My Top Tips for managing Kissing Spines

I thought it would be helpful to others to share what products, exercises, management and therapies etc have worked well for my horse since his Kissing Spines Diagnosis and surgery.
You will need to discuss the best course of action with your vet and taylor your rehab and management to suit your horse but here is rundown whats worked for us:

Therapies:

Hydrotherapy - Jack was able to get the very best start to his rehabilitation by spending a month at a specialist rehabilitation centre with an aqua treadmill which he went on everyday.  This was recommended by our fabulous surgeon.  Even better the rehab costs were cover by our insurance claim although I did have to cover the stabling costs.  Bennett equine were fantastic with Jack and he came back after a month of rehab there fit and ready to begin ridden rehab.  I didn't have to do weeks of endless lunging which is so wearing on a horses joints.  It is also where we met our fabulous physio tamsyn who has been wonderful, an endless source of knowledge and a highly skilled physio.

Physiotherapy - as mentioned above I use a highly qualified and reputable vet physiotherapist who was recommended by both my vet and the rehabilitation centre we used.  She started working with Jack while he was at the therapy centre and we were very lucky that she agreed to continue to treat Jack when he returned home as she is otherwise so busy she isn't able to take on new clients.  There is a huge difference in Jacks work after he's been treated by Tamsyn, he is always more supple, forward and altogether nicer to ride.  He often gets tight in his hamstring and si area which stops him being able to use himself properly and Tamsyn is able to release these muscles so he is comfortable and can work properly again.  I believe we wouldn't be where we are without Bennett's and Tamsyn's help.
Be wary when choosing a physio as they are not all the same, it is best to get one recommended by your vet.

Magnetic therapy - I use a equilibrium magnetic back pad and equine magnetix hock boots on Jack (he was diagnosed with hock arthritis at the same time as KS) and I find they work really well, if he has them on prior to exercise his back is warm and the muscles soft and he works lovely over his back in a soft and relaxed frame with lots of swing.  It is especially noticeable in the colder weather.  The hock boots also seem to make a real difference with Jack more forward and engaged behind when he's been wearing them.  If I ride him when he has not had the back pad and hock boots on I notice a real difference in Jacks ability to work softly forward and it takes me a lot longer to warm him up.

Feed and Supplements:

Feed - It is important that every horse receives a balanced diet suitable for their age, temperament, workload, management, type etc.  Condition scoring is also important as weight gain or loss will have an effect on your horses shape, muscles, energy levels and ability to perform.  Too much weight can lead to many health problems even in otherwise healthy animals and is to be avoided, in a horse with back problems it is only going to add to their discomfort as they have to carry more weight around.
I consulted a nutritional specialist at a leading feed company for advice on what to feed Jack when I was bringing him back into work following surgery and they provided samples for me to try and vouchers for money off my first bags.

Supplements - I try to avoid supplements as a general rule, I think most are full of fillers/sugars that most horses really don't need.  The companies that sell them do a very good job of convincing us that our horses need their products!  When I have used supplements in the past I've not been convinced of their effectiveness. 
The only thing I feed in addition to Jack's usual food is some turmeric, I have only recently begun to use this but have heard some amazing results using it so if it works it is a very cost effective supplement.  I will review it in a few weeks and write a post on the results.

Equipment:

Saddle Pads - I use a thin square saddle pad with high wither clearance under a professionally fitted saddle, I also use a faux lambs wool half pad under the saddle which was checked by my saddle fitter to make sure it didn't affect the fit of the saddle.  Whatever saddle pad/numnah you choose to use it is important that it is checked by a saddle fitter to ensure it is not effecting the fit of your saddle and that your horse is comfy and not restricted.

Lunging aids - I lunge at least once a week in a Pessoa type lunging aid set up on the lowest setting so Jack works in a low, open and relaxed frame over his back.  I often use poles to engage his core further.

Exercises:

Pole work - I love doing pole work whether ground poles, raised poles or little grids.  They get a horses core working so well, keep lunging and flat work more interesting and get Jack thinking quicker about what he is doing with his feet!  I never use the same exercise twice in a row and enjoy thinking up new exercises to try out.  I hardly ever school without poles these days as they really help Jack use himself and without them he gets bored and switches off in the ménage.  Here are a few exercises we use on a regular basis:

Carrot stretches - I do carrot stretches with Jack everyday whether he is ridden or not.  Not always with carrots, I use apple's, lickit mini licks or horse treats to stop him getting bored.  Standing Jack up square I will do 3 stretches each side, the first to his elbow then to half way down his barrel and finally behind each knee holding each for 5seconds. Then we do between his fetlocks, between his knees and to his chest.

Hill work and hacking - I get out of the arena as much as possible and even in the Winter try to never school 2 days in a row.  Jack really still disliked the ménage when he first started ridden rehab so we just did lots of long slow hacks building up a little at a time.  He worked much better this way and it is easily the best way of getting a horse fit.  As he became fitter we introduced trot and then canter work on hacks first before asking him to trot and canter in the arena.  I try to vary the terrain and ground so all his bones, tendons and ligaments become strong.  Hill work was also introduced gradually to build fitness. 

Management - regular turn out is really important for both body and mind, the gentle exercise helps loosen their muscles and grazing with the head down stretches their back.  Jack is turned out daily, in the summer he is out at night and in the winter he is turned out during the day.  When the grass is at its richest in the spring and Autumn I often muzzle him when he is out to restrict his grass in take as he puts on weight very easily.
I feed from the ground in buckets too.

Time - My biggest tip is to take your time and listen to your horse.  Rehabbing successfully from Kissing Spines is a marathon not a sprint!  One size certainly does not fit all and it is very common to have problems along the way, there is no harm in taking a step back and doing more walking, hacking, lunging etc if your horse is still not happy going faster.  A 12 week fittening program is a good guide but don't be disheartened if it takes 16, 24, 38 weeks or even longer.  As long as you and your horse are happy!

 

30/11/25 Stronger, better, faster!

At almost 10months post surgery Jack has been going from strength to strength in recent weeks, he honestly is feeling better than ever and I smile every time I ride him now, it's a pleasure to ride him and with every ride he improves and exceeds my expectations.  With the shorter days we are becoming increasingly restricted to riding in the menage, while I know we are very lucky to have a floodlit menage I have always found Jack rather switches off with too much time schooling in there.  Since his surgery in Feb I have rarely ridden in the school limiting ridden schooling sessions to once a week at most but now if I want to ride in the week it has be the school or nothing.  I was concerned Jack might switch off but with a bit of planning and imagination I've kept our schooling sessions fairly short with lots of variety to keep him interested and listening and so far it's working a treat!  My current weekly winter schedule goes something like this:

Monday - lunge in pessoa sometimes with poles
Tuesday - school
Wednesday - in hand ground poles
Thursday - school over poles
Friday - short hack or short ride in field
Saturday - jump
Sunday - hack

I swap and change days around depending on time, weather etc and I don't want it to become too predictable!

With how well Jack has been schooling we tried 2 more things we had yet to do since surgery, simple changes and lengthened strides.  He tried so hard and even when he got a bit excited and uptight he didn't put a foot wrong.  His walk to canter transitions felt so much better balanced and through than pre surgery.  He used to pull himself forward and down onto his forehand but now he was able to sit wait and step under himself from behind producing a lovely forward, balenced, uphill transition with lots of impulsion, activity and lightness.  He was so adjustable and rideable :)
I have to watch he doesn't try to avoid using his left hind correctly, which he does by pushing his left shoulder in, as long as I keep the flexion to the left and keep him soft down the left rein he is super!
When I asked for some lengthened strides in trot I was thrilled with his response, he felt so strong and powerful.  He's always been able to lengthen but he would end up on the forehand and rushing as he couldn't maintain it.  The biggest difference is in the transition back to collection which was just so much easier because I wasnt having to try to rebalence him from running onto the forehand!!

