Ace is out in the field with Radar. His wounds were completely fine this morning, no signs of stress or swelling, just hairless lines of skin. I put him on the lunge and with no prompting at all he trotted a 12m circle totally sound on each rein, He also chose to canter and had to be asked to stop, his front end is lifting and his hock flexion is very pronounced with good tracking up. His back just under the saddle is tight, which is precisely why I want him out and moving.
i realise I have completely ignored the surgeon's advice, If I could see the sense in it, as I did with Jazz's rehab, I would have stuck to it. But I am convinced that turnout lis likely to produce a better rersult for Ace than keeping him confined,
If he's still unrideable, we'll never know if it was just Ace or the wrong rehab. I can cope with that, I have broad shoulders.
The massage I did yesterday worked and the hard feeling adjacent to his spine is now breaking up on both sides, On the side the holes are on I can feel the pockets where stuff has been broken up, I wouldn't say that Ace is thrilled to have me pressing it, but he is not tied up and he does not walk away, He seems to know it's for the best.
If he comes in tomorrow walking like a cripple I will know that I've done the wrong thing. I don't think that's going to happen somehow.
C
Movement and stretching, good for body, mind and sole... Unless suffering from a break I can't see how box rest can help anything. From a foot geek point of view how have his feet coped with all this.
ReplyDeleteLyndac
His whole stance has changed Lynda, and I think his front feet are getting bigger with it. He's done road work every day, so they are self trimming, but I am anticipating an angle change that I will photo as soon as it arrives.
ReplyDeleteHe's fine tonight, he's spent all day with his nose stuck to the grass - well we want his back stretched!!
C
You've applied common sense and not done anything Ace isn't comfortable with. You know he's sensitive to pain so you'd know very soon if he was unhappy. I would be highly surprised if your common sense rehab didn't yield better results than the vets covering their arses rehab.
ReplyDeleteSarah you woke me up with a laugh this morning :-)
DeleteC
;-)
DeleteI totally agree with your decision from this side of the pond. I keep thinking that "bed rest" is not what he needs at this point.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we all could be wrong, but somehow I don't think so. I am looking forward to only good news from here on in.
Had a super fun time on the pace. We were out for about 3 hours. It was a beautiful day and the footing was wonderful. No jumps for me, but from what I saw, they were all little--most not even three feet. Great time was had by all.
I knew you'd enjoy it :-)
DeleteC
I had to laugh at your observation that you completely ignored the surgeon's advice! It's really telling that he moved out so willingly on the lunge line.
ReplyDeleteI have also just realised that when I out him on the right rein he did not look back at his back, as he always used to. How could I have missed that yesterday?
DeleteC