Boggle- USA bound!

[Muddy unicorn]

It sounds a bit like frozen shoulder - I had this last year and the sudden pain when I moved into certain positions was utterly excruciating but relatively short-lived (it was that awful nerve-type pain, like banging your elbow multiplied by a thousand). But once it freed up I’d be fine - and it’s now gone away completely. I hope Bog continues to enjoy life.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Just had the weirdest experience with Bog. Per the vet request I took him into the indoor on a lunge line to film him walking. I put a pair of brushing boots on him out of curiosity. Something I’ve been meaning to do for ages tbh, I ordered some little chain things but Amazon messed it up and then I didn’t reorder. Bear in mind he’s on his final day of banamine before moving onto equioxx, albeit it’s a little over 24 hours since last dose.

Usually I see evidence of that front limb issue, the odd buckle or non locking of the leg.

Today- nothing. Not on any part of the surface, deep shallow or otherwise. Absolutely no evidence of it. And I kept him going a fair while to check it wasn’t fluke.

When he stopped, he suddenly let out these huge yawns and releases and then licked me from head to toe. Like I was a feedbowl, I had to stop him after five mins as I was soaked! He wouldn’t stop, it was like a mare licking her foal.

He’s never done anything like that with the licking, it was totally bizarre. I have no idea if the brushing boots made a huge diff to his feeling or it’s the remnants of pain relief or what.. but something is very very different and Bog felt it too.

Don’t worry I’m not suddenly getting hopeful it’s just very interesting. Learning a lot here

Btw no amount of firmness will stop him rolling in the indoor even on a lunge line lol, he literally can’t help himself haha.

Pics of course of the usual Boggle madness. I’m so glad he stopped bucking like that under his saddle by the end of his sixth year
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Thats really interesting about the boots the slight pressure must have made him feel better.

 

[Michen]

Thanks everyone! I’m sure it was the boots that were helping but I’m definitely going to play around and see.

He started equiox yesterday, it’s a bit like a mild bute I guess. And these nerve pain relief tablets (they are $300 a month, sigh). It’ll be interesting to mess around with the boots and I really hope it’s them that made a difference as I don’t feel good about him being on long term pain relief, or that he needs it, if that makes sense.

It’s all a big puzzle but his reaction was just so strange, the releases I get but the licking was the weirdest thing from Bog, never in 7 years!

I remain on the roller coaster I guess, now combined with 2-4am wake ups

 

[nutjob]

My physio recommended this

ProSix EQUINE - Rehabilitate, Recondition, Reconnect Your Horse

Elastic resistance bands that reconnect your horse to improve balance and movement, coordinate gait fore to hind, build muscle and strength. Call to learn more!

www.eagleprosix.com

which claims to do all sorts of amazing things for proprioception. I put it on my horse to travel to the vet as I was worried he would lose his balance in the trailer and panic and wanted to give him the best chance of arriving in one piece. I can't say if it's any good or not as I doubt my horse's vertebral instability can be helped by anything other than surgery. Yours appears to be responding positively to rehab though.

 

[Michen]

My physio recommended this

ProSix EQUINE - Rehabilitate, Recondition, Reconnect Your Horse

Elastic resistance bands that reconnect your horse to improve balance and movement, coordinate gait fore to hind, build muscle and strength. Call to learn more!

www.eagleprosix.com

which claims to do all sorts of amazing things for proprioception. I put it on my horse to travel to the vet as I was worried he would lose his balance in the trailer and panic and wanted to give him the best chance of arriving in one piece. I can't say if it's any good or not as I doubt my horse's vertebral instability can be helped by anything other than surgery. Yours appears to be responding positively to rehab though.

I have one! I wasn’t sure if it was fitting right so need to get some feedback from them. Thank you!!