I also braved the 50mph winds yesterday afternoon to take him for a hack on our own, we've not been out for a couple of weeks due for various reasons so I expected him to be a little lively and had a neck strap ready but I really didn't want to school again!  We didn't go far and there was quite a bit of spooking but with good reason to be fair.  I would never have dared take him out in those conditions on our own a few months ago so it really goes to show the trust between has really improved :)

I have another lesson booked for early Dec and all being well our first competitive outting in over 20months will be mid december - eek!

A picture popped up on my Facebook timeline this week from 4 years ago:

These were our 2011 dressage champions trophies from a local riding club.  We were actually dressage champions of 2 local riding clubs that year, we were unbeaten all year in every test we did plus we were working Hunter champions of one of the club's too!  The following year jacks back problems began although it would be almost 2 years before we got a proper diagnoses.  This just reminds me why through all our troubles I always thought my little horse was worth it and he feels better now than when we won those trophies so the future is very exciting :)

Finally I am truly shocked and honoured to have been short listed for the title of hay net equestrian blogger of the year on www.hay-net.co.uk the winner is picked by public vote and you can vote for me - Hannah Arscott - by following this link:

https://surveyplanet.com/56447ea18535760f1475ecfe

Thank you to anyone who enjoys my blog and takes the time to vote :) we are up against some very strong competition so just to make the shortlist is a big surprise!

Recovery week 29 - 24/8/15

Wahay another good week under our belt :) this is becoming a habit I could very happily get used to!
Jack is still not forward when we start and takes a bit of time and encouragement to get going and working properly but the ability is there and bad behaviour isn't so I'm not worried at the moment although I am considering whether something like a massage pad on before being ridden to warm his back muscles up might help, I will discuss this with Tamsyn our physio when she comes later this week to give him a check up.
I started the week with our usual lunge in pessoa and I worked him hard getting him to really open up and move forwards hoping to give him the confidence to do the same under saddle.
On the Tuesday the weather was windy and we had no one to hack with, the big field is now out of bounds as the cows have arrived so I decided to tackle a bit of schooling in the ménage for the first time in a couple of months.
I gave him a good warm up in walk doing lots of stretching and long and low and lateral before picking up trot.  Jack had other ideas and felt that he would rather just keep walking thanks very much!  So after a little discussion we were trotting, it was slow and behind the leg but he was going at least!  We did a few more trot walk trot transitions and then he brightened up and started to work properly.  A spook at the bottom of the school resulted in us picking up canter and as he was feeling happy and forwards I sat and allowed the canter to continue.  I then changed the rein and asked for canter the other way and got it without any hesitation :) after that he felt so much better and was giving me some really nice work! I then did some figures of 8 in canter changing leg through trot over x and he was just awesome coming back easily and then picking up the correct lead everytime with no issues and not the slightest hint of hesitation.  Thrilled was an understatement!  I was grinning from ear to ear as I cooled him down :) I wasn't sure what to expect but he surpassed any expectation I had!
On Thursday I took him for a hack and we did the longest solo hack we have done since his operation.  We went all the way to the end of the bridle path and back, about 4 miles in total, mostly trotting and cantering with a bit of walk where the ground was a bit deep and sticky.  Jack tired towards the end but we had a lot of fun and he behaved beautifully all the way even through the roadworks with lots of spooky signs, cones, barriers and tape to look at.  Another good day :)
Friday is always a bit of a rush so we just did the shorter hack that day, again on our own, going solo doesn't seems to be an issue at all now and again we had a lovely relaxed hack finishing with a lovely canter all the way back on the bridle path, Jack is obviously feeling fitter as he was keen and pulling all the way and still bright as a button when we got home.
I had to ride alone again on Saturday and didn't fancy another hack on the same route so with a free paddock I decided to try schooling out in the field to see if he felt any different.  It was very very warm and the ground was pretty hard so I was planning on sticking to walk and trot. Also the paddock that was free is not flat and contains a public foot path so I took things steady.  Jack felt lethargic and his walk was very flat and sluggish so I tried to liven him up a bit which he didn't appreciate, he didn't do anything wrong just stopped dead and refused to move at anything other than the pace he was happy with!  When I insisted he did give me some better work but he was hard work and didn't feel like he wanted to do it much at all so I didn't do too much.
There could be a number of reasons, lower energy levels due to poor grass, the heat, the hard ground, being away from all the other horses etc.
I will have a discussion with Tamsyn about it all when she comes next week and see if she can identify any issues or provide any advice on it.
Hopefully there is nothing too worry about and he certainly doesn't appear to be in pain or unsound.
The issues with his near hind have disappeared completely.
Fingers crossed he is back to feeling on form after a holiday as we go away for 8 days at the end of the week and he will be chilling in the field for the duration which I think will do him good.

Recovery week 28 - 17/8/15

It's been a pretty quiet week for Jack as I have been away on a little family holiday since the early hours of Thursday morning and so I don't have an awful lot to update!
He has been ticking over nicely lately and I'm still really pleased with his progress of late despite the ups and downs. 
The biggest and most pleasing progress is the change in his attitude and confidence which is continuing to build all the time.  I think he is beginning to believe in himself and me again and realise its not going to hurt him anymore.  He is still a little hesitant at first sometimes but with a bit of gentle persuasion and patience he soon begins to work at his full ability.  I'm hoping given more time that early hesitation and uncertainty that he still has when I first start working him will disappear completely.
I worked him on the pessoa on Monday and took him for a nice long hack with my friend Jo on her lovely boy Toby Tuesday before a manic Wednesday which involved having to leave work early to pick up my poorly little boy from nursery whilst attempting to get all the work I needed done and pack the car etc ready for a 5pm depart the next morning!  Poor Jack got a quick glance over in the field and a carrot before I had to dash off - not the nice hack I had planned but, best laid plans and all that!
He has been in the field since then and been kept and eye on by the girls I share the field with, Jo and Claire.  They report he has been fine but slightly mift at not being brought in every day for a bit of attention and food - I hope to rectify that tonight!
We have a slightly more normal week this week so I should be able to work him well before I go away again for our main family holiday at the end of the month.  Before then we have a bit of XC schooling planned at our local course with my friend Jo and Toby to give us a good lead ( as long as the ground is good!) and we are going to box them up and take them to a local all weather gallops for a good blast too.  He is also going to been treated by Tamsyn our fab physio again just before I go too so it will be interesting to see the difference a bit of time off has had on him. 
I have not seen him yet as we didn't get home until almost midnight last night and was running rather late for work this morning so I wont see him until after work tonight.  Hopefully there will be some improvement in the lump under his off hock and he has not managed to damage himself in any other way while I've been away!!
The plan will be to lunge him tonight and see how he is.
I also finally got paid by my insurance co for Jacks stay at Bennetts rehab centre for Hydrotherapy back in March!  They deducted an awful lot more than I was expecting but at least I have been able to clear my vet fees at last and no longer have debts hanging over me!
I am now in the process of putting together a big complaint to E and L for their appalling customer service and processing of my claim.
I do not hold out and awful lot of hope in resolving the issues or getting an sort of compensation although I am confident I am owed some after their catalogue of errors, suffice to say when my renewal comes through I will be changing to an alternative provider - I've already been in touch with a few and decided who I'm changing to.
I will never deal with E and L again and strongly advise against anyone insuring anything with them after the troubles I have had - the slightly cheaper premiums are simply not worth the agony you have to go through when you need to claim!
Obviously there will be a fair bit of him that is not insurable now :(

