Fitness For The Older Horse - Reconditioning Poco & Ben
by Carrie Eastman on 01/22/12
I've posted several times in 2011 about getting Poco and Ben back into shape. Both horses are in their late 20s, and each have some minor issues associated with their age. I thought it would be useful for others with teenage or older horses to see a summary of my approach to bringing these guys back. (As they have had much of the holiday season off, we will actually be restarting from the beginning this month.) Their reconditioning program had 2 main phases, building the foundation and adding the exercise.
Building the foundation, Months 1 thru 4*
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Nutrition and Supplements (please email me for the specifics, including amino-acid chelated minerals and an Nrf2 synergizer I consider mandatory for an effective, safe, healthy program.)
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Bio Energy Analysis Technique
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Stretching
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TTEAM exercises and TTouch
*120 days (the time it takes to fully replace the body's blood supply) is the minimum time to establish a good nutrition and bodywork foundation. Full health may take up to 2 years (the time it takes to completely remodel bone). I muscle tested to know when Poco and Ben were ready to start exercising again. Poco and Ben had been on the foundation program for years, so they were able to start sooner than other horses might.
Adding the exercise*, Months 5+
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Hill work on the lunge
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Long slow distance (LSD) work
*Before starting the first week of exercise, we started with a thorough evaluation by a health practitioner (I suggest you get your vet and farrier/trimmer out for an exam before starting any fitness program for an older horse).
I started every exercise session with polarity clearing, K27 and tail points and running the bladder meridian. I finished every session with stretches and Dr Golob's back exercises. You can learn all these techniques by contacting me or attending a class with Dr Golob.
Anytime they missed a week or more of exercise, we dropped back to a lower level and built back from there. Throughout the exercise program, I checked for heat and swelling daily. If I found any, I used clay poultices and gave them a break from exercise until the heat was gone. I used some topical products on any joints that historically had issues.
Week 1: The first week was ground poles at the walk only on a slight hill. 5 minutes each direction. We added poles and changed the spacing and height during the week to keep the circles interesting. If the horse stumbled over poles, I'd use the TTEAM wand to stroke their legs, then do the poles again. If the horse still stumbled, I'd change the pole settings to make it easier. I used no more than 4 poles in sequence, and kept the height less than 8". We did a total of 10 minutes every day.
Week 2: The second week, I added a couple more walking poles, and started trotting, 3 sets of 2 laps each direction. I kept the total time to 5 minutes each direction, and worked every other day.
During week 2, both guys made very fast progress. I had to add and change poles each session. Both horses started to volunteer trotting time.
Week 3: In week 3, the differences between Poco and Ben began to show up, and their training programs became different. Both horses are doing about 10 minutes each direction total, switching directions several times. Both horses are still using a variety of ground poles. However, the speeds, hill steepness, and pole settings now need to be different.
Historically, Ben had issues with his hocks and with his ability to go round. I kept him on the almost-flat slope, and added trotting time. We increased to at least 5 minutes of trot each direction, and a few laps of canter both ways as well, with no ground poles at the trot or canter. Cool down was at the walk over the ground poles. Ben got very frisky, and insisting on trotting or cantering for most of the time he's on the lunge.
Poco had navicular/ringbone/sidebone in both front hooves when he was 12. He had been weaker in his stifles, prone to sacro-illiac issues and heavy on the forehand. So, rather than increase his trotting time significantly (which would increase concussion on his joints), I moved Poco onto a steeper hill at the walk to focus on stifle strength and engage his hindquarters. I allowed him to trot on the flat if he choose. We used the ground poles at the walk as well, to improve his flexibility.
Week 4: By the end of the month, we were up to 1/2 hour of work each session, 4 days per week. I adjusted each session, depending on how they worked on the steep hill circles. If they had a lot of energy and good mobility, we'd do about 10 minutes of walking on the steep hill, 10 minutes trotting circles on the gentle hill, and 10 minutes circling on the flat over ground poles at the walk. Days that their energy was lower, or they were a bit stiff, we cut out the trotting and did more walking over poles on the flat. Basically, no set program, just tweaking each time according to what they volunteered. Trotting was always voluntary, and both sometimes threw in a bit of cantering as well.
Week 5: Working 3 days per week. 30-45 minutes. Ben can work under saddle at the walk, and Poco can pony alongside.
