Lucy is a 13 year old, 16.2hh Hanoverian cross Thoroughbred mare. She sustained a displaced
fracture to her right tuber ischium (seat bone), but the cause of her injury is unknown. When Emma first met Lucy and
her owner Sue they had been given the all clear by the vet to start ridden work. However Lucy was struggling and could only
walk out slowly, but was tripping a lot especially on rough ground and it was suggested by the vet that Sue enlisted Emmas'
help to get them going again.
When Emma went to meet Lucy and Sue her first task was to assess Lucy to see how she
was walking and how her posture had changed. As Lucy was walking she was struggling to lift her right hind foot off the floor
and place it back on the floor. This was because she had damaged the muscles that closed the angle of the hip and stifle i.e.
those that pick up the foot.
Emma devised an intensive yet gentle rehabilitation programme for Lucy, and Sue was the
star pupil following my instructions to the letter! The programme started with two weeks of in-hand work in the
school, gently strengthening Lucy’s right hind leg and getting her to trust it again. After two weeks Sue was back on
board starting with short gentle hacks to relieve Lucy of the boredom of the school.
After six weeks of the rehabilitation programme Lucy and Sue were enjoying a spring of hacking
and schooling including some good canters. Two months after Emmas' first meeting with Lucy and Sue the programme
became really challenging for Lucy with some jumps and she loved it (and they really made her pick up her right hind!). So now Sue and Lucy were flying and the aim of getting Lucy ready to work
in time for the Riding Club camp was looking like a reality. Sue kept on her homework, ensuring that Lucy was practising her
exercises both on the ground and ridden to keep her thinking about her right hind.
The week of the Riding Club camp came. When Emma saw Sue at the end of the week she had the biggest grin on
her face! They had had a fantastic time at camp, and took part in all the activities with no problems. On the final day they
had a combined competition (dressage and show jumping) and Lucy and Sue came 4th in their class…better than
before Lucy’s injury
