Using draw/running reins

[frostyfingers]

Dhorse and I have been instructed to use the above in order to try and stretch his back out, and help his kissing spine problem.

Can anyone advise me on how short they should go for the first few times - I don't want to anchor him down, but having just used them now they were obviously too long as he was still wandering about like a giraffe. I adjusted them a little but although he dropped his head once or twice he was resisting quite strongly. I don't want to make him sore and stiff by doing too much too soon, but need to get it right. The physio is coming again next week, but I'd like to make a start before then.

Thank you!

Funnily enough he's never shown any behavioural problems at all - never bucked, reared, refused, nothing. The only reason we realised there was a problem was when the farrier felt he was uncomfortable whilst being shod - it was his suggestion that something wasn't right that got us looking for things. Only with direct pressure on the affected spot did he flinch.

The vet said if she'd had to read the the x ray without assessing the horse that she would have said he should be crippled with pain and unrideable, and if she'd seen the horse without the xray would never have guessed that it was as bad as it is. It says something for his pain levels and good nature that he is still behaving normally. He gallops about the field quite happily, and rolls away as usual (sometimes they don't like rolling if the back is sore apparently) - it's so depressing to see him like that, but know that all is really not well.

Well the physio has just been for another session and is happy with how things are going. His stretches have worked a little and he has a better reach. She was happy with how I was working him on the lunge and told me to up it a bit so that he's making more effort. Nothing needs to be tighter or shorter (phew), all I have to do is get him to do more transitions and variations of pace and a few canter strides every now and then.

She has said that in another week I can get on and see how he feels and give him a short hack to give him something interesting to do (that will be fun - first ride for a month....) but make sure that he's not all sloppy while we're hacking. I think I might need a nanny for our first outing! So, slow progress is being made - I need to be patient and keep at it - maybe we will get a day or two hunting after Christmas if all goes well (which is what I bought him to do).

Thanks for the advice, it's been really helpful getting other opinions and ideas.

Well done, that great news!

Take care when you get back on! Personally I give them a bit of Sedaline to take the edge off if I think they may be totally bonkers coming back into work because aside from it being very dangerous for you, it doesn't do their recovery any good either.

Great news! I'm so pleased that things are improving for him.He sounds a really lovely boy!

Something else that could help, I know I've used it, is to have him do what I call "belly lifts". It doesn't require any equipment but it strengthens their belly and does lift the spine.

Just stand nest to your horse's girth area, and put your fingers on his midline (belly), just behind his ribcage you can feel a little dent. then push up gently. He'll contract his belly, you'll see his back rise a tiny bit. I wouldn't do more then a few at a time, maybe 10, as it's hard work for him, like doing sit-ups,so don't over do it. But it does help tone belly muscles, which of course, lift the spine, and help him carry his neck lower.

And again, it doesn't require any equipment or even the horse leaving his stall.

It sounds like you're doing well already!

Monster, yep that's one of our exercises. He hates it though and goes backwards when he sees me heading for his tummy area - I have to walk past casually then suddenly whip round and do him!

The penny is beginning to drop re lowering his head properly and for a good time each session he is really low (low enough to grab the grass!) which is encouraging. I have been asked to try and get him to do a couple of strides of canter too, which is tricky at the moment as he finds is hard with his head down and panics a bit. A couple of times he's refused to move, but gradually I'm getting him to do a few strides without panicking so hopefully over the next week or so that will come more easily. It's very time consuming though, at least an hour a day so it had better work.