Slow and steady! Glad you guys are back at it 🙂