For many horse owners, this is a sad moment. The diagnosis "unrideable" abruptly ends the dream of experiencing more wonderful moments in the saddle with your horse. But even if riding is no longer possible, the horse should not be any less valuable as a friend. After all, there are wonderful alternatives for spending time together.
There are many different reasons why a horse suddenly cannot be ridden anymore. Perhaps it is getting old and its body is no longer able to carry equipment and the weight of a rider. Or it may have injured itself so badly that it cannot be ridden for a long period of time or even ever again. Perhaps it is not the body but the animal's psyche that is at fault. A horse that has been "run into the ground," as it is sometimes called, may need a long break from riding to recover.
Unrideable therefore means that the horse is temporarily or permanently unable to carry a rider's weight. However, it does not mean that the horse belongs in the scrapyard. Depending on the findings, it will still want and need exercise.
It is best to talk to your veterinarian about the intensity of training that is appropriate to keep your horse fit.
There are many different ways to train your horse in a targeted manner or simply spend some quality time together. Ask yourself: What do you want to achieve with your horse? What kind of activities do you particularly enjoy? Sometimes it can be great fun to visit your four-legged friend in the summer pasture and have a picnic there. Below are a few ideas and variations for working with your horse from the ground.
Walking, hiking, jogging
Instead of going for a ride, you can also go on an outing where you both travel on foot. Your horse will enjoy the change of scenery. You can take short breaks, enjoy nature, and you will feel the trust between you and your horse grow through such outings.
Lunging
This is a classic that you are probably familiar with and offers further ideas through variations such as working on a long rein or double lunge. If you are particularly interested in this field, you can learn more by reading specialist literature or taking a course. A tip for the particularly ambitious: you can also obtain lunging badges through the FN (German Equestrian Federation) and have your special skills certified.
Handwork
Dressage riders also like to use handwork to train difficult lessons. It is a nice alternative to keep your horse supple.
Dual activation
Dual activation is a system that uses blue and yellow foam poles (these colors are easiest for horses to recognize) to better connect the two hemispheres of the horse's brain. Horse trainer Michael Geitner came up with this form of training, and there are many courses and books available on the subject.
Freedom dressage, clicker training, circus lessons
Circus lessons are a great alternative for giving the horse enough mental stimulation without overexerting it physically. Clicker training can also be used for this purpose and works in the same way as dog training. Those who love freedom and have a very good relationship of trust with their horse can create very special moments with liberty dressage.
Horse agility or extreme trail
These variants are among the more intensive training options. As in dog agility, horse and human overcome an obstacle course similar to a trail. The obstacles and the way the course is approached are slightly different. This type of ground work requires more intensive training because it demands skill, coordination, and trust. Some exercises are also a little more physically demanding for the horse.
If your horse suddenly looks like it has run through hundreds of stinging nettles or been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes, it could be hives, also known as urticaria. Triggered by certain stimuli, this excessive reaction of the immune system causes hundreds of small, round, raised swellings, known as wheals, to form on the horse's skin. In most cases, this rash disappears quickly once the cause has been treated.
If feed components or foreign bodies become stuck in the horse's esophagus, the surrounding muscles cramp up and a blockage occurs. Due to the risk of pneumonia caused by inhaling feed residues (aspiration pneumonia), a blockage is always a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Despite its somewhat misleading name (hematoma = bruise), this very rare disease in horses is not a simple bruise, but a slowly growing tumor originating in the ethmoid bone or paranasal sinuses that can cause severe bleeding. Ethmoid hematoma can occur in horses of any age, but is most common in horses between 8 and 15 years of age.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye, describes inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by insufficient or completely absent tear fluid, which in severe cases can lead to blindness.
Pyometra is a purulent inflammation of the uterus that occurs in most cases approximately two to ten weeks after the last heat and is the most common disease of the female reproductive organs. According to recent scientific studies, 25% of all unspayed female dogs develop pyometra within the first ten years of their lives. Female dogs that have not yet been pregnant and female dogs over the age of four are at higher risk of developing pyometra.
Narcolepsy is a pathological sleep disorder in which animals initially appear to be dozing, but then suddenly fall asleep and sometimes collapse without support. In most cases, this sleep disorder is associated with a loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
Ataxia is Greek and means "disorder." The term actually describes quite well what ataxia is all about. It is a disorder of the horse's normal movement and posture that is caused by damage to the central nervous system. Ataxia is therefore not lameness!
You've probably heard of it, and if you see a horse with long, curly fur, irregular fat deposits, weakness, and possibly even laminitis, you immediately think: That must be Cushing's! But it's not quite that simple, because Cushing's has very different symptoms and the diagnosis should not be made hastily.
A cat can have kittens twice a year. Unfortunately, unneutered stray and outdoor cats are often pregnant, resulting in too many "unwanted" cats being born. In some areas, cats that appear to be homeless are caught and taken to the local animal shelter, where they are neutered by a veterinarian. However, if the birth was planned and takes place in a safe environment, it can be a wonderful experience for both the mother cat and her kittens.
Coccidiosis, caused by parasites, is a common disease in rabbits. A distinction is made between liver coccidiosis and intestinal coccidiosis. Young, stressed, or weakened animals are particularly at risk.
Lip chewing, medically known as cheylitis, describes a common condition in domestic guinea pigs characterized by weeping eczema around the lips and corners of the mouth, which in advanced stages can spread to the mouth, nose, and entire face.
There are many different situations in which your dog may find itself in distress. But is it really an emergency? And what is the right thing to do? Here you will find useful information on how to assess your dog's situation. The most important thing is to stay calm and keep a clear head.