 

[ROMANY 1959]

It sounds a bit like frozen shoulder - I had this last year and the sudden pain when I moved into certain positions was utterly excruciating but relatively short-lived (it was that awful nerve-type pain, like banging your elbow multiplied by a thousand). But once it freed up I’d be fine - and it’s now gone away completely. I hope Bog continues to enjoy life.

Oh I got a frozen shoulder, even injections not helped. I’ve bought a shoulder brace and I sit at night with a heated shoulder pad on. I get by on ibuprofen now and heat rubs.

 

[Michen]

Does anyone have the equilibrium heat pad mitt thing for their horses? Another thing I was thinking of wasting some money on for Bog.

ETA I just bought him the massage pad and mitt combo, he better enjoy it it’s his birthday soon, after all.

 

[SEL]

Does anyone have the equilibrium heat pad mitt thing for their horses? Another thing I was thinking of wasting some money on for Bog.

ETA I just bought him the massage pad and mitt combo, he better enjoy it it’s his birthday soon, after all.

I have an old style equilibrium massage pad and my pony with kissing spine loves it. She's only 13h so it covers quite a lot of her back including the bit just behind T18 which is bad - she drops her head and snoozes with it on.

The horse I actually bought it for isn't overly bothered but I will chuck it on if she is looking a bit stiff and it does help.

My physio recommended this

ProSix EQUINE - Rehabilitate, Recondition, Reconnect Your Horse

Elastic resistance bands that reconnect your horse to improve balance and movement, coordinate gait fore to hind, build muscle and strength. Call to learn more!

www.eagleprosix.com

which claims to do all sorts of amazing things for proprioception. I put it on my horse to travel to the vet as I was worried he would lose his balance in the trailer and panic and wanted to give him the best chance of arriving in one piece. I can't say if it's any good or not as I doubt my horse's vertebral instability can be helped by anything other than surgery. Yours appears to be responding positively to rehab though.

Similar to the TTouch wraps but I prefer those because you can adjust depending on how the horse is responding. If Boggle has responded well to a boot then with TTouch you can wind bandages down the legs which also helps proprioception. (not tight I hasten to add before someone jumps in re: bandages and heating tendons up)

I am going to keep nagging about TTouch by the way!

 

[Michen]

I have an old style equilibrium massage pad and my pony with kissing spine loves it. She's only 13h so it covers quite a lot of her back including the bit just behind T18 which is bad - she drops her head and snoozes with it on.

The horse I actually bought it for isn't overly bothered but I will chuck it on if she is looking a bit stiff and it does help.



Similar to the TTouch wraps but I prefer those because you can adjust depending on how the horse is responding. If Boggle has responded well to a boot then with TTouch you can wind bandages down the legs which also helps proprioception. (not tight I hasten to add before someone jumps in re: bandages and heating tendons up)

I am going to keep nagging about TTouch by the way!

I’m on it!! Reached out to three people fairly local. Hopefully one will come out! And i really appreciate you kicking me into gear over it.

Thank you I’ve got my mojo back with it all, just did the same again this morning and he was foot perfect.

I am not thinking I’m rehabbing for ridden work but I really want to keep his body well. I don’t want him to waste away and become an old horse. And he’s trying so hard, and so keen, so whilst he’s up for it I will try and remain so too. He’s cheerful and engaged as ever. I wish I was as tough spirited as that horse.

I bloody hope he likes the massage pad and mitt, it wasn’t cheap! Anything that relaxes and stimulates a bit has to be a good thing.

 

[SEL]

I’m on it!! Reached out to three people fairly local. Hopefully one will come out! And i really appreciate you kicking me into gear over it.

Thank you I’ve got my mojo back with it all, just did the same again this morning and he was foot perfect.

I am not thinking I’m rehabbing for ridden work but I really want to keep his body well. I don’t want him to waste away and become an old horse. And he’s trying so hard, and so keen, so whilst he’s up for it I will try and remain so too. He’s cheerful and engaged as ever. I wish I was as tough spirited as that horse.

