What can i do to get Harry over lameness?

[harry11]

As i have mentioned b4, harry my 12 yr old dales gelding is unsound on right hind leg.
He has had 2 physio appointments and a vet visit. Noone can pinpoint why he comes up bit lame on right hind leg.
My physio thought maybe bum tight and helped that. But no that is now loose and all back ok etc... Has looked at saddle and now have a wintec back riser pad under it to help.
Cannot afford another saddle yet.
Vet thought back or bum tight. As above fixed.

So only other things is me.
Either i am too heavy at 16.8 stone or saddle is terrible or it is something else?
Trying bute but making no effect and Harry will seem very happy and gallops freedly albeit slightly lame up field to mates.

Physio thinks i should keep riding him on hacks to see if it passes and meanwhile loose weight.

I am at a loss.

So advice needed here as do not know when to take things further as reluctant to go to point of insurance claims.
Been there done that got the t. shirt and pony died in end.
Ok it was different - liver failiure but scares me to what is up with Harry.

My mum and dad says it is my fault for being so heavy and i should not have ridden him.

What do i do?

Help!
Starting to feel suicidal

[valerie n scout]

do you have a "back man" mine sorted Scout in a jiffy, he had knocked one of his neck joints out ! then gave me exercises to keep him supple x

[Fi]

Lameness is such a nightmare - soooo many causes. You say you've had the physio-type stuff which should've sorted any tightness, but if you're not quite sure you're happy with his saddle have you tried not riding him for a period of time? walking him out in hand etc to see if he improves? And have you spoken to the physio again to say he's not improved much and can they re-visit and/or recommend the next step?

[heathera]

If saddle, teeth and other tack is fitting well and he's been released by the physio but just tightens right back up again when ridden then I'm sad to say but it may well be a rider weight issue.

The usual guidelines for weight a horse should be asked to carry are no more than 20% of their healthy bodyweight. If a pony is overweight themselves they can carry less as they're already carrying a load of excess weight in the form of their fat.

Our dales can carry a lot of weight so you may not have to lose as much as you fear. Drummer, my old Dales, weighed in at 470kg when fit and well. 20% of this is just over 14.5 stone. My saddle weighs around 10lb. At my heaviest when riding him I was 13.5stone which really put us up to the maximum I wanted to ask him to carry. When i was this large I didn't ask him to jump or do much collected arena work although we did have the odd, short canter out hacking when he offered it.

When I was riding him at 11 stone he was much happier, really full of life underneath me and waaaaaay happier in his work. With the two young Dales that I'm backing right now they have an 11 stone rider plus one stone saddle (so 12 stone total) weight limit and that's also an experienced rider weight. They are both fittening up for the first time ever in their lives.

Inexperienced riders or those who are unfit themselves ride 'heavier' as their own balance is less stable so the pony has to work harder to keep everything balanced. Think of the difference between carrying a cat that's struggling to get down and one that's happily sitting balanced on your shoulder.

Did the vet mention taking Harry in for a lameness work up at all? If he didn't I would suspect he also thinks there's nothing underlying.

If you do decide to try and lose weight it would be very good for you too. having been over weight and now slowly slimming down I can say it makes life so much better. I'm actually enjoying buying new clothes for the first time in ten years and loving the fact I can wear light and cute summer dresses. Every day life is really different, I'm not as tired or as aching and I have a lot more basic energy. I also know my heart is thanking me as are my joints.

Could you spend the summer doing some groundwork stuff and slower hacks with Harry to build on your relationship and fitten and supple him up whilst trying to slowly and gradually lose a little weight yourself? Your physio is a good guide for whether you should be riding at all or not but be honest with her, ask whether she's just saying hacking only as she thinks you're really to heavy but she's embarrassed to say stop riding altogether or whether she really does think you're weight is OK for hacks. At least that way you can tell your mum and dad the physio says your weight is fine for doing hacking out and they might ease back on pressuring you to stop riding altogether.

[harry11]

Very nice advice.
Thankyou all.
Will be loosing weight asap.
But not too drastic as would hurt me.
So in meantime i think i will occasionally walk harry out and spend time bonding with him.
Tried laying off riding for couple of weeks just with turnout but made no difference.
I think by late summer he is still not entirely sound i will ask vet back.

Do you all think this is a good idea or not?

[southerner]

I know that riding when you are heavier is fine when balanced and experienced with decent core strength on a pony who is riding fit. My OH rides a D x and is 15st, he is carried easily as horse is very fit and also did fittening work originally with a lighter rider. Your saddle has got to be spot on, decent bearing surface and very well fitted.

[harry11]

Change of plan, Spoke to vet and going to have him examine further and poss nerve block and x ray etc...
then when i have come down in weight myself i will ride again, not till then.

[heathera]

I think you've shown a great deal of emotional maturity in accepting all the advice that's been given Harry is lucky to have such a caring and conscientious owner.

I hope the vet tests reveal something that's easily sorted. If the vet thinks it might help I lost a lot of weight initially just hand walking the Dales ponies out and about round the lanes. it helped keep their weight down too which is something you may have to watch with harry if he's not in work, especially now the grass is growing.

Brisk walking is one of the best exercises you can take.

Keep us posted on the vet results.

[harry11]

Thanks for all advice and will update on vets findings in a weeks time.