Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
After getting Izzy's hocks injected for the second year in a row, I decided that I needed a better maintenance plan. Injecting hocks every year is pricey and carries some risks. There's also some doubts as to its true efficacy. In an effort to reduce the frequency of hock injections, I decided to bring the chiropractor out every three months whether Izzy looked sore or not. I think one of two things will happen. First, Izzy will still need his hocks done in the summer or fall which will mean the chiropractic work kept him happier, but didn't address the hock issue. Or, Izzy won't need his hocks injected which will mean that the general soreness that builds up along his top line is the cause of his sore hocks. When CC did the adjustment in August, Izzy was really sore even though he'd been adjusted just three months prior. CC recommended hock injections which I had done in early September. When CC returned in October, the adjustments he needed to do were pretty minor. This week, Izzy was sore in all the usual places, but the adjustments were once again easy to make. One interesting thing to mention was that even CC noticed how much more mature Izzy has become over the past few months. Our hope is that as he gets broker and less prone to being a wild card, he'll let some of the muscle tension go which should help him feel much better. The day before the appointment, I was with a friend who was lamenting her horse's sore hocks. I told her my chiropractor was coming out and asked if she'd like him to look at Glee. Since she already had the day off, she figured a chiropractic visit couldn't hurt. I love watching CC work. Even though my friend was certain the NQRness was coming from the hocks, CC quickly pointed out that he didn't think so. Glee didn't have any of the hamstring tenderness that comes with sore hocks. Instead, he felt confident that she was just body sore. After asking Glee to stretch throughout her body, he tackled her mid-section. Even a non-horse person would have been able to see that her back and ribs were sore. CC explained that she's probably been sore for a very long time but has been so stoic about it that she just works through it. He went on to say that horses like Izzy are easier to work on because they're so vocal about what hurts. With him, there's no mystery as to where the soreness is coming from.
When he finished working on Glee, her already lovely stride was even longer and more fluid. She clearly felt better. When I texted my friend the next day, she felt pretty sure that Glee was once again sound. Body soreness is definitely better than hock issues. Unless anything changes, CC will be back in April for Izzy's next quarterly adjustment. Glee might get to see him again as well. What an interesting idea about the chiro possibly reducing hock soreness. Makes me think though- have you ever had Izzy's hocks xrayed? I would think this might be an easy way to see if the hocks are actually experiencing arthritic changes or whether the joints look good and the soreness is coming from compensating. Just a thought I had. Hopefully the chiro helps, as hock injections certainly can get pricey. 1/5/2018 04:53:58 pm
You're right to wonder about radiographs, Kelly. The first year that Izzy came up sore in his hocks, my vet said we could take x-rays, but he seriously doubted we'd see anything. And either way, we were injecting, so it didn't really matter why he was sore. My vet also felt that it was a case of a young horse not using himself correctly. Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at Second Level. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2021 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic (Q) Must Qualify 2021 Pending …
3/27-28 SCEC (***) 4/10-11 SCEC (***) 5/16-17 El Sueño (***) 5/23 TMC (*) 6/12-13 SB (***) OR 6/19-20 El Sueño (***) 6/27 TMC (*) 7/3-4 Burbank (***) OR 7/17-18 El Sueño (***) 7/25 TMC (*) 8/14-15 RAAC (Q) (***) 8/29 TMC (*) 2021 Completed … 10/24-25 SCEC (***) 11/7-11/8 SB (***) 2021 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) 2nd Level Qualifying 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: 60.610% Bhathal Score 2: Score 3: CDS Championship 2nd Level Qualifying 5 Scores/4 Judges/61%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Score 4: Score 5: Stuff I ReadBy Topic
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