I bloody hope he likes the massage pad and mitt, it wasn’t cheap! Anything that relaxes and stimulates a bit has to be a good thing.

I still do rehab with my Appy and I haven't had a saddle on her in 3 years I miss riding her but she just was unhappy with the weight of a rider and that wasn't fun for either of us. She's actually a lot of fun to work with now we've agreed my feet will stay on the floor. She's also very tolerant of me practising bodywork on her even if I can't put wraps on properly or stick k-tape on

 

[Michen]

I can understand that. I just get so much pleasure simply being around him. I’d never ride a horse again if he could just stick around for another 20 years! Our partnership at the moment has never been stronger.

I hope you have many years with yours

I still do rehab with my Appy and I haven't had a saddle on her in 3 years I miss riding her but she just was unhappy with the weight of a rider and that wasn't fun for either of us. She's actually a lot of fun to work with now we've agreed my feet will stay on the floor. She's also very tolerant of me practising bodywork on her even if I can't put wraps on properly or stick k-tape on

 

[Tarragon]

At this rate, you could switch jobs and specialise in looking after re-hab horses ;-)

 

[Michen]

At this rate, you could switch jobs and specialise in looking after re-hab horses ;-)

In a dream world if I could do anything I would actually really love to do that, with top notch facilities! So rewarding.

Sadly I’m owned by my company for at least 8 years for my status in this country and I’m not going back to the Uk unless I’m made to

 

[FlyingCircus]

At this rate, you could switch jobs and specialise in looking after re-hab horses ;-)

Also I'm not sure horse rehab would fund Bog's love affair with the vets

 

[I'm Dun]

I may be completely wrong here. Its just a thought. Is it possible that the episode with his neck the other day may have " Unlocked" something? Maybe freed up something that was catching.... Have no idea really but maybe that is why he has improved?
I hope the improvement continues what ever is causing it.

It does sound a bit like that. I'd want the best osteo I could find to go over him with a fine tooth comb. I'm slightly biased as I'd be in a wheelchair due to spinal impingement if it wasnt for a very gifted osteo, and I had Tom Beech and Rob Jackson fix one of mine who was written off. It might not magically fix him, but for the cost its worth a try. I'd want the Tom Beech equivalent though, not just a good normal practioner.

 

[SO1]

Just catching up on your news. So glad he is still with you. You are doing a super job with caring for him and I hope you have many more years together.

 

[Michen]

I’d be really worried about an Osteo or chiro moving something or doing something that could make it worse though?

 

[druid]

I’d be really worried about an Osteo or chiro moving something or doing something that could make it worse though?

I wouldn't let a chiro touch me or my animals with someone else's ten foot barge pool. Look up vertebreal artery dissection due to chiropractic manipulation for just a small tip of the iceberg why.

 

[Parrotperson]

Thanks @Trouper that’s really interesting

 

[Pinkvboots]

I wouldn't let a chiro touch me or my animals with someone else's ten foot barge pool. Look up vertebreal artery dissection due to chiropractic manipulation for just a small tip of the iceberg why.

I'm not keen either I always use a physio or a sports massage therapist on my horses.

 

[nutjob]

I’d be really worried about an Osteo or chiro moving something or doing something that could make it worse though?

I'd be worried about the safety of people also. I have a bulging disc which is normally pain free but occasionally touches a nerve if I bend in a certain way to pick something up, it's then excruciating, the pain just suddenly stabs you. At one point I have dropped to the floor and had to lie on the concrete with coats put on me while waiting for painkillers to kick in so I can crawl back to the house. I can understand why my horse panicked like he did if he felt something similar.

I don't have the physio do anything with mine now as I can't predict what might set him off and I don't want someone to get hurt. If you want to go ahead perhaps you could get a vet opinion based on the xrays as to likelihood of positive / negative outcome or if it's something that should be done under sedation?

