REHABILITATION

REHABILITATION - AFTER RACING

REHABILITATION has come to be the recognised term relating to horses undergoing a course of retraining having been raced either on the flat or over hurdles and fences.

UNFORTUNATELY not every horse that has been in training successfully makes the transition from racehorse to riding horse in that some do retain a degree of unpredictability or inconsistency in their behaviour, but given the time, patience, correct handling, understanding and training, the vast majority can be directed along other paths.  The re-schooled racehorse can, in the right hands, provide considerable pleasure and fun and be quite capable of competing at levels which suit the vast majority of riders.


PROMOTING RACEHORSE RETRAINING

 WHAT happens to the 4,000 plus horses which come out of training every year is an issue which is particularly close to our hearts is.  Consequently we are only to happy to work with these horses after they have left the track, but we do point out that the thoroughbred horse is not for everyone, so you should take plenty of advice and correctly assess your own abilities both in and out of the saddle before deciding to re-home such a horse.

ADRIAN MAGUIRE on "Arterxerxes" at Aintree when in training with Clive Cox.

FOLLOWING a leg injury it was decided to retire the horse from racing, rather than risk a recurrence of the injury.

ARTERXERXES is just one of many horses we have rehomed.

HE is now not only enjoying his hunting but also tackling coloured fences as well as making appearances in the show ring.

 NUMEROUS racehorses have passed through our hands and each one has presented its own individual but rewarding challenge. Working with these horses is so enjoyable – gradually erasing all what has gone before and effectively creating a completely new character.

HORSES that have been flat raced can sometimes be a little more difficult to work with than National Hunt horses because, in simple terms, they have taught to go from A to B as fast as possible, speed being the all important factor; for NH horses the test is jumping accuracy and stamina.

WHEN beginning a rehab programme we are mindful that we are dealing with a horse that thinks it already knows is required of it, unlike starting with an unbroken horse; Also, the horse is required to change its whole of way life and thinking. It is long process and extreme patience is the criterion for success – even most seemingly simple factors all come into play.

FOR EXAMPLE even the yard routine will be very different to that which the horse has been used to and that in itself can have a very unsettling effect. And remember that mounting from a block is something the racehorse never encounters and it certainly will not be used to being tied up outside its stable! One of the biggest factors though is bitting - the ex-racehorse does not fit in to the normal mould of bitting principles so do not expect your horse to go in a particular bit because "the book" says he should!


Whilst undergoing rehab training, we constantly assess each horse so as to be able to give a realistic appraisal regarding its future life.

Flat horses

REMEMBER that these horses have been broken as yearlings so have had to mature very quickly and this can have a tremendous mental impact which some do not ever satisfactorily overcome or do so but to varying degrees. Thus it is important to be realistic about possible future careers for such horses, in that for example, they may just become too uptight and stressed, however well the physical training has gone, to be able to accept the excitement and activity of a showground, so the less claustrophobic environment of cross country (hunter trials, jump cross, etc.) may be an suitable alternative. Having said that though, many flat horses make a successful transition to the polo field.

"Angie Minor"

ANGIE MINOR was extremely highly-strung and fretful when she first arrived with us; she was very unsettled in the school, wanting to rush about at top speed and 'motorbike' round corners; in the yard she constantly ground her teeth and lunged at anyone who passed near her stable door; in the stable she would put her head in the corner and with ears back present her hindquarters to anyone that ventured in. It was clearly evident that this filly was extremely stressed, lacked confidence and had been hussled and bussled about.

WORKING with Angie has been a painstaking, but extremely rewarding process; she has developed a wonderful, cheeky character and with those she trusts, she is very affectionate. From being a very fussy, difficult feeder with a suppressed appetite Angie now loves her food, the teeth grinding has stopped and she has a confidence that complements her personality.

FROM getting her confidence and developing her technique over small barrels, Angie takes a bigger fence with ease.

"Miss Julie Jay"

SO many of fillies tend to be highly strung and Missie was no exception; the slightest noise or activity would see exhibit signs of extreme stress and tension.   When she arrived here she exhibited extreme anti-social and aggressive behaviour towards people and her fellow equines.   

MISSIE is one of our current projects.  It has been a slow, methodical task to get her settled and build her self confidence and personality; she is making excellent progress and will happily interact with other horses now but there is still along way to go.

National Hunt horses

USUALLY these horses have had a little longer to mature (unless they have flat raced before going hurdling). Increasingly these days more and more NH horses are receiving a degree of schooling as trainers have come to realise the benefits such work has on a improving a horse's jumping accuracy. This of course all helps the re-schooling process as 'a disciplined way of going' is then not quite such an alien experience.

"Leosaid" - Georgie to his friends and family

LEOSAID stopped racing due to a check ligament injury; he required several months of walking before exercise and re-training proper could begin and this did not help his already difficult temperament and behaviour - rearing and then walking backwards was his favourite party trick!

THIS little horse was extremely sensitive, not just mentally, but physically too. His re-training has been a wonderful experience although the road has been a bit bumpy at times.  However he has been a terrific little chap to work with all despite his quirks and phobias – but that's his personality and character. He has been proof of how it is possible to work with a horse in a way so as to overcome what could be an obstacle if you let it become one. From being a horse that would not even step over a pole on the ground without 'throwing a wobbly', perseverance has prevailed and solid timber holds no fears.

