I needed my horse retraining after kissing spine surgery

KATHERINE AND HER EX RACEHORSE TEMPLE.

A short description of the journey between the horse and the owner.

I needed my horse retraining after kissing spine surgery.

My journey with Melanie began in July 2019.  Having been traumatically thrown off my horse twice and him refusing to let me get back on, I was in need of help. After lots of research, I found Instinctive Horse Training and Melanie Watson. I am so glad I did!

After speaking with Melanie, she advised that the first step was to have the vet assess Temple to check for kissing spine and stomach ulcers as Melanie felt that one or both of these were the most likely culprit.  Following a full workup, Temple was diagnosed with severe kissing spine and surgery was performed, https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrJS9YSBrleqmwA1gUM34lQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEyODJpaWM3BGNvbG8DaXIyBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDQjk4MDJfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1589212818/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fthehorse.com%2f148184%2fkissing-spines-horses-back-pain%2f/RK=2/RS=WF4NCfHZhKkg3B_wqNLSN5gIO7U-

After kissing spine surgery

This was followed by a lengthy rehab plan which included 4 weeks at rehab livery, as suggested by Melanie, in order to give him the best chance of a successful rehabilitation back to ridden work.  After his time at rehab Temple went to Melanie’s yard in East Yorkshire to begin his retraining. 

Temple had two main issues that needed to be addressed – firstly his reluctance to be mounted and secondly, his separation anxiety.  Understandably, after the severe back pain he experienced he would not stand at a mounting block and nor would he stand still for a leg up.  As I was assured he was no longer in pain, we knew this was a behavioural issue and remembered pain. Melanie was already well informed of Temple’s issues and explained in detail how she was going to overcome them. She assured me that if at any point she felt she could not help my horse, I would be told. 

Melanie dealt with both issues concurrently, along with maintaining fitness levels so there was a lot to do! I was told Temple would need to stay with Melanie for around 3 weeks (if all went to plan!) as she would need to completely change his thought surrounding the mounting block, having someone stood behind his eyeline and attempting to get on his back.  https://www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk/services/re-training-ex-racehorses-2/ Melanie uses positive training methods, rewarding the behaviour we want and ignoring the unwanted behaviour and the results speak for themselves – Melanie was able to get on Temple just 10 days after he arrived and 2 days later I finally got back on my horse, a whole year since I was last on his back. The feeling was amazing and there were tears of joy!!! Finally, all this time, effort and love had paid off, I was so happy! 

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Temple will now recognise the cues I give him, I stand on the mounting block and he lines himself up so that I’m stood next to his saddle and waits for me to get on. The best feeling for me (as I was understandably nervous about getting on him) is that he will do all of this without being made to – he stands for me to get on without being be held or forced.

Melanie also dealt with his separation anxiety, starting by pairing him up with one of her own lovely ponies and training temple to feel safe away from his new friend ………..http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/…/horse-care/articles/anxiety

She set about making him feel comfortable and safe on the yard, school etc and finally taking him off the yard. It wasn’t long before Temple would happily leave the yard, long rein around the village and calmly walk home – amazing! Temple has always been badly influenced by his separation issues so this was an amazing result in its own right. https://www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk/training-re-training-horses-at-my-yard/

I was kept well informed as to how his training was going. We spoke daily and Melanie provided me with lots of video footage. Most importantly Melanie transferred these skills to me so that I was able to carry on with the training at home, maintaining what had already been taught as well as teaching him new skills. 

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I would highly recommend Melanie to anyone who is needing behavioural help with their horse. She has been nothing but totally supportive throughout our whole journey and continues to advise me now.  She has a wealth of knowledge based on all her many years of experience and both Temple and I have learned so much together. https://www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk/about-me/ The outcome is that I have a different horse to the one I started with! He is calm, relaxed and willing and I will be forever grateful to Melanie for getting my old horse back and for this new, improved version on top!

Katherine brought Temple to me just before the Corona virus lock down. I was able to complete his re training as well as fully train Katherine, observing all social distancing rules. It was interesting and challenging work in all ways! My yard has strict hand wash and sanitising protocols in place for all humans- staff, liveries and other customers, alongside the Corona virus personal space dance we have all learned so well!