The term 'bridle lameness' is usually used when the horse only goes lame when being ridden or wearing a bridle, hence the term. It means the horse is still lame and doesn't tell you anything about why. Some people say it's because the horse has learned if they go lame when the bridle goes on they get out of work. To me that means either the horse has learned to associate work with being an extremely unpleasant thing and/or that work causes it physical pain.
My own, personal, opinion is that the horse goes lame when the bridle goes on because he's either already sore or so tense that he can't be anything but lame and it is not something that should be ignored. I've watched lame horses being worked quite hard and been told it's ok as, "it's just bridle lameness"
Intermittent lameness just means it's something that comes and goes and also tells you nothing about the cause. If Harry had just tweaked a muscle and it had healed then he will be sound now in much the same way as a person who tweaks something heals after a few days of rest and recuperation.
As Valerie has found with Scout it may also mean there's something underlying going on, such as arthritis, that causes the lameness to come back when a certain level of work has been reached. With arthritis they are usually better for being in gentle work as it helps to keep the joints mobilised.
With Harry you have no way of knowing what is going on right now. He may have tweaked something and be fine from now on. He may have an underlying condition but you won't know unless he goes lame again. I've known a few people video the horse for the vet and it has helped so that might be a good idea if you can do it if Harry goes lame again. From what you've put about what your vet and physio said it's either a saddle or rider weight issue or an issue with him being so tense mentally when he's worked that he goes tense physically which then causes muscle damage.
Losing half a stone in 2.5 weeks is fabulous so well done.
That's a good rate of loss as well, any faster can be unhealthy for you and losing weight slowly means you're probably just adjusting what you eat every day so you'll be able to stay with this new way and amount of food you eat and maintain the weight loss when you reach your goal weight.
This may sound horrid so please have a
and know that I feel your pain with this as I've been there myself but my honest opinion is that you are too heavy still. There are people on here that will disagree with me and that's the hardest thing about the horse world. There will always be people that will have ten different opinions on the same matter and all will be convinced they are right. I think you should listen to your own feeling on the matter, if you feel your weight is an issue then it probably is, if you feel it's OK then it probably is. You will be reading all the signs that Harry is giving you and know how you feel when you ride far better than any of us can ever feel or see.
Theoretically, at my heaviest weight in December, I was still light enough to back my two young Dales this month as I was at 90% of their maximum bodyweight. However, adding the saddle put me at 97% of their MAXIMUM weight carrying ability. It also meant that my core muscle tone was loose, I was less balanced as a rider and this is the first time they have ever been sat on and their back and bum muscles have been asked to work and actually carry weight. Theoretically a person doing weight lifting can actually lift a huge amount but when they first start they don't begin with their maximum weight they might eventually be able to lift, we start with a much lower weight and build up. My personal opinion is that it should be the same for ponies.
I'm now two stone lighter and me and the saddle are around 85% of their maximum weight carrying capacity and they are going really well.
Given Harry is 14.2hh, a HW Dales and is weighing in around 500-520kg I would say his absolute maximum weight (saddle and rider) is 16 stone but that's if he's fit and with a balanced rider. I think you have a Wintec synthetic saddle? If so that probably weighs around half a stone so you are well on the way to being a better weight for him already
Bear in mind though this is a maximum weight and not an ideal weight if you are fittening him up again from time off due to muscle tension and soreness.
Why not speak to your physio and ask what they think? It sounds as if Harry was finding the work you were doing a bit hard and tensed up, either due to weight, balance, or mental tension issues on either his or your part and that caused some muscle and back tightness and then soreness.
I think you sound a lovely, caring owner and Harry is lucky to have you. You've been so good at doing all his massage and leg exercises and if the physio thinks light hacking is a good way to go to build him back up slowly that would be a lovely way to spend the summer. You could both become fitter together as a partnership.
I don't know if you could afford it but there's also a brilliant little DVD available that's been done by a team of equine physiotherapists. It's called
'Joined up Rehab' and you can buy it online from the link given. It shows some simple exercises that you could do with Harry top help strengthen his back and hind legs and cause his whole body to become more supple and his muscles stronger and more elastic. It's also a great way of building up a bond between you and him and I'd recommend it to anyone as something to also do in winter when time is shorter and we still want to keep our ponies fit.
I hope all that helps and comes across to you in a helpful and supportive way. I think you are doing a grand job.
