Case study: Ruby, 15.1 5 year old mare by Utopian Opposition. Hoping to produce her to event.

Problem: Cold backed symptoms – often very tight and tense across the back under saddle area despite having saddle fitted to her. Very 1 sided when ridden, difficulty in picking up correct canter lead on one rein, tendency to rush, unable to fully engage hind end. Dipping away from rugs especially over quarters. Some muscle atrophy and emerging hind limb lameness.

Diagnosis: After examinations and scans, Ruby was diagnosed with a sacroiliac problem. She has been treated with steroid injections and prescribed slow and phased return to work.

Rehabilitation: Start with lots of long reining in walk only, no circles or trotting. Later progress to ridden work in walk, long and low, and gradually start to incorporate trot after a few weeks walking. Long term, approximately 6 months until back up to full work load including canter and poles. 

The tightness over her back we think is as a result of not having worked properly before due to her injury, so now the joint has been medicated it’s important we ensure she works correctly from the start to avoid this and help strengthen her back.  This is tricky as she anticipates that something will be painful so will be trying to re-educate.

Massage and electromagnetic therapy: I’ve been looking for a product to help keep on top of the tight back and sensitive quarters which are almost a secondary symptom; some people have suggested massage pads/rugs and others swear by magnetic rugs. When I was at Hickstead this year reporting for Horsemart, I interviewed Tamzin from FMBs Therapy systems who spoke about their products which incorporate both cyclonic massage and pulsed electro-magnetic therapy. This sounded as though it could be ideal for Ruby.

For the past week we have been trialling the Activo-Med combi sport rug. What I like about this is the combination of treatments it offers, as well as the area it covers; the whole topline is covered from just up the neck beyond the withers, right the way down to the tail. This is great for Ruby as it addresses both her back under the saddle area, as well as over her quarters and the area covering her injury – the sacrum itself and the gluteals.

We’ve started her off with some daily massage treatments and magnetic therapy, and Ruby has loved it! She is happy to stand tied up and wear the rug, and has displayed signs of being very relaxed – licking and chewing, nice floppy ears etc.

Early results: Unfortunately she’s had to have a week off due to a cough, but we should be back up and running tomorrow so I can gauge any difference in her movement/ability to work correctly. One thing we have noticed straight away however, is how she reacts to rugging. Being hypersensitive over her back meant that when we removed rugs she would often dip way drastically, going on tip toes on her hinds and rushing forward. Early indications are really pleasing;  she’s not done this at all since we started using the Activo-Med, even with the massage rug itself which is slightly heavier than her normal stable rug. 

Treatment programmes we use are generally 20-30 minutes, so if I put it on her straight away when we first bring her in, she can wear the rug whilst I’m preparing hay, feeds etc. We’re hoping that with the regular massage we can keep on top of any tightness in the muscles so it doesn’t build up and cause a problem – prevention is always better than cure, especially with a sensitive horse like Ruby with her rehabilitation. Stay tuned to see if the Activo-Med helps Ruby re-starting her ridden work.

FMBs Therapy Systems offer advanced therapy equipment to enhance suppleness, fitness and rehabilitation for horses, riders and their dogs. To find out more about their range of products, or to see which top riders are already using them, please visit the website or find them on Facebook and Twitter for latest news, competitions and offers.

On Sunday 17th I attended BETA at the NEC with Kilminster Equestrian, keen to source new products and ranges for her ever
 expanding shop. As a seasoned shopaholic and 1 woman super consumer, I felt I was well placed to advise!

We weren’t disappointed with the range on display, and there were a few standout products, both ones we already use and some new ones too.

Silverfeet is relatively new to the market. It’s a hoofbalm developed by a farrier – always a good start – incorporating some excellent research. It’s designed to be used in place of your usual hoof oil product to protect and maintain good hoof health, but also incorporates silver ions that are proven to control bacteria that can lead to thrush and hoof odour. My current product is a balm type product, and when it’s cold it becomes virtually unusable.  Silverfeet have been tested in extreme temperatures to ensure it’s still usable whether hot or cold, so that’s a real big tick from me. I will definitely be trialling this one.

I’m a current user of Equine America products, including ‘magnitude’ and previously used ‘Airways’ but was shocked at how vast their range really is! Of particular interest given Ruby’s behaviour lately(!) was ‘No more moods.’ It’s a liquid supplement for hormonal mares and temperamental stallions alike, and is based on using liquid chaste berry – which I am told is
what was traditionally given to the monks to help alleviate their urges! Well, if it’s good enough for the monks, it’s worth giving a go on the floozy! Really friendly and informative reps, I was impressed. Sharon placed an order with them for some Derma gel, which quite frankly looks like a miracle product to keep wounds infection free, as well as promoting healing and hair growth to minimise scarring. The ‘before’ and‘after’ picture evidence, apart from making me nearly pass out, was incredible.  
 
Other highlights included meeting Laura from Dragonfly Saddlery – someone I’ve chatted with regularly on Twitter, a fellow charity comms worker and lover of ex-racers! Always good to put a face to a name. Not only that but we also enjoyed a talk from Olympic double gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin – who was impossibly tall, slim and glamorous, but equally down to earth and candid with it. Apart from her ridiculously effortless riding talents, I’ve always admired her attitude and complete resolve to be true to herself and her outspoken personality. This was on show as she spoke about how out of date Charles Owen were with their designs, and how she bullied them into updating their hats for today’s audience. Well it has worked – I’d quite like one myself thanks!

I was pleased to see Equiami, a product I already use and Sharon stocks too. I’m a big fan of this lunging aid, which encourages true engagement of the hind end and was developed by Dr Hilary Bentley when rehabilitating her own horse. I was pleased to see I have in fact been using it correctly (always a bonus), and I was very tempted by their lunge cavessons which were super light, and feature special bit attachments. 

Gallop products had a great range of products at reasonable prices, from super cheap chaps to economy bridles, and mega bright matching brushing and over reach boots that I think kids would love! At the other end of the market, Horze products were super stylish and different, as were HKM. 

We stopped by Supastuds too, who had a cool little magnetic wrist band to hold your studs whilst fitting them, rather than having them all over the floor and getting lost. And I thought the chap was just wearing a bright pink wrist band as a fashion statement! Horslyx had a great stand, and I’m a massive fan of their products which are delicious according to Rubes. Their mini lyx have a multitude of uses, from stretching exercises, to distractions when clipping or mounting a sensitive horse. I’m also
using the respiratory lick at the moment too for madam who has a cough. 
 
Sharon is looking to cater for a range of animal owners as well as equestrian, so she made a very good contact from Skinners
who can supply some top quality dog food. Most of us horsey types have pooches, after all!

I could start on all the blingy clothing and super smart saddlery I drooled over too but I think we might be here all day if I get started! Suffice to say it was Horsey Heaven, and what a good job I was there in a professional buying capacity or it could have proved an expensive outing! Watch this space for more additions to the Kilminster Equestrian shop, which is already catering for lots of your equestrian needs.