Rehab

 In January, Duke felt a little off. It got progressively worse. Six months later, he's had an MRI, two ultrasounds, platelet therapy, a few shockwaves, a couple months of lasering, ligament supplements, and stall rest. He was in his stall plus a 12x12 paddock most of the time, and I'd take him out to graze and "walk" 15-20 minutes per day.

At first, he didn't want to put weight on his right hind, but a couple months ago, he started standing on it and perked up a lot.

He has ligament damage in both hind legs, and he had coffin bone damage in his right hind, where the ligaments pulled the bone and made it jagged.

His follow up exam, the ligaments had not filled in, but had not gotten worse, but the coffin bone had smoothed out.

His rehab is going to be a month of walking (building up to 30 minutes, we just finished the first week of 10 minutes by hand, and two 10 minute rides under saddle), then start 2 minutes of trot and over two more months building up to 12 minutes of trot.

So that's July, August, and September.

Then in October and November, we'll add in canter. And in December, jump again.

It was really great to get back on him yesterday, after five months off.

John said:

- If he recovers, he's going to need more icing and care.

- He probably won't be able to go above prelim, because the speed is too hard on the ligaments.

- He needs a job, mentally, to be a happy horse.

- Walk him on the hard pavement a little, to help "toughen" the ligament.