Recovery week 27 - 10/8/15

We are now just over 6months since Jacks surgery and things are going really well at the moment, there are still good and bad days and lots of ups and downs almost daily but in general Jack is happier, more relaxed and beginning to enjoy himself again.  His ridden work is becoming more consistent and the negative behaviour is occurring less and less. 
There is a big difference which I realised this week - I am enjoying riding again!!! :) I look forward to riding and can't wait to get to the farm everyday to see my horse, this is how it should be and what I have been missing for so long!
Last week I mentioned Jack had had some slight lameness in his off fore but this seems to have just been some bruising and has not reoccurred since - yay!
So just to keep me on my toes I then found a rather alarming lump on the outside of his off hind just below the hock (see piccies below of the off hock on the left with the lump and the near hock on the right to compare although I didn't get the same angle so they don't show it so well!)

It's pretty impressive but it doesn't seem to bother him at all and he is not lame on it.  It's hard and there is no swelling or heat so it's a bit of a mystery what he has done but I'm trying not to worry about it as it's not bothering him at the moment.  Next time the vet is at the yard I'll get them to have a quick look and obviously if it starts to be an issue I'll get it checked out sooner but for now I'm trying not to worry about it (easier said than done after all we've been through!)
We've enjoyed lots of hack both alone and in company this week but taken things slowly due to the hard ground.  

We even got to go for a run with my other half and our little boy!

Behaviour wise Jack has been brilliant, he has been relaxed and calm even hacking alone where he is usually a bit on edge and can be spooky.
I hate to wish for bad weather but could do with a bit of rain to soften the ground up so we can get back out in the jumping field again, I just daren't risk it with the ground so solid at the moment :(
We've not much grass at the moment and I do think his energy levels are suffering a bit, we should have a nice rested paddock to move him and his 2 field companions onto but one of the other liveries has been using it and it's not been rested so we are now struggling a bit.  She has now moved back onto her own paddocks so hopefully in a couple of weeks the grass will have recovered a bit and we can move them over to some better grazing.  Although he is hungry and lacking a bit of energy it is doing his waistline good as keeping him trim is always a battle and I have holiday booked end of this week and again at the end of the month so he is going to be out of work for a couple of weeks!

Recovery week 26 - 3/8/15

I am actually quite excited writing about this week as it has been a brilliant one and just what we both needed after a frustrating few weeks of making little or no progression!
As I blogged last week we finally got all 4 feet off the ground (intentionally) for the first time in approx. 9months.  Since then we've have a great deal of fun :)
We started the week on the Monday with lunging session on the pessoa and Jack was fine if slightly lazy!  While I was there our YO was putting some xc fences out in our big field now the hay has been taken off and we can use this for the next few weeks until the cows arrive to graze on there for the autumn.  So no time like the present we headed out to have a look at them on Tuesday my friend Jo with her lovely sensible horse Toby giving us a lead.  We had a walk round the field and showed them the fences, which were only upto 60cm so nice and easy, and then had a trot and canter round to warm them up. Jack was keen but behaved himself and managed to contain his excitement even when the cows in the next field all ran over to the fence to see what we were doing!  We then trotted over the first fence, which is just a little cross pole to get you going, then circled away coming again and doing fence 1 again followed but the next 2 which are small but solid xc fences.  Jack was jumping brilliantly and Toby was giving us a fantastic confidence giving lead so we carried on and jumped the line of 5 no problem - I was grinning from ear to ear.  Jack has never jumped so well the difference in his technique since his operation is amazing, his jump is so smooth and easy to ride and he was really coming up through his shoulders, he was also wanting to take the fences on and I didn't have to kick him at all I was able to just sit and let the fences come to us.  What a difference!  To finish, as Jack was being so good, I decided to try taking him in the lead to see what happened and was absolutely thrilled when he just jumped through exactly the same full of confidence, full of enthusiasm and really enjoying himself.  I was on cloud 9, I honestly was doubting if we would ever be able to trust each other and enjoy ourselves like that again in recent weeks and I was absolutely blown away with how great it felt.  This was just what we needed to get us back on track after a frustrating time feeling like nothing what getting any better of late.
As is the way with horses having been on such a high on the Tuesday Wednesday brought bad news, Jack was slightly lame :( There was no apparent reason and I couldn't find the cause.  We have just moved them into a different field and there are a lot of stones so I was hoping it was just bruising from standing on a stone and not anything to do with the jumping the day before.
He trotted up sound on the Thursday so I took him for a little hack round the block for 30minutes and he felt fine again.  We had a trot and canter back along the bridle path and he felt sound thank heavens!  It was one of the nicest rides I've had on him on our own, he wasn't spooky or silly at any point and we had a relaxed and fun time.
On the Friday I was planning on going out into the big field again but not jumping as I was on my own.  The field is on a gradient and there is a bank down one side so I was going to go up and down the bank for a bit of 'hill' work (we don't have any real hills round us!) but as I was tacking up my friend Marie arrived to ride and she wanted to join us and do some jumping.  As we had had so much fun on the Tuesday I didn't take much persuading to jump again!  The only thing was this time we would have to be the lead as her mare has only young and has just started jumping so the pressure was on he behave and be a good lead.  The jumps where already really small as one of the other girls had used them earlier so they were ideal for a young horse.  Jack bless him was so good giving her a great lead never hesitating or deviating from the line.  He was growing in confidence and started taking strides out :)
Once Marie was happy with what she had done she put the adjustable fences up for me so I could jump through something a bit bigger.
Jack was a little reluctant to go away from his friend but he didn't do anything wrong he was just a bit reluctant.  Once we got nearer the bottom of the field he perked up and when we turned to the jumps he was flying again he cleared 1 - 4 beautifully seeing a flyer at the 3rd, then all of a sudden between fences 4 and 5 he slammed the anchors on and started to bronc.  I had to slip the reins to stop myself being pulled over his head but this gave him more chance to get his head down and buck!  I managed to stay on and grab the reins back to pull his head up gave him a good few kicks and shouted a few profanities and as quickly as he started he was off again and flew the last fence like nothing had happened!  Little monkey!!  I was still absolutely thrilled with him and I think it was just excitement getting the better of him.
I had to give him the day off on Saturday as I had planned to ride in the evening but unfortunately it threw it down which wasn't forecast and I didn't have time to get him in a dry in time to ride so we had a quick loose school instead.
On the Sunday I got down to the farm early and took him out to the field again on our own and we did what we had planned to do on the Friday using the bank and gradient of the field to help get Jack using his back end more and strengthen his back and quarters.  He was a little hesitant to go down to the bottom of the field out of site of the yard on his own but with plenty of reassurance and calm persistence we got there and then did 20minutes of trotting and cantering up an down the bank and up from the bottom of the field.  He was very good and I could really feel him having to work over his back to power up the hill :)
That afternoon I went over to my best friend Lucy's to ride Jay for this first time since I took him to the show, we set up a little course of 3 jumps in their ménage and jumped him round a few times and he was ace as usual.  I love jumping his little guy he is so honest its really nice to ride something so straight forward!  He's inexperienced but he never says no even when he's not sure and he's great fun.
Lucy got some pictures of us in action, it's a shame I've not got any of me jumping Jack yet.  I will try to get some next time :)

     

Recovery week 25 - 27/7/15

I seems to me that everyday is a mini roller coaster at the moment with as many highs as there is lows.  This is better than all lows but I have to admit to finding the 50/50 ratio a little disappointing, it would be nice to have more highs and less lows!  Hopefully over time that will happen for us.

