Keeping horse "sound"

[Tx23]

Laura -

Callie is now riding a 21 year old gelding that was originally purchased for me back 4 years ago.  (I've ridden him for about 12 years now and know his history from birth).  3 years ago we made that incredible run we'd been working so hard for...sucked up the barrels, totally together, landed at the top of the 1D!!  But...before we even left the alley I knew something was wrong and by the time I walked him to the trailer, he could barely walk.  Elgin ultrasounded and even I could see, he tore his suspensory almost completely in half.  There was just a fraction left intact.  They didn't give me much hope for a sound horse and Dr. McBride in Burnet told me not to let anybody talk me into surgery (wouldn't hold).  Elgin told me about stem cell treatments (only in Louisiana at the time) but didn't recommend that due to his age.  Well, that gelding always did have a hard head and ornery attitude but a BIG heart and I did everything Elgin told me to do and after a year, he was walking normal and the followup ultrasounds all showed a healed suspensory.  I started rehabbing him and made the painful decision that my 150 pounds didn't need to be on him in a run anymore so I moved Callie's 50 pounds up to him.  (He smiled in relief!) He will absolutely do anything for her but my question is (finally:))...what do you suggest I do to keep him as relatively sound as he is?  I ask because I have noticed he is always very tight in the back end (especially that side) when she first starts riding him and is almost limping.  He always comes out of it if she walks a long time and then trots quite a while and finally long trots him.  He is rarely stalled except at overnight shows so he moves all night long.  The trailer ride to Mississippi was hard on him.  He came out really stiff in the rear but walked out of it.  Now, I am known for going SLOW when I haul horses so I know he didn't get banged around in there!  Is there some kind of therapy or treatment that I can be doing for him so he will continue to be able to run for her?  He has never once balked or refused to do anything for her.  He wants to run but I would like to make him as comfortable as possible.  Thanks,  MA

[lauraSchumann]

I really want to help you with him Mary Alice...and I want to be as positive as possible about my
info to you....sooooooooooooo.....

August 15th, I will really go over him with a fine tooth comb at Burnet...and tell you what I think you
should be doing...altho...I have a pretty good idea in my head right now.

Let me do this for you guys, and take alittle time to "eyeball" it...and I will give you your answer.

Thanks,
Laura

[Tx23]

Thank you!  I really would appreciate your help and ideas.  Hagen is going to shoe him after the race so Rip will get the "full treatment" that day!  :)  See you then.

MA