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Jackie Johnson feels that trick training is a perfect activity for injured horses, as it fosters communication between horse and handler, and builds a mutually beneficial, trusting relationship which transfers to the saddle. Related: When Horses and Riders Hurt ThemselvesĬompetitive horses used to physical activity often struggle during downtime, so teaching new skills may help keep them sane and prevent bad habits from developing. Celebrate your successes along the way, and whenever you feel frustrated or grumpy, check the calendar to see how far you’ve come.
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So, it’s really useful to mark your horse’s injury date on a calendar and then plan activities for each week of the recovery period. Maintaining the sanity of confined horses can be challenging, and being unable to ride for an extended period can turn level-headed riders into basket cases. There are many ways to help your horse thrive during the down days of an injury, alleviate your frustration, and potentially turn the lemon of an injury into sweet and unexpected lemonade.
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If the patient does not require complete immobilization, a run-out stall or a small paddock will help him stay sane.
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She also suggests keeping horses in stalls and paddocks where there is lots of activity, using veterinary-prescribed sedatives where suitable, and taking advantage of slow feed hay nets. Meanwhile, Chelan Kozak, a USEA level IV coach and CCI4* rider, has found that few injuries require complete immobilization, hence she nearly always provides a small paddock, run-out stall, or hand-walking to keep the injured horse sane. Low-impact trick training can be just as mentally challenging as physical exercises, and it can really help keep a horse’s energy in check during recuperation.” Jackie Johnson, head trick trainer at observes, “Many horses that are injured have a tremendous amount of energy that owners often have challenges dealing with. For example, teaching them to drop their head or place their feet on an object gets them thinking and engaging with their rider, which keeps the horse stimulated, but also helps build a stronger bond between horse and rider.” Jonathan Field, a popular horsemanship clinician, says, “There are lots of little low-impact exercises that riders can teach their horses while they’re injured or on restricted exercise programs.
GEARS TACTICS INJURED HOW TO
Many professionals have struggled with the challenges of injured horses and they have great suggestions for how to survive these difficult times. Finding a silver lining in your horse’s injury will not only make the experience more enjoyable, it may improve your relationship with your horse and even increase your horse’s quality of life. That unknown can be particularly stressful, so focussing on the end goal of having a healthy horse again, enjoying each day as it comes, or refocussing elsewhere are all tactics that can help. If the recovery period or prognosis is unknown, you may be operating in limbo-land for quite some time. When your horse becomes sidelined with an injury, finding ways to cope with the downtime and refocussing on the goal of having a healthy horse again will not only help you survive the uncertainty, but can also you improve your relationship with your horse. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, the future plans for the horse, and the prognosis, the experience can be an emotional roller coaster. It’s common sense to have a veterinarian assess what’s wrong as soon as your horse becomes injured, but a vet will also help create a rehabilitation plan, advise how long the recovery period will be, and provide post-recovery expectations. Sooner or later, most horse owners have the unfortunate experience of dealing with an injured horse.