Back at the start of last week I planned to lunge in the pessoa on the Monday as I usually do, time is limited on a Monday and doesn't usually allow for riding!  Anyway I also had to fit in a dentist appointment which would have been ok if it not for the fact I was left waiting 40minutes for my appointment and then another 15minutes after waiting for my paperwork to be send to the receptionist so all in all for a straight forward check up that usually takes about 5minutes I was in there over an hour!  Thanks to this I was left with no time to do anything with Jack other than check him over so he enjoyed an unplanned day off in the field.  On the Tuesday I decided to take him out into the large back fields which have just been cleared of hay and currently empty.  There are some nice flat areas which you can school on plus a bank to ride up and down and if you go right to the far end of the field you can have a nice long slightly up hill gallop back (great for getting them fit for eventing or just having a good blast!) you can also get down into the river for a bit of water practice too!  Anyway not being quite ready for uphill gallops just yet I decided to just try a bit of schooling in the open and then have a walk round the field and use the back to do a bit of walking up and down hill.  I was really pleased with Jack, he was more forward in the open and actually did what felt like some really nice work, he was much softer to the left than normal and was staying straight and going forward most of the time which was so different to in the ménage.  We only walked and trotted but was happy with the session.  I cooled him off with a walk round the edge of the field and up and down the bank a few times.  The newly located xc jumps were really tempting but we just walked around them, I didn't think our first jump in about 9months should be over solid fences out in the field on our own! 
Wednesday and Thursday were lunging days in the pessoa, Wednesday on the flat and Thursday over raised poles.  Jack was a bit reluctant again but once warmed up and moving lunged well especially over the poles. 
Friday was an exciting day as it was the day we were booked to have a photoshoot with Chrysalis photography which I had won on their facebook competition last autumn.  I booked the afternoon off work and arrived at the yard at 11am to begin the mammoth task of cleaning up Jack!  The weather forecast was awful but so far the rain was holding off so I bathed and brushed and trimmed Jack to a presentable state and then dashed home to get myself ready.  Then the rain came and it didn't stop, Chris the photographer arrived and we sat and waited for a bit but with no sign of the rain stopping we decided to rearrange the shoot for another, hopefully less wet day!  I gave Jack a little loose school and then went home and used the few free hours I now had to catch up on a huge pile of ironing - exciting eh!
I arrived at the yard on Saturday afternoon with the plan I would put a little jump up in the field and see how Jack felt about jumping.  Just as I arrived Claire one of the other liveries pulled up and she had the same idea as me so we carried a couple of poles and barrels out to the field and constructed a tiny cross pole!  We walked them round the field together then split up to warm them up properly, Jack was reluctant to go away from Rango Claire's horse but he didn't do anything wrong just needed a bit more leg where as heading towards him he was much more forward!   As this would be my first time cantering Jack in a few weeks we decided to canter together to encourage Jack to get moving a bit.  The first canter was away from home and nice and sedate with no rushing, racing or silly antics.  We turned for home and picked up canter again but Jack was much more forward this time racing ahead and enjoying himself then all of a sudden he stuck his head down and started broncing on the spot!  This has happened before so luckily I was prepared and I managed to sit up and get his head up to stop him before being deposited in the dirt and was quite glad I had decided to wear my body protector!
At this point I put him on a 20m circle around rango and Claire and cantered him on both leads to get him settled.  He was fine to the right but less than enthusiastic to the left and took a lot of leg to get him going.  It wasn't pretty and he was crooked and in counter bend for most of it but the important thing for me was that he cantered when asked and didn't misbehave which we managed.
So after this it was time to tackle our long awaited first jump since Oct 14.
The jump was tiny, he could have stepped over it if he wanted to!  Claire positioned herself the other side of the jump so Jack would be wanting to go that way back towards his mate, I trotted into it was over we popped no hesitation, no drama, no messing just trot - jump - trot like it was nothing I gave him a massive pat and took him over on the other rein, this time he was more enthusiastic as he now knew we really were jumping he picked up canter himself a few strides out and popped over beautifully.  I was so chuffed with him.  It is a major milestone to get this first jump done and I never expected it to go so well.  I didn't do anymore with him, it's always tempting to push for more but I am very cautious of not doing too much too soon so Claire had a little jump too then we walked down to the river and back to cool them off.
Our yard owner is putting a line of xc fences in down the length of the field next week and hopefully we will get to use them over the coming weeks!
Sunday was appalling weather so Jack ended up with a day off again making sure he got rid of any clean patched left from Fridays bath!
I took some pics of him as he looks now as we are about to start using Spirulina to see if that can help support his topline development.  I will take some more in a few weeks to see if it is having any effect.
I am starting to worry about his continued reluctance to work, he is fine hacking out so I am really hoping it is just a matter of time and not anything more serious.

Recovery week 24 - 20/7/15

This week was all about Jacks follow up physio appointment, 6 weeks ago when he first saw our new physio Tamsyn since coming home from his hydrotherapy rehab at Bennetts he was very sore in his SI and Tamsyn had her work cut out helping him loosen off.  Since then we have done some lunging, lots of hacking and schooled just a couple of time but have been really happy with his progress.  I have just been lunging in the pessoa for the last couple of weeks using lots of ground poles to help get the SI joint loose and moving and strengthen all the supporting muscle and ligaments in an attempt to prevent him getting in the same state again.  I felt the signs looked good as he has not been doing the odd leg lifting with his near hind for a few weeks now and he is not struggling over ground or raised poles.  He was still slightly shorter with the near hind over poles but nothing like he had been before her previous visit where he was hopping over poles rather than stepping through.
On the Monday and Tuesday I lunged him again doing ground poles on the Monday and raised poles on the Tuesday and felt pretty confident Tamsyn would find an improvement from her last visit.
Wednesday morning Tamsyn arrived and we started by having a chat about how he was getting on, I told her about his little incident on the yard where he was spooked by something and had become trapped by his headcollar and panicked so I felt sure he would be sore in his neck/poll area.  I also told her about him being slightly shorter with the near hind over poles.  I showed her him picking that foot out to demonstrate how much better he was with that than the last time.  We then took him out and walked and trotted him in straight lines, turned him on tight circles and backed him up all of which he did fine we did both notice that he was not crossing his off hind under himself as well on a circle as he was his near hind which was slightly odd as I expected it to be his near hind he'd struggle with.
Next Tamsyn gave him a check over and found that he was indeed tight and sore in his poll area, then she checked down is spine and he was fine.  He was also not reacting in the SI area like he had the last time - she had barely been able to touch him last time without him trying to get away, kick or rear!
It was such a huge difference to his previous treatment, this time he just stood trying to groom anything within reach and then fell asleep :)
Tamsyn was really pleased with his progress and commented on how much muscle he has developed in his SI area since her last visit. 
I am to continue doing all the stretches I am currently doing with him and she is booked for another visit in 6 weeks.
Following the treatment he had s couple of days off for everything to settle back down before doing 2 days of lunging then I could ride him again :)
So Thursday he got to chill in the field before having a gentle lunge in the pessoa on Friday and Saturday.  He seemed a little stiff to start with but once loosened off worked well.
Then Sunday I got back on board for the first time in weeks!
I was on my own so I thought it would be best to stick to the school for the first ride in a few weeks just in case!  When I got on Jack there was no reaction so I started by warming up in walk with some walk-halt-walk transitions and then some leg yields down the long side.
After about 20 minutes in walk I tried asking for trot but all that happened was some head throwing!  With a bit of encouragement he did get going and for a few horrible moments he felt unlevel behind and very reluctant to go but once we got moving he did loosen off.  After a few more transitions the trot really improved and I was able to pick the contact up and get him working.  I felt a little disappointed that his ridden work still doesn't seem to be improving much despite him appearing to be much more comfortable.  I am hoping it is all just memory pain affecting his confidence and not more issues somewhere else!  I suppose only time will tell.  I have also change his food and put him onto Top Spec lite balancer and ordered some spirulina to help build his top line.
I will continue to mostly hack and lunge this week and maybe school once a week just to measure if there is any improvement.
Finally I received a picture of Jack as a 3year old from his previous owner today - how much has he changed!

