Building muscle?

Question

I want to start building muscle on my 2 year old filly that came from auction but she has a hernia,

She wont be getting the operation till september but i dont wont to waste all this sunshine & light nights.

Will any harm come to her if i start lunging her?just walking to start training & build her up?.

This hernia makes me rap her up in cottom wool!

Thaks in advance guys:)

Answer 1

If the hernia needs to be wrapped, it sounds like a good size one and I would wait and talk with your vet that has seen it.  It's best to be safe than sorry, I would wait.  in the mean time work with ground manners, whoa, back, wait, side, giving to pressure (left and right), work with her on noise like a plastic bag on the end of a whip, blankets, open and drop head for a bit and so on.  Don't worry about muscle just jet, best of luck and enjoy you new baby:)

O and trailer loading.

I'm not saying throw a bomb at her.  To teach horse to spook in place  use a round pen and lead, let them sniff the whip and bad, let the wind blow it around, she's not going to fly off the handle and jump the gate...  You can do it, gently, quietly and over time increase.  But if she's a spook "freak" and out of control, yeah wait.  But with any training start off slow, and work your way up.  She's going to do more harm in a field is she spooks, or in a stahl...

I wouldn't wait til September is you don't have too, if this vet is to busy try to find another, it's a long wait, maybe to long depending on how bad the hernia.

Answer 2

You don't mention the location of the hernia, which would be the first thing I'd ask.  Some hernias are the result of enlarged openings in a muscular wall, and organs held within that wall may bulge through the opening.

Some are the result of a weak area of tissue allowing a bulge of content in that weak area.

Some are the result of a tear, or rupture of tissue that allows content to bulge through it.

Knowing the nature of the hernia is essential to how it is managed.  Some remain reduced, meaning the wall defect is there but nothing protrudes through.  Others may slide in and out, and still others may become trapped (incarcerated) and non-reducible (can't go back in place).  These are at greater risk of becoming strangulated, which means the blood supply to the tissue is cut off...a medical emergency.

That said, you should be discussing this with your vet...not us...and receive specific instructions on how to manage your horse.

Answer 3

We had a horse with a tennis ball-sized hernia, and we did everyhting with her that we would have dont if she didn't have it. However, you say this one requires wrapping, so it must be rather large. I don't think I would risk it to do a lot of strenuous work with her. Just work on simple stuff, and if you want to work on muscle, I think the most you should do is maybe long walks up and down hills and stuff, but no more than that. After she is fixed you'll have 30 years to do whatever with her. If you push her too soon you might have no time left with her at all.

Answer 4

The horse is only two. Just let her be a horse for another year or two, she'll be happier in the long run. Let the hernia heal and just let her be a horse. Get some weight on her and let her chill.

Good luck. :)

Answer 5

Shoot...if lunging her is too dangerous...don't you think that waving a plastic bag at her to get her spook proof is dangerous?

I'd just work on her basic ground manners. Nothing too strenuous since you are already having to wrap her.

Did your vet say too keep her quiet or give you advice of what to do with her until September?

Answer 6

I would hold off on any work. A couple months to be a baby wont kill you are her and will probably be benificial.

I am going ro rant for a moment about big name trainers who ride their horse IN A SHOW with a hernia bigger than a tennis ball right infront of the girth. Just because you (big name trainer)  want the horse to get the full year of First Year Green classes. That horses wellfare should mean more to you. The horses was having dificulty moving properly within the gaits. And the trainer didnt just show it on the flat, he took him 2 rounds over fences. The worse part is the judge PLACED him in every class. The hernia was very obvious and the horses discomfort was evident. Stupid hunter judge and trainer.... OK sorry, rant over. Good luck with her and I hope the operation works out.