If you can find someone to teach you, then long lining might be a good compromise between ridden work and longeing. I long line my 29yo once or twice a week between rides because he thrives in light work. I enjoy it and it adds a little variety to the routine. Best of luck!
A little update!
I was riding the goober one day and doing some small jumps, and his typical winter bucking started. However, when he kicked up and out once, he didnāt catch himself well on the landing-he stumbled and almost ate it. I got off right away because Iām not messing around with a horse that trips.
Had our vet out to check him over and make sure first and foremost that I should even still be riding the horse at all. Given his neck arthritis, I wanted to make sure I didnāt have to worry about a neurologic issue. Vet saw absolutely no problem with his neck, watched him on lunge and under saddle, said he looks fabulous on the lunge (honestly the best heās looked in a while), he carrot stretches well, has no neurologic symptoms, etc. We did scope and find ulcers so weāre treating for that.
Since my vet said to not worry at all about riding him (unless he trips again and more consistently), and that she doesnāt think his neck is an issue, I think Iām going to play around a bit with different treatments this spring. She did say he seems really tight through his SI region, but the movement in his joints looks great so sheās not super concerned about his hocks.
His SI issue is a pretty constant thing and Iām sure contributes to his consistent back soreness. Iāve done injections a few times and never noticed a positive difference. I think what Iām going to do is get through the winter with just a lot of light light riding, then take rads of his hinds for NPA. If he presents with it, Iām going to pull his hinds (which I was planning on doing anyways) and then work extra hard on fixing his angles. After finding pretty bad NPA in my other horse, I do suspect this guy has it as well (not as badly) - so maybe that will help his lower back discomfort. Since he isnāt a competition horse anymore and he isnāt leased out, Iām super willing to play the long game with him and try things that may disrupt heavier riding. Iāll probably try Adequan in the spring as well before doing his hock injections, and see what that does for us.
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