 

Recovery week 23 - 13/7/15

This week has been a bit of a boring one on the Jack front as no riding him while I wait for our physio to return from her holidays and give him a treatment.  While I'm not overly concerned as he still seems able to work well on the lunge and is currently not doing the odd leg lifting thing he has done before with his near hind I have noticed he is slightly shorter on that leg when doing pole work on the lunge and so would like him checked over before riding him again. 
I'm pretty sure he would be ok being hacked out but with all he has been through I really want every ride to be as comfortable and fun for him as possible so he is not having any negative ridden experiences to put him off!  He's had enough pain and discomfort while being ridden before kissing spines where diagnosed and the psychological effects are taking a while to overcome so I really want to make every ride now a nice one for him that he enjoys.
So I have lunged him most days instead in the pessoa and done various different pole exercises on the lunge to get him working his back end and keep things a bit more interesting.  He's lunged well although he has needed quite a bit of encouragement from me to really use himself!  I am wondering whether he needs a bit more energy as he seems quite lethargic at the moment  I'm also considering putting him on spirulina to help build top line, I know lots of other people who have used it during rehab for KS and recommend it.  While I usually shy away from using supplements unless they are absolutely necessary it does seem that a lot of people rave about spirulina for building top line in horses recovering from KS.  I think I'll give it a go, it can't hurt and if it helps build the muscles Jack has struggled with and needs to support his back and strengthen his core then its got to be beneficial.  The cost is not the usual inflated prices of main stream equine supplements as it can just be brought from health food shops/internet.
I will continue with the lunging for the next couple of days before Tamsyn comes on Wednesday to give him a treatment.  I'm really interested to see how he is this time compared to his previous treatment, that was 6 1/2 weeks ago, and I am pretty sure he wont be as bad but only Tamsyn will know for sure so fingers crossed!

When Jack had his surgery back in Feb 15 my best friend asked me if I would like to jump her pony while I didn't have a horse to ride with the aim of taking him to his first show yesterday (12th July) he is only young and Lucy doesn't like jumping but he does so she wants him to get experience and have some fun!  I have been going over to her's every few weeks (it's over an hour away) to jump him and over the months have done different exercises to get him ready.  He had only ever done a few tiny cross poles with her and jumped a few small xc fences with me last summer so he needed a lot of work to be able to tackle a course.  Its not been ideal preparation as I can't get over as often as I'd like but he is keen and genuine and really enjoys his jumping.  He has really gained in confidence with every session and tries so hard, he really wants to please!
The day finally came for his first show and Lucy did a lovely job of cleaning him up, she lead Jay to the show ground as she has no transport but the show ground was within hacking distance.  When they arrived the rain was pouring and we were all soaked before we even started!  The forecast was for it to be dry so I had not even got a coat just my show clothing!  I had to walk the course for the eventer trial in torrential rain!  I entered the 60cm Eventer trial and the 65cm show jumping.  I wanted to keep it small so it was easy for him and nothing too scary so he could enjoy his first experience of a show.  We all had no idea how he would be at a show ground as the only thing he had done similar before was a couple of hunts before Lucy brought him!  He was very well behaved and warmed up leaving his yard companion and not getting too worried there was just the odd whinny but he listened and jumped the warm up fences nicely.  I was waiting to go in with 2 horses before me when I noticed the course was not the same as I had walked!  The girl in front of me said the same and we both had a bit of a panic!  I had commented that the line from 5 - 6 was very strange to some of the others walking the course with me and we all thought the same so they must have changed it after I had walked it although they said they didn't, anyway 5 was now 5 a,b & c on an S shaped curving line - we had not practices trebles let alone on a curving line so this would be interesting, you could ride it straight if you jumped the jumps on the angle but again this was not something we had ever practiced however I knew Jay would be honest and try his best as long as I kept kicking so on a wing and a prayer in we went. There were other things we'd not practiced like water trays and skinnies but I felt we could cope as the size was never going to be an issue this pony has plenty of jump :)
So in we went and I knew I needed to keep up a forward canter to get close to the optimum time.  When I entered the ring I walked him up to the planks at 2 to give him a look as I thought he might be a bit spooky at them, he was unsure so I was glad I'd given him a look before hand.  We set out and he jumped the first 4 beautifully, 1 was a simple spread, 2 the planks then related distance 5 strides to 3 an upright then 4 was a skinny water tray.  I came back to trot for the water tray as the turn was tight and it was pretty narrow so I didn't want to risk a run out.  I then picked up the pace round to 5 but as we made the turn Jay napped towards the collecting ring and we were not on the ideal line, I had wanted to try to jump the 3 angled fences straight but we were too far past the line so we had to jump, turn left , 2 strides, jump, turn right, 2 strides and jump again.  Bless him poor jay was pulled about a bit and I had to ride pretty strong but we got through and were still clear!  6 was a skinny then the next few were quite straight forward 7 a parallel, 8 and upright and 9 a skinny all heading back towards the collecting ring.  The final fence was another skinny water tray right by the entrance to the collecting ring and unfortunately Jay was getting very strong and heading for the exit, I tried to bring him back and turn him but we were going too fast and he ran out through his right shoulder so we had to circle and regroup to jump it which he did.
Both Lucy and I were thrilled with him and couldn't have asked for more.  When the results came through we were 5th just missing out on a rosette which only went to 4th.  Without the run out and circle we would have been very close to the optimum time and 2nd so a great result.

We had a long wait for the show jumping class so we got drinks and took it in turns holding the horses.  The rain finally stopped and it actually became quite nice.  We watched the class before mine and thought the course looked quite easy, nothing too scary or complicated but it was quite slippy and in the end they decided to remove a fence as too many were slipping on the turn to it.

Eventually it came time for us to walk the course and I felt it was going to ride well.  There was a couple of related distances and 1 double but nothing difficult! 

I got my name down quickly so we were 5th to jump as the class was huge!  Jay went in and again I showed him the planks before the bell went.
He started out well but was strong!  1 - 2 was by the entrance and again Jay napped but made the turn and jumped cleanly, 3,4 and 5 were straight forward and he jumped 5 the planks no problem.  6 was the double and he had a tap on the 2nd part but cleared it and then napped a little again towards the collecting ring before going on and jumping the final 2 fences nicely, so we were clear and into the jump off!  We then had another long wait until the 16 horse jump off!  Clearly the course was riding quite easy!  We had qualified 9th to go.  A few before us had poles but the time was around 22 seconds which I thought might be a bit beyond us as the final turn was very tight.  There was only 4 fences and none near the collecting ring so I though we could keep up a good rhythm.  We jumped clear again but were not very competitive at 24 seconds, the final turn was just too tight for Jay and we had to go wider than most to make it.  We finished a very respectable 8th out of 16 and could not have asked for more, Jay was brilliant and really gave it his all, with a stronger bit and a bit more experience he will be competitive as he really wants to please :) some piccies below

   

Recovery week 22 - 6/7/15

Wow another good week with lots of positives and we have now reached 5months post op!

