Rehab Sucks!

Rehabbing a horse is miserable regardless of the injury. You are always questioning every moment of every ride - Am I doing too much? Am I doing too little? Was that a funny step or is it the footing? Will today be the day he reinjures himself? Is he spooky because it's Spring or because he is in pain? Is it behavioural or physical? Every decision you make about their training and care is done in an effort to avoid any regrets and second-guessing later.

My horse has a neck injury which occured before I bought him. The injury was discovered on a bone scan and he has been treated aggressively with ultra-sound guided injections and shockwave as well as Tildren. Because of this injury and the arthritis that has developed as a result, being "on the bit" for any length of time is difficult for him at this point. We have spent many months on the lunge line (without side reins) and walking, trotting and cantering with loose reins on large circles and straight lines. In the last two weeks, we have finally progressed to the point that he can be on the bit for short amounts of time and we are beginning to work on a few strides of leg yield and shoulder-fore in an effort to loosen up the rest of his body. I am hopeful that his progress will continue.

In the meantime, I often feel torn between what conventional training methods would dictate and a fear of making a mistake, pushing my horse too far, and regretting my actions later. However, there is a silver lining: I have gotten to know my horse incredibly well and have a better appreciation for him as an individual beyond his abilities in the show ring. And at the end of the day, going through this process will have been worth it for that alone.