Doc's Life or Death Decision
A Rehab with a deadline
Week 3, SUnday
I happened to stop by just as Doc was being turned out this morning in a roundpen. He was pacing the fence, walking and trotting back and forth, and looking pretty good for coming out cold. I like that he moves when he's out on his own.
The only downfall is that the way he moves reinforces his tendency to go around the longe circle with his nose turned out. Still, I'll take the movement over standing around in his stall kicking at the rails.
Week 3, Monday
Stiff seems to be word for Doc today, as several people have noted that he came out of his pen a looking pretty uncomfortable. I wonder just how long he ran the fence yesterday. Bodywork and ground exercises all focused on suppling today, releasing throatlatch, shoulder and putting some undulation in the spine from back to front. He's such a good guy, and has such a work ethic. He'll go along with me on the kinetic bodywork exercises for quite a while, then he's just sure it's time for him to move more. He'll either start trotting on the leadrope (with glimpses of his past ability to do really nice collected work) or he'll just pull -- "let me go!" I do ask that he finishes the suppling on both sides to keep things even, but he gets to dictate at least part of his recovery program. After all, it's his life and his choice.
Week 3, WEDNESday
A short bodywork session for the big guy today. His neck has gotten so much softer, which in turn has changed his entire topline. He had some tight spots to work out in the biceps femoris/tensor fascia area on both sides, then he wanted some rib work. He seemed a bit less tight than usual in the gastrocs area and a bit softer in the tissue in his lower legs, even the left near the fetlock. Wouldn't it be great to work through some of that scar tissue and give him back the ability to actually bend that joint?
After a brief warm-up at walk and trot both directions, we revisited the bodywrap to see whether it still made a difference in his carriage. It did, though maybe not quite as profoundly this time as last. He still opted within the first few walk steps to lift his back and stretch his topline more and I see better elevation in his trot strides. He also managed two very nice right-lead canter departs after only one cross canter. On the left lead, he still wants to pop up into the canter, but the departs were clean and he was willing to stretch out his stride a bit with only a little encouragement.
I have to encourage him on a bit in the canter because he seems to have developed the habit of moving like a little hobby horse, probably the legacy of packing around lots of novice riders. Being on a big horse can be a bit intimidating for people learning to ride, so minimizing his movement made him good at his job. It just didn't necessarily serve his body well. I keep reminding him that big horses have big strides, and he's gaining the confidence to explore that. It will be interesting to see whether he's extra stiff tomorrow.
Week 3, ThURSday
Just a short work session for Doc today. Started with some suppling ground exercises, release at the throatlatch and connect the hind end in left bend for a few steps, then right bend for a few steps, then left and right over and over. After that, a bit of "changing shoulders" from just a tap on the shoulder and a bit of a half-halt on the noseband of the halter. (Think of this as mini-rollbacks in hand.)
No sign of extra stiffness today.
Week 3, SATURday
Doc had a big smile on his face when I first saw him today. It was his first day with his new exercise buddy, a young girl who used to take lessons on him. I came in as she was untacking him and he looked so pleased with himself. His young friend said he was very good. Heard from the owner later that he had started out a a bit stiff, but that she had the rider canter him a bit and then do her trot work and that seemed to help.
I did a short bodywork session, with what I think of as the "basics" for Doc's maintenance program:
| |
|
Stretch the nuchal ligament from poll to withers, paying special attention to that area over C-3 to C-5 that has been a chronic issue for Doc. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Shoulder openers on both sides |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Releases at throatlatch and shoulder with some side-to-side rocking to overcome his reflexive tendency to go all giraffe on me and brace. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Check the long muscles of the back and "rake" up the ribcage on both sides. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
A bit of trigger point or deep pressure on the biceps femoris and tensor fascia. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Waggle his fanny with a bit of rib lift so he remembers he has a waistline. |