In that time we've done:

6 weeks box rest
2 weeks paddock rest
4 weeks hydrotherapy rehabilitation on an aqua treadmill
1 week lunging
2months of ridden/lunging rehabilitation

Things have not always gone smoothly but I'm really happy with where we are at this stage of his recovery and believe that most of his "issues" are psychological rather than physicological which given time I'm sure will improve.

I've worked really hard to try to do jacks rehab right, I've spent a lot of time and money trying my best to give him the highest possible chance of a full recovery.  I've also done a lot of research along side professional advice from my vets at oakham equine hospital and home farm, Tim at Bennett's rehab centre, my physio tamsyn and saddler to ensure I'm giving him every chance. It can be quite confusing as the more people I talk to the more conflicting advice I seem to get but I always put my vets advice above all others.  Other than having a recurring slight niggle with tightness in his SI which just needs physio treatment to help relieve physically Jack has recovered really well.  His scars have healed and he has no visible signs of the surgery on his spine.  Mentally he still has a bit of a way to go but he is getting better and growing in confidence all the time.  Time is the minds greatest healer and I'm in no hurry so Jack can take as long as he needs to recover.  The only time his issues manifest seems to be in the school so with that in mind I'm consciously not riding in there at the moment!  He is the most resilient little horse with great character and I know with time he will be better than ever so for now I want him to have fun, build and strengthen his core to enable him to work correctly and pain free and just forget about the pain and discomfort he's been in in the past.

Anyway onto what we've been up to!  It's been a scorching week which has starting out with a progressive pessoa session on the Monday, an enjoyable and stress free solo hack on the Tuesday another lunge on the Wednesday late evening when it had cooled a bit over 2poles on opposite sides of the circle, a short lunge on the Thursday due to the horrible weather and a unplanned but lovely loose jump on the Friday.  I had intended to attempt some join up with Jack on the Friday and so I'd built a home made round pen at one end of our ménage with barrels and poles on a curved line across the school and poles across the 2 corners to make it sort of round!  Jack soon put paid to any attempts of joining up by repeatedly jumping out of the pen, then back in, then out again!  As he seemed to rather be enjoying jumping and doing it without being asked I decided to ditch the pen and built a jump instead, I kept it small (around 65cm) as didn't want to push him and I let him choose his pace and how much he did but he happily cantered round on each rein and cleared the jump with ease over and over again :) his little ears were pricked and he seemed to really enjoy it!

Also on Friday I was treated to a cuddle with a very sleepy Jack in his stable!  In 4 years of owning him I have never even seen him lying down in his stable let alone been able to go in the stable and sit with him!  He has always jumped to his feet the moment he's heard the gate opening but today, perhaps because of the heat, he was out for the count snoring away and even when I walked into his stable and stroked him he only lifted his head!  I was able to sit with him for ages and even got a piccie having cuddles with him lying down.... so cute!

He's due a physio appointment but Tamsyn is away so she's not coming until the 15th and unfortunately my usually sensible pony decided to freak at something while tied on the yard and slip. He doesn't seem to have caused himself any serious damage but I am going to air on the side of caution and having had a couple of days off in the field I am just going to lunge him if he is up to it until she's seen him next week.  It wont do him any harm to do a bit more on the pessoa, he works well in it and the use of ground and raised poles will help to strengthen his back and core muscles further.  Hopefully Tamsyn and give him the all clear and I will ride him again after the 15th :)

Recovery week 21 - 29/6/15

I am really pleased that todays blog is another positive one, that's 3 weeks in a row now woop!  It really feels like Jacks confidence is building back up with every ride and lunge and he is actually enjoying his work again :)

The week started well with a lunging session in the pessoa and I decided as things had been going so well it was time to introduce some pole work again.  I put out 3 poles 1 stride apart on a 20m circle and then warmed Jack up in walk, trot and canter before moving on to using the poles, I watched him closely as he walked over the poles to see how he was using his back end, before his last physio treatment he was struggling behind with poles but now there was no sign of any difficulty so we moved on to trot and again he was moving well with no signs of any difficulty or discomfort.  As things were looking good and Jack was happily taking the poles on in a lovely forward rhythm I decided to try canter too and was soo pleased with his attitude and ability, he popped though over and over again adjusting his stride as necessary to meet the poles right without needed any interference from me and kept a lovely forward rhythm throughout.  It was the same on the left rein so before he got tired or made a mistake which could knock his confidence we stopped on a really positive note :)

The next day we had a little hack on our own just through the village and back down the canal path, Jack behaved beautifully and we had a really confidence boosting ride which is just what I wanted!  We had 1 really testing moment which could have spoilt things, as we were enjoying a nice canter back along the canal path home we came to the corner about halfway and were met by 2 other horses cantering along the other way, they were right on top of us so I quickly had to pull Jack up and move onto the path to let them past, they did slow to a trot to pass us and then cantered off again as soon as they had got passed us.  Jack did understandably become a little upset by this and for a few seconds he stopped, snorted and thought about taking off after them!  Luckily for us we were on the home straight and I think the desire to get home helped him decide to keep going in the right direction rather than turn round and give chase!  I was so proud of how he coped with this situation he was really grown up and he trotted the rest of the canal path and home without any issue.  If there was any moment he could have napped and reverted to being a rearing, bucking spinning monster it was this one and he did give it some though but he didn't do it, this feels like a huge accomplishment :)

He had the Wednesday off in the field with his mates.

Thursday I decided to try him in the ménage again, once a week is all I'm doing at the moment, this again was a bit of a test for him as there were tractors and bailing machines in the field next to the ménage bailing haylage into its plastic wrapping!  The noise and sight of the huge bales spinning round and round and the big plastic sheeting peeling off the roll would be enough to make even the most placid horse have a bit of a look!  Jack did find it all a bit much to start with so we kept to a 20m circle at the far end of the ménage at first and slowly worked our way down the ménage until he was going the round the full ménage without reacting too much!  We stuck to walk and trot again and did a few poles in walk as they had been left out but he felt great and the trot work especially was the best it has been in a long time, he felt forward, strong and started to get a bit of spring back in his step :) I was thrilled but just kept to half and hour not wanting to push too far and risk spoiling the great work we'd had.

On the Friday I didn't have enough time to ride so I lunged him in the pessoa again and this time did 4 poles on the circle 1 stride apart.  After a good warm up we did the poles in walk, trot and canter on each rein and the work Jack produced was just brilliant!  He was really taking the poles on stretching and using his back end much better than ever before.  I managed to get some videos and took some stills from these which really show how well he was working over the poles in trot and canter :) what a massive difference!

I am absolutely thrilled with the strides forward we have made lately, Jack seems to be enjoying his work, not restricted by any pain or discomfort and is gaining in confidence every day.

He has had the weekend off in the field as I went to Hickstead for the weekend to see the Derby for the first time, I had an amazing time and am inspired once again by the horses and riders I saw, maybe one day soon Jack will be ready to jump again!

Fingers crossed for another good week with my boy!         

Recovery week 20 - 22/6/15

I am really pleased to be able to write a blog post this week that is full of positives for once!

