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Expert
Posts: 1477
  
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | My main horse got sick and has been off since the beginning of April. I can tell he's lost a lot of muscle. And I took him off his supplements. I'm hoping he's released next week. How do I start to bring him back and have him ready for Open world in October?
Edited by TessBelle 2017-08-01 10:14 AM
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Unfortunately, I've been dealing with this all too much...and the answer is, slowly.
My horse has some sort of mystery IBS stuff going on in his small intestines. He had a lot of muscle wasting due to not wanting to eat, constant ulcers and pain, peritonitis, and lack of any energy what-so-ever. I thought he had given up. It took me a lot of work, but we got him feeling better, and I've found a good diet/supplement combo to get his weight back up. AFTER I got him back to a healthier weight, I began some slow trotting...gradually increasing from 8-15 mins for several weeks, letting him pick his pace. Either ponying him or free in the round pen. Lots of turnout to keep him moving, even if it was just milling around and walking to water. I also started backing him about 200 ft each evening (this was from the barn to pasture) to strengthen his hind end.
He was doing phenominal, then this spring he got a massive puncture wound and subsequently got Clostridial Myositis (black leg--but in his hip). That set him back big time. Same thing all over again. We've had some minor set backs here and there, and each time, I just start him back slow, usually in the round pen, only asking him to trot for a set amount of time, changing directions a few times to exercise both sides. I let him pick his pace. Lots of turnout (currently 16+ hours a day) and I keep him separate to eat.
It takes lots of patience. I wish I could afford to send him to a rehab place where he could swim daily and get some therapies, but it's just not in my budget right now. I do try to have my vet/chiro come for somewhat regular chiro and acupuncture treatments. It helps a lot. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | RockinGR - 2017-08-01 10:34 AM
Unfortunately, I've been dealing with this all too much...and the answer is, slowly.
My horse has some sort of mystery IBS stuff going on in his small intestines. He had a lot of muscle wasting due to not wanting to eat, constant ulcers and pain, peritonitis, and lack of any energy what-so-ever. I thought he had given up. It took me a lot of work, but we got him feeling better, and I've found a good diet/supplement combo to get his weight back up. AFTER I got him back to a healthier weight, I began some slow trotting...gradually increasing from 8-15 mins for several weeks, letting him pick his pace. Either ponying him or free in the round pen. Lots of turnout to keep him moving, even if it was just milling around and walking to water. I also started backing him about 200 ft each evening (this was from the barn to pasture) to strengthen his hind end.
He was doing phenominal, then this spring he got a massive puncture wound and subsequently got Clostridial Myositis (black leg--but in his hip). That set him back big time. Same thing all over again. We've had some minor set backs here and there, and each time, I just start him back slow, usually in the round pen, only asking him to trot for a set amount of time, changing directions a few times to exercise both sides. I let him pick his pace. Lots of turnout (currently 16+ hours a day) and I keep him separate to eat.
It takes lots of patience. I wish I could afford to send him to a rehab place where he could swim daily and get some therapies, but it's just not in my budget right now. I do try to have my vet/chiro come for somewhat regular chiro and acupuncture treatments. It helps a lot.
I'm sorry your having such a hard time. Glad you said something about swimming though. We have 2 ponds and he love to swim. Just never done it for conditioning. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Probably not a good idea to try and put a timeline on conditioning. Going too slowly doesn't hurt a horse. I'd start with 10 minutes handwalking, really marching forward, then increase either duration or intensity every 4-5 sessions, bit not both at once. And don't be afraid to dial or back some. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | hannahbug - 2017-08-01 12:51 PM Probably not a good idea to try and put a timeline on conditioning. Going too slowly doesn't hurt a horse. I'd start with 10 minutes handwalking, really marching forward, then increase either duration or intensity every 4-5 sessions, bit not both at once. And don't be afraid to dial or back some.
Excellent advice! Listen to the horse. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Super hard to put a timeline on rehab. So many variables and things can happen, and realistically October is only 10 weeks away- he's been off a long time. |
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2064
Location: SW New Mexico | SLOWLY....
ground work , playing on obstacle courses, EZ stuff, doing 1 % a day looking for a small improvement daily.
Example: If you trot 3 minutes at first , do 4 the next, 5 the next ...ect.... |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Talk to the vet, my vet always said minimum 3 months |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Illness in this case not injury correct? I think that makes it a bit easier that you aren't needing to be overly cautious of a weakened injury site.
Has the horse been stall bound this whole time or had some movement? Flatland turnout or pasture with hills?
The timeline is tough. I would for sure re start the supplements including something for topline and muscle building.
If he lunges I love a bungee lunging rig for building topline without actually riding. Otherwise you really just have to listen to the horse. I suggest talking to your vet and actually writing out a plan so you have something to reference each day and keep notes on if the horse seemed overly winded or seemed to be asking for more. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | OhMax - 2017-08-02 8:31 AM
Illness in this case not injury correct? I think that makes it a bit easier that you aren't needing to be overly cautious of a weakened injury site.
Has the horse been stall bound this whole time or had some movement? Flatland turnout or pasture with hills?
The timeline is tough. I would for sure re start the supplements including something for topline and muscle building.
If he lunges I love a bungee lunging rig for building topline without actually riding. Otherwise you really just have to listen to the horse. I suggest talking to your vet and actually writing out a plan so you have something to reference each day and keep notes on if the horse seemed overly winded or seemed to be asking for more.
Yes. He had chronic pneumonia in both lungs. I talked to him yesterday and all he said was just start him back very very slowly so he doesn't relaps and can build his lungs back up. |
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