Episode 105 Post Colic Surgery Rehabilitation
Summarised Transcript:
In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg discuss rehabilitation following colic surgery and why recovery should be assessed through function, not simply the passage of time or a return to performance. Abdominal surgery can significantly compromise core support, and some horses may return to work while still showing poor topline development, limited abdominal function or compensatory loading elsewhere in the body.
The visible incision is only one part of recovery. Scar tissue and internal adhesions may affect comfort and the function of the abdominal structures, ribs, spine and diaphragm. Early rehabilitation therefore focuses on wound healing, circulation, gut health, hoof balance, breathing and comfortable feeding posture, helping the horse maintain balanced weight-bearing and gentle movement while activity is restricted.
As healing progresses and veterinary clearance allows, the focus shifts to stability, balance and function. Gentle weight shifts, limb lifts, controlled walking, varied surfaces, poles, lateral flexion, belly lifts, pelvic movements and the Equiband system can be introduced gradually. The emphasis remains on quality over quantity, true core activation rather than abdominal bracing, and avoiding fatigue or discomfort.
Before returning to riding, owners should look for improving topline and core musculature, comfortable postural exercises, functional breathing, stable self-carriage and a swinging back in trot. These qualities should be sustainable through a full non-ridden session before load is added. A timeline or veterinary sign-off is not an automatic return-to-work date; the goal is to restore comfort and core function so the horse returns with better postural support.
Chapters:
00:00 - Understanding post-colic surgery rehabilitation
07:34 - Wound management, circulation and gut health
13:12 - Feeding postures and their importance
19:50 - Progressing to stability, balance and function
25:55 - Understanding core activation versus brace
27:18 - Progressive walking techniques for recovery
28:58 - The importance of straight lines in movement
30:23 - Using the Equiband system during rehabilitation
32:54 - Lateral flexion, belly lifts and pelvic exercises
35:11 - Recognising signs of functional recovery
38:39 - When to resume riding
40:30 - Avoiding common rehabilitation pitfalls
43:37 - Restoring core function before returning to work
Key Takeaways:
* Return to performance does not prove that a horse's core, posture and movement have fully recovered after colic surgery.
* The abdominal wall may regain strength before the incision area returns to normal thickness, so tissue healing and function should guide loading decisions.
* Early rehabilitation priorities include wound health, circulation, gut support, hoof balance, comfortable posture, and breathing.
* Feeding posture can encourage balanced weight-bearing and gentle movement through the back and abdominal muscles while the horse is confined.
* True core activation supports the belly and back without creating a strong, rigid abdominal line; exercises should be introduced little and often, with quality prioritised over repetitions.
* Before riding, the horse should demonstrate sustainable core function, a stable head and neck position, improved topline and a freely moving back during non-ridden work.
* A timeline or veterinary sign-off does not automatically mean that the horse is ready for riding or unrestricted paddock activity.
Notable Quotes:
* "A timeline doesn't mean return to work."
* "Quality over quantity."
* "You want this horse to come back with a better core than ever."
* "Learn to recognise function."
* "We should not be loading that tissue before it has come back to full integrity."