We have had a really good week and I actually feel like we have made huge progress in Jacks recovery both mentally and physically :) which is very exciting!

We started the week with a really good lunging session on the Pessoa with no silly or naughty behaviour and lots to like about Jacks way of going.  A huge improvement on last weeks pessoa session which involved Jack spinning around and buggering off in the wrong direction more than once!

We had a lovely surprise on the Tuesday when 2 fellow liveries were down at the same time as me so we got to hack in company for a change!  As the weather was nice and warm we decided to head down to the river and have a splash in the shallows to cool down.  I was really pleased that Jack went straight into the river at the first time of asking and had a good splash about, I think all that rehab in the aqua treadmill has done wonders for his confidence in water as well as his physical recovery.  We have not been that way for about 8/9 months but used to regularly go down and canter/gallop round the rivers edge last summer to help build Jacks back muscle up.  He does not appear to have forgotten that fact as once we came out of the river he was dancing and jogging about and felt like a coiled spring all the way back across the fields to the road.  I just about managed to keep him under control, but there was several occasions when I thought eek here we go as Jack bounced about on the spot getting more and more excited!  It was an exciting ride and Jack felt fantastic with not the slightest hint of pain or discomfort!  He lead all the way home and seemed to really enjoy himself!

He had Wednesday off in the field and we were happy to have company on another hack on Thursday, we had plenty of short canters and lots of trotting along the canal tow path and again Jack felt happy and comfortable taking the lead when asked and never hesitating :)

I decided as he had been feeling so good all week to take him in the ménage for the first time in over 3 weeks on the Friday afternoon to see if he felt any better in there.  He look a while to warm up and feel himself, he felt quite hard work and dead to my leg for about 20minutes but once he got going he did feel really good and there was no hint of a buck, rear or plant all session which I was thrilled with.  We only did walk and trot but I was very happy.

On Saturday again we had company in the afternoon (3 x in a week - that never happens!) and went for another longer hack,  we went on a route we have not done in about a year and again did lots of trotting and several canters with no problems.  Jack was keen, pulling me along the whole way and felt strong and comfortable.  He had a day off in the field again on Sunday and enjoyed getting filthy so will be in need of a bath!

Fingers crossed for more of the same this week :)     

Recovery week 19 - 15/6/15

The last weeks has been pretty good actually with more highs than lows so I'm feeling pretty good about Jacks recovery at the moment - it may not last but we are making the most of it and enjoying ourselves while it does!

We started the week with introducing a little bit of lunging again having done over a week of just hacking following Jacks last physio session.  The weather was pretty awful with high winds and heavy rain showers so riding was out anyway.  I popped the pessoa on and aimed to maybe do 15/20minutes gentle lunging not wanting to push him too hard as he has not been on the lunge for a few weeks.  We started out well and he warmed up fine if slightly tense, after a few minutes I attached the pessoa and he seemed to settle much better and concentrate on what he was doing.  unfortunately the wind really picked up and a gust caught under the saddle pad lifting it up and flapping it up and down on his back, Jack did not appreciate it and leaped about for a few minutes!  Once he settled down I changed the rein still planning on not doing more than 20 minutes, however at this point Jack did something he has not done since I first brought him nearly 4 years ago - he spun round on the lunge back on the left rein and then refused to stop! I was caught off guard and wasn't quick enough to stop him as he has not done this in years!  When I first got him he used to do it, he had not been lunged since he was backed so he was out of practice but he soon got the hang of it and has never offered to do it since, even the first time after several months off when I had my son or the first time after his KS surgery so why he suddenly did it now I've no idea.  All I can put it down to is the wind hyping him up.  Once I stopped him I put him back on the correct rein and off he went for all of about 1/2 a circle before he tried it again and despite me getting behind him with the whip he still spun and then just went backwards!  So once I had stopped him and untangled him from the line I was not going to let him get away with it again so I got right behind him with the whip and managed to keep him going in the direction I wanted!  So the whole session ended up being more like 30minutes instead of the planned 20minutes.  I have no idea where the spinning came from after so long but I will be ready next time, I stopped him doing it before so I'm sure I can again!

Anyway after this we went for a nice hack the next day with a friend and had no issues other then Jack feeling a little footy across stoney ground, he had a farrier appointment booked for the Friday anyway so I wasn't too concerned.

He had a day off Wednesday and then Thursday we did something we have not done in ages, we went for a run with my other half, he jogs and Jack and I trot along next to him!  We used to do it quite often but have not in ages so we took it a bit easier and had plenty of walk breaks as it was hot too but Jack coped fine and we had a lovely ride.  He still felt a bit sore on his feet over stones so I was glad he was having his shoes back on the next day, he's been without them for about 9 months so I think he's done pretty well!  The only thing that spoilt the ride slightly was a very rude bus driver that would not wait and give Jack and I room when passing despite my requests for him to stay back and wait, am email was sent to the bus company complaining so hoping to receive and apology and for them to educate all their drivers on the safe way to pass a horse and rider.

He had a full set of shoes on on the Friday and although he did struggle to lift his near hind and seemed a little uncomfortable while having that shoe on he wasn't too bad.  I decided after to give him a little loose school and attempt join up with him and was pleased with how forward and loose he was moving - he certainly didn't appear to be uncomfortable once the shoes were on!  We even managed a bit of join up which usually Jack just ignores me and walks off so I was pretty chuffed.

He has had a quiet weekend in the field and will be lunged again tonight - hopefully he can stay on the rein I put him on this time!

Recovery week 18 - 8/6/15

This week has brought up yet more challenges as I continue to try to find a way to help Jack use himself correctly, without pain and recover fully from his KS surgery in Feb.

We are now just over 4 months into his recovery and its fair to say it's been a roller coaster of a journey so far - the 6 weeks full box rest went largely uneventfully and both Jack and I coped far better with it than I expected, his hydrotherapy rehab was very successful as was lunging/long reining.  With everything appearing to go so well hitting problems under saddle was unexpected but unfortunately Jack found ridden work in the ménage difficult and it appeared very little had changed in this respect from before his surgery.

Following on from his physiotherapy just over a week ago which found him in pain behind the saddle the plan for the last week has been to work him long and low at a slow pace in straight lines to try to keep everything relaxed and stretch out the muscles which he was struggling with.  Unfortunately the horrible weather rather spoilt the plans as Jack isn't the best in windy weather especially on his own so he ended up have a few days off until the weather settled back down as I didn't fancy having a argument unnecessarily.  I have discovered on this journey rehabilitating a horse is definitely a marathon not a sprint and it will take as long as it takes so a few days off while frustrating is not the end of the world!  We managed to get some company for our first venture out since the weekend and although Jack was a little fresh he behaved and we had a relaxed and enjoyable walk down the canal towpath and back through the village.  The next day we were alone so I decided to keep things as simple as possible and take the same route we had done the night before, as we set out Jack was very relaxed and I thought we would have a nice ride although the wind had picked up a bit again.  As we got to the bridle path down the canal I popped Jack into trot on the grass to see how he was feeling, he showed no resistance to going up a gear and as we trotted along I was thinking just how lovely he was feeling, he was forward and making a nice long and low shape, stretching over his back and pushing evenly behind when all of a sudden from nowhere he stopped dead and refused to move.  If I pushed him on he reversed and several times tried to spin and go home.  If I gave him a stronger kick he would rear.  This went on for 15minutes and we were getting closer and closer to being back at the road!  I was starting to think we might be there all night when as quickly as he stopped he started again and once he was going in the right direction it was like nothing had ever happened, he completed the rest of the 30 minute hack without putting a hoof out of line!  Looking back I realise that at the weekend I only went halfway down the bridle path before turning round and going home (something that I've never done before but my mum was walking with me and struggling to keep up so we turned round instead of going the usual route.)  I think this may have been why he hit the brakes this time as it was at the same point we had turned back the last time he had gone that way on his own.  Anyway we got through it in the end and neither of us were hurt. 

