BACKGROUND: We have a friend, Amy, who leased out her 15.2 Big Boned "Mutt" Gelding over a year ago because of divorce and she had to move. "Phat Boy" will be turning 30 this summer and was very healthy, weighing over 1200 lbs., (teeth good too) when she delivered him to the people. It was March when she went to visit him and discovered he'd been on a deep snow covered pasture with NO extra hay during our bad winter. He had rain rot and had been harassed for months by a young mare who didn't like him. But what was worse was that he had dropped OVER 200 LBS. She immediately ended the lease and called us. We agreed to have him come to our place.
NOW: It's been just over 2 months and he is almost back to his normal weight and his coat is now the shiny black it once was......BUT, Amy feels that he has a problem with his left shoulder....an injury from his winter neglect. He's not limping, but she got on his back in the barn a couple of days ago and said she felt something was wrong. She knows how to do massage and stretching therapy and has begun that.
QUESTION: She is wondering if anyone can recommend specific exercises to strengthen and correct him as much as possible. He is getting a joint supplement. She hopes to get him back to where she can ride him lightly for leisure only, but if not, at least let him be comfortable as a pasture pet. (She is a little woman...maybe 100 lbs.?)
NOW: It's been just over 2 months and he is almost back to his normal weight and his coat is now the shiny black it once was......BUT, Amy feels that he has a problem with his left shoulder....an injury from his winter neglect. He's not limping, but she got on his back in the barn a couple of days ago and said she felt something was wrong. She knows how to do massage and stretching therapy and has begun that.
QUESTION: She is wondering if anyone can recommend specific exercises to strengthen and correct him as much as possible. He is getting a joint supplement. She hopes to get him back to where she can ride him lightly for leisure only, but if not, at least let him be comfortable as a pasture pet. (She is a little woman...maybe 100 lbs.?)