 

[Michen]

One of his vets is also a chiro but tbh I’ve never had a chiro or Osteo and I just feel very wary about it..

Also Druid.. a friend of a friend here had that happen to her. Terrifying.

I would prefer a good physio but they don’t exist here so I’m hoping the T touch therapists get back to me!

 

[Michen]

.

 

[Denali]

@Michen I think you need to change your thinking. Stop focusing on him being your riding horse and focus more on him being your partner in crime.

Through this saga he strikes me as a horse that likes to be entertained. Sometimes that doesn’t include riding.

Long ago I had one like him and he was and still is my favorite. Through various health issues I only got to ride him for 6 years. But he brought joy for 16.

It’s so hard to let the riding part go. To let the structured all the time go.

 

[Michen]

Denali, I am not thinking of him as my riding horse as I made very clear in multiple recent posts. He is first and foremost my best friend, I would do anything to have 20 more years with him as just that.

 

[Denali]

Denali, I am not thinking of him as my riding horse as I made very clear in multiple recent posts. He is first and foremost my best friend, I would do anything to have 20 more years with him as just that.

I’m sorry if I got it all wrong. Really. I caught up from the long lining time. Anyway, he will be like my old man I think. You won’t lose him. I know it seems dire when they aren’t the same but his normal is kicking the pig out and fooling around in turnout.

In your shoes I’d be worried, but as an outsider who has had a horse like this, you’ll get those years.

 

[Michen]

Thank you, sorry if I seem snappy- I am just on a huge emotional rollercoaster at the moment and I’m utterly terrified of losing him, and I have this horrible, horrible feeling about it. I think because it’s nearly the date that I lost another horse 7 years ago.

Just very up and down, overwhelmed and not feeling like I am going to cope mentally when it happens.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I read your post before you removed it, so I won't go into details, but I do feel as though some of those thoughts or feelings are linked to PTSD. Which is quite normal given everything you've been through. When stuff like that enters my mind I try to remind myself that it's my body/brain response to trauma/stress and may not be how it is or how things will actually play out.

I am by nature a "focus on the worst case scenario" type, which doesn't do me many favors

Living in the past can be depressing, but living in the future can cause anxiety, so try to live in the now with the Boggle that you have now. I know that you cherish every moment with him

 

[Denali]

Thank you, sorry if I seem snappy- I am just on a huge emotional rollercoaster at the moment and I’m utterly terrified of losing him, and I have this horrible, horrible feeling about it. I think because it’s nearly the date that I lost another horse 7 years ago.

Just very up and down, overwhelmed and not feeling like I am going to cope mentally when it happens.

I’m sending you big hugs from California. He seems to be thriving despite all.

Don’t think about “when it happens.” Live in the now. I know that is easier said than done. I really hope after bogs and the diving you are keeping on with the therapy.

If not I get that whole PTSD thing and I spend 15 hours a week working through it. I’m happy to share the documents I get with a blurb about the gist.

 

[Michen]

I read your post before you removed it, so I won't go into details, but I do feel as though some of those thoughts or feelings are linked to PTSD. Which is quite normal given everything you've been through. When stuff like that enters my mind I try to remind myself that it's my body/brain response to trauma/stress and may not be how it is or how things will actually play out.

I am by nature a "focus on the worst case scenario" type, which doesn't do me many favors

Living in the past can be depressing, but living in the future can cause anxiety, so try to live in the now with the Boggle that you have now. I know that you cherish every moment with him

I figured it just seemed too pathetic to post, really! And, whilst you guys are so supportive it must be kind of exhausting and boring to read my rollercoaster of things are great, things are terrible, things are great. I think you may be right. I had therapy session earlier this week, EMDR for the shark attack, and instead spent the whole hour sobbing about Boggle, it was the day after the "scare".

I guess I'm not quite as fixed as maybe I thought! I also think I need a good nights sleep which I haven't had all week, I'm going to go dig out those sleeping meds.