Week 6 and on: At this point, the focus switches from hill circles and ground poles to long slow distance (LSD). The workouts become very individualized. The goal is to add distance a bit at a time, then add speed a bit at a time. Workouts are 2-3 times per week, allowing at least a day of recovery. I wait to do the next workout when signs of muscle soreness/stiffness disappear. If the soreness lasts more than a couple days, or the horse loses appetite, I know we pushed to hard and the next workout is shorter/slower. As they are able, we will add in some hills under saddle. Because my goal is their overall well-being, rather than competition, I'll ask them to tell me when we've reached the maximum speed and distance they are capable of and enjoy. I would like to see them reach a heart rate of 60 after 10 minutes recovery from strenuous exercise. I know if their heart rate is 72 or higher after that 10 minutes of rest, we are pushing too hard. The entire process of becoming fit will likely take 6-12 months. Once they are fit, they should be able to maintain with LSD two times per week.
Some reference articles I found helpful:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs6942 Is Your Horse Fit? The Physiology of Conditioning
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=47 Conditioning The Older Horse
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/improve-older-horse-1733.aspx Riding Off Into The Sunset Years
http://files.parelli.com/hilltherapy.pdf hill therapy for topline
Latest research on barefoot horse trimming
by Carrie Eastman on 11/20/11
My horses were due for their bi-weekly pedicures the other day. Coincidentally, I was cleaning up my Inbox and found a link to a barefoot trimming website a friend had found and liked. http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/hoof-trimming-videos/
After watching these new-to-me videos, I realized I had some questions about trimming bars and heels in general, and specifically about some changes I was seeing in Poco's hooves (Poco is my chestnut gelding, in his late 20s with an earlier history of navicular, ringbone and sidebone, since resolved). Poco is the soundest he has ever been, and his hooves look very good from the front and sides. The view from underneath is another matter. His bars have gotten long and folded over, he has grown some extra sole, and the shape of his heels changed. Wondering about all these changes in his hooves, I set out to do some research, before changing anything in his trim.
My mentor, Regan Golob www.docgolob.com , pointed me to James Welz. http://www.thehorseshoof.com/jameswelz.html James has an excellent reputation as a barefoot trimmer, and does a lot of work with performance horses. You can find a variety of articles about James' approach at this link. This article discusses heel trims and the heel platform (the area between the point of the heel and the heel turnaround at the bars): http://thehorseshoof.com/HC_Heels.html Proper mustang rolls to eliminate peripheral loading are described in this article: http://thehorseshoof.com/HC_Roll.html
James' website in turn pointed me to Dr. Robert Bowker, who has written about peripheral loading, the function of laminae, and other hoof topics. http://www.coronavistaequinecenter.com/home.html Dr. Bowker's studies form the basis of a specific approach to barefoot trimming. This article by Yvonne Welz is a good summary of Dr. Bowker's theories. http://www.thehorseshoof.com/Art_Bowker.html
After reviewing all the articles, and looking over the photos, I can see that Poco actually has stronger heels now, with a longer wider heel platform. And, I see I can do a more aggressive mustang roll in his quarters and trim away the excess bars that have flopped over onto the sole.
I have also changed my mind about using packed screenings for their run-in footing. I am going to use pea gravel, at least 3" deep, in all the run-in sheds, with packed screenings in the corrals.
I know we already have a sound foundation (no pun intended) with the Dynamite nutritional products www.dynamitemarketing.com/carrieeastman , 24/7 access to turnout, and free-choice grass hay.
Welcome to the new common sense health and training blog!
by Carrie Eastman on 11/20/11
Carrie's Critter Journal has moved to this blog.
As I was setting up this new blog, a pop-up appeared. "Please provide a title and brief description of your blog." I was given 1 line of text for each. Huh????
How do I convey in a short title that this is an eclectic blog, covering news, tips and personal stories on horse training, conscious horsemanship, tack, barefoot trimming, paddock paradise principles, dog training, nutrition & wellness for all animals & people, bodywork such as acupressure, cranio-sacral and orthobionomy for animals and people, environmental issues, fainting goats, healthy soils & crops, our planet, environmental politics and other subjects related to all of the above?
My overall goal in writing this blog is to stimulate thinking and hopefully contribute to making our planet and all her inhabitants healthier & happier.
Please ask questions, comment, share your own insights and experiences.
Welcome, and thank you for sharing the journey!
Carrie & all the critters at Oak Hill
