The third week of May, Harley injured his shoulder galloping around the ring in turnout. He made a sudden stop at the fence and pulled a muscle. It has been 3 weeks and he is starting to look like his old self again. We have been doing only hand-walking, and will start this week on short rides just at the walk, and gradually move up to trot when he is completely sound at the walk. Then and only then will we begin trotting. Too many people rush their horses through recovery, and end up with more serious injuries and a horse laid up for even longer.
Here is a picture that shows Harley doing something similar to what caused his injury. Obviously, letting him gallop madly around the ring is no longer an option. I will probably either turn him loose in a smaller ring, or simply lunge him on a long lunge line to "get the kinks out." I'll be retiring at the end of the year, and riding him quite a bit more, so turnouts will no longer be needed. If we can just keep him sound until Thanksgiving.....
