A trip to.......the Equine Aqua Centre

One thing which has been noted by a few of Romy’s many ‘therapists’ was that he had a weak behind, compared to his big hulk shoulders. So in an effort to bulk him up I have been doing lots of pole work but wanted to check out alternatives for helping build up his hindquarters and lumbar region. A quick search on The Google tells me that ‘Working a horse on a water treadmill can help improve the horse’s range of movement and build muscle...the horse takes bigger, longer steps than they would on land. This helps to build up the muscles in the hind quarters and over the lumber area of the back’. Sign me up Scotty. Another friendly Google search lead me to the Equine Aqua Centre, based in racing land, which didn’t have a water treadmill but has the next best thing, a water walker. Essentially this is like a normal walker which is filled with water up to the horses chest, thus getting them to use their hindquarters and hopefully end up with a booty similar to Kim Kardashians in a Herve Leger dress.  Peachy.

True to the fabulous Irish weather we get on this side of the world, the day started out with a downpour and it just got wetter from there. But I guess there’s nothing more suitable than getting into the water when you’re already drenched to the bone...in you get big man! We were met by the lovely Robbie who gave Romy a temporary stable until it was his time to get on the walker. There was a lot of ‘Good JAYSIS the size of him’ from people who saw me take him off the trailer...’What the jaysis is he...an eventer?’

Me: ’Um no, he’s a dressage pony daaaaaahlink’.
‘Jesus, he’s some beasht...what weight is he, do you know’.
Me: ‘Not sure, but I’m trying to put weight on him’
‘Mother ah gaaahhhd he must be some pampered pet, that one’
Me, beaming: ‘Yes, yes he is’

Romy was the best boy and went straight on the water walker with all the little thoroughbreds, half his size. They were doing Paso Fino impressions around the water walker while Romy was taking big long strides and had to pause every now and then to let the walker catch up with him so if we’re going again I’d like to see if he can go on with the bigger ponies and perhaps turn it up a notch to really get his ass moving. I stood in the lashings of rain watching my horse go around in circles, questioning exactly why I chose a life with horses. But who doesn’t like to have mascara dribbling down their cheeks while they watch their four legged pet walk around in circles, hmmm?

 

 

Next up was the hydrotherapy spa. Ala Google; ‘An equine spa allows the horse to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cold water therapy. This works to minimise heat and inflammation in the lower legs making it ideal for treating soft issue injuries, as well as being suitable to use as a preventative measure’...yah, preventative so long as your horse doesn’t TRIP ON HIS GOD FORSAKEN HEAD ON THE WAY OUT OF THE THING. He went in with a little persuasion but I don’t blame him, it was minus a gazillionty degrees in there* (*true story, between 2°C and 4°C). He stood there for 20 minutes while the Jacuzzi jets did their thing. And then we had to leave. Nope, no, nosiree, aint happenin’, nope. Little persuasion from Kind Robbie finally convinced Romy to make the leap to dry land. And leap he did. Leap and miss. He went half way up the ramp, slipped, and landed on his head. Cue legs flailing everywhere. His legs flailed, my heart stopped. Remind me again why I chose a life with horses? Anyway, Romy dug right down to the bottom of his belly and channelled his inner Big Star. One leap to infinity and beyond and he was on dry land, quivering like a baby and holding his previously sore leg up. FML, seriously?! On quick inspection he looked fine but after bringing him home we noticed a cut on the leg, literally a scratch the size of an eyelash. Biggest drama queen ever.  

So our trip to the Aqua Centre had it’s ups and downs, to say the least. I will definitely be back but think we’ll stick to the water walker for now. Those little thoroughbreds I’m sure can prance up the ramp with the same grace as a woodland nymph. Romy, with his big chest and broad shoulders, was more like an All Black tackling a scrum trying to get out of the thing, the big oaf.

Till next time

V x