Jackie: She talks to the animals

D Dear ar Jackie

My horse Stan is 15 years old. I’m struggling to keep him physically comfortable, although he has regular physiotherapy treatments. Can you help? Jenny, Sheffield

Dear Jenny

Stan tells me he is a kind horse and would look after you, and himself. He can be cheeky but he also gives you horse kisses!

He He gives me the feeling of beingvery gives me the feeling of being very tight in his back legs which causes him to put the ‘handbrake’ on when you’re riding riding down hill. does hesometimes downhill. Does he sometimes stand stand oddly, as if he’ s opening uphis oddly, as if he’s opening up his back back to make himselfmake himself more comfortable?

He\ shows me his physical build and it seems his back end is higher than it should be. This means he’s going to find it harder to work in the correct, rounded outline that’s required of horses that thatdodressage.in do dressage. In his his case, working him working him in the the correct outline willhave correct outline will have the same effect as a girl wearing high heels that make her back ache – once she takes the shoes off, the discomfort eases off, but put them back on and there is it again! So, although Stan gets treatment to help loosen his muscles off, they get taut and tight very quickly once again. It’s nobody’s fault – he’s just not built the correct way to do some types of work.

He is safe to ride out, and can jump too. He wonders if he could do just that. There would be less stress on his body and you’d be able to better enjoy your time together. ‘Horses for courses’ as they say.

He thanks you for all your efforts to help him and would never wish to let you down. GOT A QUESTION FOR JACKIE?