HORSE WITH ABSCESS AND BACK INTO WORK

[Rebecca Bamber]

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME ADVICE

I will try and keep it short haha. Duke my ten year old warmblood has been lame for about 4 weeks on and off.

Got the vet out and he isn't lame but has currently has an abscess.

I need someone's advice on how to rebuild his top line and if I can I don't really want to buy h M any feeds.

And if anyone has any exercises they can tell me about I would be so grateful!

Thank you for reading hope it wasn't too boring and I really do appreciate any tips and help xxx

 

[carthorse]

Hi & welcome

I don't understand how he can have an abscess & not be lame? I've never seen that before.

Providing he isn't underweight then feed isn't the answer to a lack of topline, all that produces is fat.

It's hard to recommend exercises without seeing him, and if he's got an abscess I assume you're looking for ones he can do without moving. Maybe carrot stretches encouraging him to reach inbetween his front legs & also stretching forward in a long low shape? And tummy lifts, if you touch the right area under their belly they should lift the back in response.

 

[chev]

First of all I wouldn't work him until the abscess is sorted.

Second is that extra feed doesn't build top line, muscles do. Unless he's actually thin. But a healthy horse who is not underweight won't benefit from extra feed unless it's a specific reason (like he's competing or hunting) where he'd need the extra energy.

So thirdly you need to work out an exercise plan to build up muscle along his neck and over his back. One simple exercise is carrot stretches. They can be held anywhere around the horses front end and if you hold the carrot say between his front legs he has to stretch down to eat it, stretching both his back and his neck.

You can also use trotting poles (yes, I know, chev and her poles aagain! ) that will encourage him to pick his feet up which will help him round his back.

But I'd get the farrier/vet out to sort the abscess out first.

 

[Gimp]

lots of long reining will help build his topline, some good brisk walks up hills is excellent for those back muscles. might be worth the farrier having a look at the abscess to, I wouldnt work until you know its completely gone. Has anything drained or have you tried poulticing? what did the vet say to do?

Feed wont produce correct topline, exercise will.