Marvel: Rehabilitation Out of Retirement

Marvel’s owner acquired him for free after he had been retired with a diagnosis of kissing spine and chronic ulcers. Wanting to explore whether there were options for this 7-year-old beyond retirement, his owner decided to give him one more chance at a career. After receiving back injections, Marvel was referred to VRSVA to begin a structured rehabilitation program.

His plan focused on a combination of targeted therapies and progressive conditioning. Early rehab included vibration plate therapy, laser treatments, and therapeutic ultrasound to address chronic back pain and improve comfort. We also incorporated core strengthening, balance pad work, and lunging in the Equiband and Pessoa systems to encourage proper posture and engagement, along with the introduction of the underwater treadmill.

As Marvel progressed, his program was advanced gradually based on his tolerance and response. Initially, he traveled inverted and was resistant to bending and collecting.  Over the course of six weeks, he showed steady improvement in strength, relaxation, and overall way of going. As his back pain decreased, we transitioned from lunging to light rehabilitation rides, allowing him to begin rebuilding under saddle in a controlled and supportive way.

By the end of his stay, Marvel was comfortable, moving well, and successfully back to work. He was discharged to his owner with a continued program to support his ongoing development at home.  His owner was able to give him a second career as a fox hunter, and the pair continues to do well.

Marvel’s case highlights how a thoughtful, multimodal rehabilitation approach can help horses with kissing spines return to work—focusing not just on pain relief, but on rebuilding strength, function, and long-term durability.