Lightly worked

[Katie Morag]

KT Mo has been off work for nearly two months with being lame. The vet said last Tuesday that she could be lightly worked and then brought back up again.

What does this really mean? How much work is light work? So far last Friday I lunged her for about 10 minutes. Then she went out in walk on Saturday with one of the kids & I lunged her again for 10 minutes last night.

I was thinking about taking her out for a walk around one of the routes for about 30 minutes on Thursday. Is this too much?

Advise please?

[Katie Morag]

Thanks Emm, I'm just paranoid that she'll go lame again. When I've been lunging her she is starting to improve.

[Katie Morag]

We're not 100% sure, the vets couldn't say for definate. They said working her in a sandy school will help, which is why I've only been doing a small amount in the school. And she seems to be happy with that. Last night was much better, she looked happier on the leg that she was lame with. But 10 mins is enough cause I know that lunging takes more out of them.

I'm thinking a walk out will be nice, I think she is also bored. LOl

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Yer i would have said the same as Emm, a 30mins hackin walk would be light work.

[Katie Morag]

Oh goodie, I'm dying to get out & so is she. We're going out with her field husband, so she'll be chuffed to bits.

[Horse Mad Mum]

this is an intersteingone as I have had the vet amnd physio out to Goldie she had tweaked her SFT so was lame, the vet said ask the physio for advice, so we are on 20 minutes walking out in hand, and no lunging circle work puts two much strain on joints etcand none while the school is water logged , so its walking in straight lines then some ridden work next week and Goldei will only have been off two weeks! Did they ever get to the caus eof her lamemess Karyn? HMM X

[Katie Morag]

No, we don't know what caused it. They did think that it could be spavins, which they want us to try work through. When the initial vet came out he marked her lameness as 7/10, then when we went to the dick vet it was 2/10. It's still about 2/10 or less now, so there has been improvement. They didn't give us a specific programme, just said light work, then bring it back up.

[cocopops]

I wouldnt lunge, i would start 15 minutes walk building up to 45 over about three weeks, then start 2-3 minutes trot work building up to 15 minutes in the 45.
We have done alot of rehab this summber with horses, and this is our basic plan, although our injuries have been farely severe so this has been over 2-3 months rather than weeks.

[Katie Morag]

I wouldnt lunge, i would start 15 minutes walk building up to 45 over about three weeks, then start 2-3 minutes trot work building up to 15 minutes in the 45.
We have done alot of rehab this summber with horses, and this is our basic plan, although our injuries have been farely severe so this has been over 2-3 months rather than weeks.

Thank you for that, that's very helpfull. How many times a week though. I've only 2 days of daylight the rest is pitch black when I get to the yard.

[CityLights]

30 mins poldding around will be fine, its more ideal than lunge work really as lunging can be quite hardwork on joints and limbs, if she is sane enough to do it then some nice gentle hacks and just walk work in the school will be good for her

[Katie Morag]

Well we took the option of a 30 min hack today & she was funny, she seemed really happy. Spoke to my RI & he suggested long reining in the school in the evenings, so that's the plan. Hopefully by the end of the month we might get back to lessons again, but will see how it goes.

[cocopops]

sorry took so long to get back to you.. yep long reining or inhand walking during the week!