2025 starting with a set back

Despite the somewhat negative tone to the title, I promise I am okay really. It’s a minor setback, one I can absolutely, wholeheartedly cope with. Although, I will temporarily be annoyed about it and you can probably understand why, especially if you read my last blog.

All three adult horses had physio on Friday. Many people would probably question why I am paying for Fern to have physio since she is supposed to be a retired horse now. However, I felt it was important to give her a session post-vet visit as I suspected (I was right) that she would be a bit sore. It’s only logical that given her issues her muscles would be overused and tight in some places and I didn’t want her resigned to the field holding all this tension for evermore.

I admit, it wasn’t my intention to book her in for another appointment in six weeks’ time (which is the schedule all my ridden horses are on) however she was significantly worse than I expected and so I think it’s important for her quality of life that she has the regular physio sessions whilst she needs them.

Fern has in the past had a tendency to stand a bit cramped under – image an elephant balancing on a ball at the circus. Her posture is something I have worked on a lot with groundwork, changing hoof balance with my equine podiatrist and of course working with our super physio Siobhan. Throughout 2023-4 we made significant improvements but it’s her default position as soon as she’s in pain and so by the time we made it to our December vet visit (which you can read all about here) her posture had regressed quite significantly.

On the vet’s advice, the field rest did her the world of good and after a fortnight she was almost back to standing square again.

However, I am so worried about her losing her core strength that has undoubtedly supported her better posture over the year. There were some conflicting views about how much, if any, work Fern should be doing in her new retired state.

And of course, there is the question of my time. It’s easy to say that I will continue to do her groundwork 6 days a week. However, the reality is that without a long term goal/focus, naturally I think other things will end up taking precedence – no matter how well intended.

That’s not to mention what is truly the right thing for Fern. The argument that she is best left to do as she pleases in the field is of course the most natural one. Nonetheless, I spoke with Siobhan about what’s best to do and we both agree that maintaining some semblance of core training with her will be beneficial. The quantity and intensity of which we will have to be guided by her.

For now, the commitment will be just three times a week and just for 10mins of pole work. Straight lines will naturally be prioritised over circle work. At her next appointment we can assess how well she is coping with that and make a decision on what the next six week block will look like for her.

As for Chip, the darling that is, he’s good – really good! Chip and I attended our first pleasure ride of 2024 between Christmas and New Year. It’s the only event (other than Lavenham in June – where he was lame at VG1) that we’ve actually been to. It was so much fun but I was worried that I had done too much trot and canter with him. Granted it was only a 14km pleasure ride and with his history and years of training/competing (at literally more than 10x the distance) he should have been fine. But by now, I’m sure you’ve realised I’m quite the worrier.

I needn’t have been so concerned though as Siobhan was very happy with him. Due to his arthritis he always has low grade tension and we know his usual places that he holds this – hence why he has six-weekly physio sessions too. I work hard to keep him supple (just one of the reasons I have invested so heavily in building the loafing area so he doesn’t get stiff in a stable) and I hope that I am able to maintain his soundness into his advancing years.

Whilst Chip was 100% fine after his little excursion the same cannot be said for my poor left ankle. Broken bones always take longer than people think to heal – or perhaps it’s the surrounding soft tissue. Either way, my ankle was literally screaming by the end!

This doesn’t bode well for my 2025 plans of actually getting out and doing lots of endurance again! However, I’m trying hard not to panic as it’s only the start of the year and we have lots of time to build up to the distance again.

It was certainly the most trotting and cantering I’ve done since the break at the end of September and the cold/damp weather certainly never helps old breaks.

Anyway, I’ve got good intentions to get out and about with Chip. I’ve earmarked some pleasure rides hosted by local groups pre-season and I’ve plotted my first GER of the season too.

I had very much hoped that Raine would be accompanying Chip on these (or perhaps I should word that the other way around) but it’s my intention for her to do her novice season this year. However, we’ve hit our first stumbling block…

Of course we have, because nothing ever seems to go 100% to plan in my horsey life!

Raine also had physio with Siobhan on Friday and as I feared had quite a bit of back pain. Notably in her withers and also less significantly in her lumbar area.

As many of you know, I’ve been backing her slowly and carefully throughout 2024. As she’s my own horse there is no time pressure and I’ve picked her up and put her down as needed throughout the year.

The original plan was a 2024 autumn campaign with the goal of getting her to the aforementioned pleasure ride between Christmas and New Year. However, my ankle break was ill-timed (not that there is ever a good time to break your ankle) but it meant that Raine was on hold for another 8 weeks. I did get back on pretty quickly though and all was progressing nicely again until Raine came up with a pretty significant skin infection on her back.

Another six weeks for that to completely heal up and so I’m just now getting back on over the Christmas holidays. We’ve managed one hack and one ride in the arena so far. Around that there has been lots of riding and leading out off Chip, pole work and long reining.

However, both little rides I’ve felt a bit tipped downhill. Not ridiculously so but subtly. I’ve also worried that the saddle is a little long for her. It’s actually Fern’s saddle as believe it or not, Raine & Fern have the same templates! Anyway, I suspect that it’s possible marginally wide, not unfeasible with the changing seasons and increase in workload that she’s changed shape slightly.

I contacted the lovely Amy, at Jeremy Rudge Saddlery who I get all my saddles from, and the earliest she can come is the 20th January. I am incredibly lucky to have their support and I know this is relatively quick to get an appointment however it’s also three more weeks of no riding whilst we wait! I could shim the saddle in front to reduce the width and give a bit of lift in front but this won’t negate the lumbar issue.

I feel strongly that it’s so important to get it right for young horses because this is what sets them up for life! Therefore, I don’t want to ‘bodge’ the saddle for the sake of a few more weeks. Therefore, we will use the time for more groundwork & general education.

In fairness to Raine, I really haven’t done much trailer practice with her and so this is an area we can definitely work on (weather allowing) as well more getting out and about seeing the world. Not to mention of course more arena work to fine tune the aids and our bond too.

So not all doom and gloom, easily rectifiable but frustrating nonetheless.

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