LEOSAID almost died in 2004 from an unidentifiable intestinal bacterial infection.  However he pulled through and continued to live life to the full for another 3 years.  Sadly in August 2007 he was put to sleep having suddenly lost the use of his hindlegs.  He will remain a feature of this website as he was such a fabulous little horse to own and work with; we loved him dearly despite all the challenges he would throw up.  It is really thanks to "Georgie" that we became so involved in racehorse rehabiliation.

 

"Mr. Bojangles"

 


MR. BOJANGLES is one of the most successful ex-racehorses competing in the dressage arena.  Currently competing at Medium level, he will soon be having his first Advanced Medium outing.

"Light the Fuse"

NORMAN WILLIAMSON riding "Light the Fuse" when in training with Kim Bailey.

THIS little gelding stopped racing in December 2002 due to a recurrent back injury.

FOLLOWING recuperation after the rigours of racing, which included the removal of bone chips from both knees, a severed tendon and a shattered bone at the back of his knee, his re-schooling began, although not with us.  

WITHIN 18 months he had found his way into the dressage arena.

Bombie at Laughton Manor

"LIGHT THE FUSE" or "Bombie" - as he is  affectionately known to his friends - is now with us to continue his dressage training. "BOMBIE is currently competing at both Novice and Elementary level.

BOMBIE can be seen in an RoR parade taking place at Newmarket Racecourse in August. Please feel free to come and have a chat.

MORE about Bombie can be found by clicking here. He is also featured in the "Ridden Work" and "E.M.T. Horses" sections + his story is featured on the RoR website.

Retraining of Racehorses

THE R.O.R is the charity responsible for funding the Moorcroft Centre, Greatwood and TRC through money raised from the BHB, Levy Board, the Tote etc to help raise awareness regarding the plight of ex-racehorses both within and outside the racing industry.


RoR logo www.ror.org.uk

ALTHOUGH we are approved Consultants and
Trainers with the RoR, despite popular belief, we do
not receive any funding from this charity.  

WE are also part of the "Ask the Experts" panel on the RoR Website.



For more information about the ROR please visit their website.


Click here to read in full an article from 'Equestrian Life' magazine
featuring our work in the rehabilitation and retraining of racehorses
(256k Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Reproduced by kind permission of 'Equestrian Life' 

 


REHABILITATION - AFTER INJURY, ETC.

HORSES that have suffered a serious illness or incurred an injury may need a long period of time, firstly to convalesce and then to be gradually returned to fitness. The care and correctness of that working programme is paramount as in many cases in can mean the difference between the horse having a future or having to retire.

The story behind the pictures below:-

IN brief, following a routine injection of buscopan for a very mild colic, the swelling as pictured on the left came up.  By the time the horse was admitted to the RVC a severe reaction had already taken hold and shortly after the neck "burst open" (Picture - right). Following 2 weeks of intensive care the the horse was allowed home but in less then 24 hours he had to be rushed back to the RVC - he was haemorraghing badly. The bleed was stopped, only to recur within hours.

THE jugular vein was tearing so understandably there was considerable blood loss.  Vets had no option but to tie off one of the veins - fortunately horses can function ok with just one side (Picture below left).  After another week of intensive care the horse was once again allowed home to rest prior to a rehab programme being put in place.  Due to the stress, trauma and difficulty eating at times, there is much weight to be regained and of course muscles to be restructured and toned.

THIS horse is now restored to full fitness, with his new rider and back in the dressage arena. And despite the extensive wound the number of white hairs can be counted on one hand!

A Tie-Back

THIS horse had already been hobdayed when he arrived with us to undergo a schooling programme.  

HOWEVER it became immediately apparent that there was something very wrong with respect to his breathing - it was extremely laboured even after a few minutes of trot work and the horse was clearly distressed.

AS a consequence of inadequate convalescence and an inappropriate fitness programme following the hobday operation, the horse required a tie-back operation to enable him to breathe in sufficient air even for very low level exercise.

DEPENDING upon the nature of original problem, once a horse has been released from hospitalisation a further period of treatment may be required, necessitating the application of drugs or attention to dressings to wounds or surgical sites. We admit horses that require such further intense treatment as may be directed by veterinary surgeons and arrange all chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage treatments that may be necessary. 

HOWEVER we recommend that horses needing intensive therapy, such as laser treatment, are first admitted to an Equine Therapy centre or similar before coming here as we do not have such equipment on site and such treatment is very specialist.


A Discharging Sinus

A discharging sinus occurs when there is a foreign body within the body which the horse's system tries to eradicate but cannot.  

SURGERY is often the only option in such cases as the offending sequestra has to be removed otherwise there is continual infection although in some cases sequestrae can remain situ if sited well well away from the site of an open wound.

IN the case pictured here, despite skins grafts having been put in place over a very large wound area, a loose bone fragment remained within the wound area.  The body consequently sought to remove it; hence the discharging sinus.

Mia after second operation

DEPENDING on the seriousness of the situation, surgery can often result in a much larger wound area and the most meticulous care is essential to ensure against infection.  

IN this instance the whole cannon bone required scraping to remove decaying bone caused by the infection as well as the offending piece of bone fragment.

FOLLOWING several months of intense nursing and physio, normal leg co-ordination returned despite the loss of nerves and a severed tendon.

PHYSIOTHERPY not only included massage and stretching exercises, but controlled walking and then trotting which gradually incorporated work over poles to facilitate flexion, suppleness and co-ordination.

SO successful was the operation and our rehab work that this horse is now undergoing dressage training and is also showing good jumping ability.


Please visit the VETERINARY CLINIC for articles and information on healthcare matters and for the full story of the horse above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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