The next day was Saturday and I had hoped to take him back down the same route again to reinforce the fact he can't just stop and have a strop whenever he thinks it time to go home.  Unfortunately the weather had picked up again and it was extremely windy all day, we didn't have a hacking buddy so in the end I decided it was not worth taking him out in those conditions as it just makes him jumpy and spooky, I don't feel the need to risk taking him out in conditions that are more likely to lead to us having problems.  As I had use of a car with a towbar and I had been asked to move my trailer I thought it would be a good chance to do a bit of loading practice instead.  Since the only time Jack has been in the trailer in the last 18months is to go to the vets he has become rather negative about it and although he doesn't do anything wrong he takes ages to decide he is going to load.  So I hitched up the trailer pulled it out on to some flat ground opened both ramps and the jockey door to let in lots of light and got a bucket of food and the pressure halter out.  It took Jack about 10 minutes of being planted at the bottom of the ramp before he loaded the first time, he had a few mouthfuls of food then I unloaded him and tried to load again, this time he went on in about half the time so again he had a bit of food and was unloaded again.  The 3rd time he only planted for about a minute and after that he loaded about 10 times with no hesitation at all - hurrah!  He even loaded without the lure of a bucket of food so good progress made :)

Sunday was a lovely day so I waiting until the cooler evening weather to ride, grateful there was no wind we tackled a hack on our own.  I did the reverse route going through the village first and then back alone the canal path, I prefer this way as the return along the canal path is slightly uphill so gives a better workout, I also thought the spot we had trouble in would be on the way home so shouldn't be an issue, I was right he hacked beautifully all the way round and we have a lovely trot along the last part of the canal path. 

Jack is still having bute but I have now cut this down to 1/2 a sachet a day and I continue to do his carrot stretches and pelvis stretches before each ride to help him be as relaxed and supple as possible.

Now our week of straight lines is done I can start to bring in some lunging and schooling to see if any improvement has been made.          

Recovery week 17 - 1/6/15

The last week has been both interesting and frustrating in equal measure!

As I felt Jack was not as comfortable and confident in the ménage as I would like and after discussions with my vet we have just been hacking until my physio could get out to see us.

He has done so well so far and an easier few days will certainly not do either of us any harm despite my desire to get back to normal (whatever that is....its been that long since we were 'normal' I've forgotten what normal feels like!)

We have been taking it nice and easy and on a hack Jack feels fine, he is forward and keen with no sign of any discomfort unlike in the ménage where he is stuffy, reluctant and generally hard work!  Although he shows no sign of lameness and is level he has been doing something slightly worrying with his left hind while I pick that hoof out.  This was first witnessed while he was still at rehab several weeks ago and I mention it in my blog at week 12 at the time a physio session found him to be tight in the hamstring and once loosened off was fine for a few weeks but it has slowly started to show itself again.  It is only apparent when he has been stabled over night.  I have to admit I was a little concerned as it was very similar to a horse with shivers however I was assured it was not this as he could perform the other tests of shivers without difficulty i.e turning on a tight circle and backing up.  The other possibility was fixation of the patella but again the symptoms didn't really fit.  As the physio was already booked I felt confident she would again be able to find the issue and help resolve it for Jack.

Mostly our hacks have been uneventful except one, we ventured out alone for a 30 minute stroll around the village and all was fine until we turned for home and had to deal with a very very loud motorbike, a lorry setting off its air brakes, a man dragging his pukka pie sign, a cardboard box blowing under our feet and 3 other horses trotting past a speed all in the space of about 500 yards!  This blew Jacks mind a bit and he jogged all the way home tossing his head and whinnying like mad!  It could have been much worse!

Saturday morning was a day I had been looking forward too for over a week as Tamsyn our new physio from the rehab centre was coming to give Jack a once over.  I felt sure he would be sore in places and feel better for a treatment.  I told her what we had been doing since she last saw him just before we came home almost 5 weeks previously.  She started by watching him picking up his feet and he demonstrated the near hind issue beautifully for her!  We next walked and trotted up in straight lines then on a large circle, confirming he is sound :).  After that he was turned on a tight circle and backed up again demonstrating he can do these with ease and confirming he is not a shiverer!  She checked his patella too and found no issue there again as expected.  She then checked all down his spine and found him very reactive in the sacroiliac on both sides and set about releasing the tension in this area.  Jack was finding it very uncomfortable and spent a lot of time trying to kick, buck and spin away from her as she got the tight areas moving.  Poor Jack had been in quite a lot of discomfort, no wonder he had been so reluctant in the ménage.  As she worked out his tight muscles we chatted and she assured me that it is quite common for them to get referred pain following surgery and not to worry about how bad he seemed.  Once she had finished Jack was totally relaxed and she was able to palpate the area with no reaction at all and the muscles were soft.  We then worked out a plan for the next few weeks.  As advised previously by my vet I am going to give Jack some bute to help work him for a few weeks this will help him work through any muscle tightness and soreness, we are doing another week of gentle hacking before trying the school again.  After the first week lunging can also commence again.  I have been given some stretches to do with him before and after riding.  He will also be having a nice hot water bottle on his sacroiliac muscles before work to help warm and soften up the muscles.  Tamsyn will return in 3/4 weeks to see how we are getting on.

While I'm disappointed and frustrated with myself for pushing him too hard I feel so relieved and glad that we have been able to find such a fantastic physio to support and work with us through the rehabilitation journey, she is so knowledgeable and gave me a lot of confidence that the problems we have experienced are totally normal and nothing to be overly concerned with.  I am now more confident that with Tamsyn's support we can rehabilitate Jack successfully.  I just need to be mindful that this is a long journey and will no doubt be an up and down one along the way.  We have an awful long way to go and I must be patient.  It is a catch 22 situation, you have to push them to work the muscles correctly but in doing so the risk is making them over use muscles that have not been working correctly for a long time and making them sore and uncomfortable and then the more you do the tighter and more uncomfortable they become so they then can't use the muscles.  Luckily with correct physio, short term pain relief and the correct work we should be able to break the cycle.

The positive news is he is showing no pain or discomfort in the area where his kissing spines were!  He was also a lot more comfortable bending to the left which had been an issue Tamsyn had had to work on with him previously.  The carrot stretches must be working :)

Rehab is a real eye opener for me and such a steep learning curve!

It all sounds so easy on paper but I suppose you cant anticipate what will happen along the way.

So having had the day off after his treatment in the field Jack felt really up for it on his hack the next day!  I am struggling to get him to eat the bute and thinking about a change of feed, he's currently only fed dengie hifi lite and speedy beet with a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, a joint supplement and oil but he is leaving a lot of it so I think I shall change him onto a lite balancer and a different chaff, I can then cut out the vitamin and mineral supplement and oil and hopefully he will find it a little more interesting and palatable.

I'm also hoping that we get our towing car back this week after it was crashed into a few weeks ago by someone being chased by the police in a stolen car!  Once that's back I hope to take jack back over to the fabulous Bennett equine rehab centre for a top up session on their aqua treadmill.

He is looking in pretty good condition for a good doing 1/2 native