Photo: Pauline with me and our trouble horse - Kingsley. After buying him as a green project he went lame in the first week. That was in September 2009. Since then we spent months and then years on his rehabilitation.
Here are all posts telling the lenghty story of Kingsley who after many investigations due to unsoudness was diagnosed with navicular disease in both front feet in March 2010. He was also described as severely crooked and in need of movement re-education.
Click on the link below to be re-directed to all posts labelled "Kingsley's Rehab":
Kingsley (Stilo Venture) in April 2010 - not very comfortable in his body...
The Farrier and Vet decided he needed wedges:
He went worse and worse until he could no longer trot a circle or move in balance in a straight line...
Finally, in October 2010 we made a decision to rehab him by taking him barefoot and it's been the best decision ever. Thanks to Nic Barker and Rockley Farm Kingsley is now on the road to recovery.
5th March 2011. Back from Rockley Farm after 5 months there. Feet still growing and changing. He is also pretty much sound and in rehab schooling work.
April 1st 2011
OCTOBER 2010. ROCKLEY FARM
JUNE 2011, BACK HOME since March and in medium rehab work. Sound on hard surface!
I know it's not the best footage but I will try to do one monthly from now on and will hopefully get someone to help me next time. Even like this though you can see that he has much more control over his legs and is moving straighter and more confidently.
He worked well today, walk work felt stronger and he is definitely getting the idea of aids now. We are still figuring out the trot. Slow work on that.
His shoulders are muscling up more evenly now and I am looking forward to Susanna seeing him again soon.
Pic: Shoulders & back view - 9th June 2011
As I can really see and feel the difference in him after I started experimenting with more groundwork I am on a hunt for good books on in-hand work - any recommendations gratefully received :)
