Post by Zoe RA on Dec 2, 2009 23:09:06 GMT 1
And a cautionary tale about body workers!
Ginger is owned by a lovely lady called Trudie, and her daughter Sarah. They have had him for 18 months and in that time his behaviour has been getting progressively worse to the point that Sarah can no longer hack him out on her own because he naps so badly and dangerously.
He has been know to rear, and frequently tries to spin round and go home. He is apparently fine to be ridden in the field, but obviously that isn't an option at the moment as it is so wet.
He has also had a loading accident, and since then has not wanted to load.
Back, teeth and tack have all been checked and all have passed fit by the professionals concerned.
At first, from the symptoms, I thought it was a case of separation anxiety, so I suggested we work on the ridden side first as he couldn't be expected to load and travel in a lorry if he doesn't even trust Trudie and Sarah to take him out of the yard.
So, off we set down the lane with me walking along next to him and Sarah, and gradually dropping further and further back, then going forward to his head again so that he didn't feel too far out of his comfort zone. We progressed down the lane and road without incident - something Sarah hasn't been able to do for a long time.
So far so good.
I got to the stage where Trudie and I where walking behind Ginger, and even though he started to get a bit worried, Sarah managed to keep him going.
I had noticed that his tail was hanging slightly to the right, and as he got farther away, that his pelvis is tilted to the left. Hmmmm.
As we turned for home, Ginger spun round and danced his way all the way home - sideways. Sarah rode him beautifully, and took my direction to use half halts on him so that she was checking him back without actually making him stand still, we made it back to the yard in a safely.
Once he was untacked, I had a really good look at his quarters, and this is what I found. Ginger is standing as square as he possibly can in both theses two photos!
SO, Trudie is going to be getting another body worker out asap, and no riding until then. I feel so sorry for all of them because they had thought they were doing the right thing by Ginger, and are mortified that he has been passed fit by people when he is so obviously not.
He really is the sweetest little horse, and I think one of the problems is when he starts to get worried he skips about a bit, which hurts his back so he skips about a LOT - and who can blame him.
Here he is in his field afterward asking if he can please come back in to his stable because he is a Thoroughbred don't ya know
Look at these fabby ears!
Ginger is owned by a lovely lady called Trudie, and her daughter Sarah. They have had him for 18 months and in that time his behaviour has been getting progressively worse to the point that Sarah can no longer hack him out on her own because he naps so badly and dangerously.
He has been know to rear, and frequently tries to spin round and go home. He is apparently fine to be ridden in the field, but obviously that isn't an option at the moment as it is so wet.
He has also had a loading accident, and since then has not wanted to load.
Back, teeth and tack have all been checked and all have passed fit by the professionals concerned.
At first, from the symptoms, I thought it was a case of separation anxiety, so I suggested we work on the ridden side first as he couldn't be expected to load and travel in a lorry if he doesn't even trust Trudie and Sarah to take him out of the yard.
So, off we set down the lane with me walking along next to him and Sarah, and gradually dropping further and further back, then going forward to his head again so that he didn't feel too far out of his comfort zone. We progressed down the lane and road without incident - something Sarah hasn't been able to do for a long time.
So far so good.
I got to the stage where Trudie and I where walking behind Ginger, and even though he started to get a bit worried, Sarah managed to keep him going.
I had noticed that his tail was hanging slightly to the right, and as he got farther away, that his pelvis is tilted to the left. Hmmmm.
As we turned for home, Ginger spun round and danced his way all the way home - sideways. Sarah rode him beautifully, and took my direction to use half halts on him so that she was checking him back without actually making him stand still, we made it back to the yard in a safely.
Once he was untacked, I had a really good look at his quarters, and this is what I found. Ginger is standing as square as he possibly can in both theses two photos!
SO, Trudie is going to be getting another body worker out asap, and no riding until then. I feel so sorry for all of them because they had thought they were doing the right thing by Ginger, and are mortified that he has been passed fit by people when he is so obviously not.
He really is the sweetest little horse, and I think one of the problems is when he starts to get worried he skips about a bit, which hurts his back so he skips about a LOT - and who can blame him.
Here he is in his field afterward asking if he can please come back in to his stable because he is a Thoroughbred don't ya know
Look at these fabby ears!
