This weekend was crazy! Saturday it was almost too hot to even stand outside in the shade. Apple did NOT get worked. Sunday was MUCH prettier. It was muggy in the morning but then it cooled off some and there was hardly any humidity.
I had 4 lessons yesterday and rode 2 new horses in for training. Afterwards I put my brand new saddle pad on Apple, tacked him up and got ready to head out. One of the other boarders guilted me into babysitting her and her pony out on ther trail. So we headed out for a SLOW ride. It was good for Apple, he really likes to work other horses and there were spots that we had to pony the pony( haha) and I think it helped him mentally. Physically it wasn't very challenging and shorter than I had wanted to ride.
There were a few steps in the ride that felt like he might be sore but then there wouldn't be one for a long time. Those of you that have brought a horse back into work............do you find that they tend to "step sore" if they THINK it will hurt?? It seemed like that is what was happening, when there would be a footing change the first step especially with the hind left would seem very sore but then there wouldn't be another bad step.
I will try to get someone to take pictures tonight. I need to at least get some of the horses I have in for training.
4 comments:
Yes, pictures. They're mandatory on this blog! ;)
New saddle pad - that's exciting!! It's sweet that Apple enjoys his job as "mentor" to the less experienced, he must be so cute.
I haven't ever brought a horse back into work so I can't really help but I think it makes sense...I know Pro was careful about "standing fully" on his heels after Gayle reworked his feet, because he expected them to be sore. So maybe?
I'm afraid I don't have much advice for bringing a horse back to work. Hobbes is regularly a little 'off', so I'm used to feeling something isn't quite right...if the vet said he's fine for working, though, I'd be inclined to believe him. Even if you feel a few missteps, you might just need to build his strength up. It could be that his stifles have gotten weak and work will help. Hobbes does much better when he's ridden regularly...it keeps everything lubed up!
I do think a horse can act sore if they think its going to hurt. They anticipate whats going to happen. I would think that after they realize , it doesnt hurt, they would act normal. So, this might be whats happening. Does he do this in the arena?
Absolutely, a horse may step sore if he thinks it is going to hurt! It makes total sense that that is what he was doing if it was at footing changes or other places that might concern him. Definitely!
I actually even had a horse that would fake being lame to get out of work. He was studied and documented at the University of Georgia vet school before I got him, when my aunt and cousin had him. He would get psychogenic colic, too. Documented on camera. He was quite the horse! (...and half Arab...hmmm...) They are smart!
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