Gruesome day in A&E and what to do with the cob?

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Bojingles

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Well, I've really gone and done it now. As I've posted a bit recently, I've been laid up with labyrinthitis and haven't been able to do much with my girl, the comedy cob, beyond general maintenance, hugs and a bit of lungeing.

I moved her out of her flooded paddock into the next-door one a few days ago and since then, on all that lovely virgin grass, she's been a bit fresh, to put it mildly.

I brought her in today and was giving her a good brush when she suddenly swung her quarters round and landed - bam - on my foot. Why is it you can never just calmly say "over" but instead shriek like an eejit? Or is that just me?

So I thought bug**r that hurts, and it really did, but I supposed it would stop, as you do, but it didn't. Anyway, long story short, when I eventually eased my boot off, my sock was sodden with blood. So I heaved a little bit and thought crikey, I need to get that sock off. So I did, and with it came my ENTIRE big toe nail, along with a lot of blood, to reveal a totally mashed toe :(

SO.. I spent all morning in A&E and x-ray, then in the afternoon they whipped out their secret weapon, the plastics doc, who spent a couple of hours merrily torturing me and insisting it didn't hurt (it DID). After 4 jabs of local, he stitched up my nail bed and then, much to my astonishment, kind of stuck on my nail which my friend, somewhat inexplicably, had brought in a bag! It'll act as a dressing, he said. Then bandaged the whole lot up and sent me whizzing down the corridor on a wheelie that looked like it had served in the War.

So, my moral is, don't go anywhere near a horse without steel toe-caps, EVER!!

Meanwhile, I'm stymied as to what to do with the comedy cob. Brief history, I bought her last Dec, a couple of months later discovered she was in foal, but very sadly lost the foal in June.

I gave her a few weeks off and then slowly brought her back into work but discovered she's not the plod I bought, understandably, and is actually very forward and full of beans. A neighbour's been helping me school her but since the labyrinthitis that's tailed off a bit. She's 5 and just starting to "find herself" as a friend put it today ;)

So, even before the mashed foot, I was starting to feel that trying to work her occasionally when running on empty was on a hiding to nothing, and now obviously I can't do anything. I've decided that my best plan at this point will be to turn her away for winter (we have a lovely wintering-out field), rugged and Field-Pasted up and just start again with a clean slate and some professional help next year. What are your opinions? Do you think this would be a sensible idea at her age/stage of development? Her history is such that she's done very little; has a smashing temperament but just seems to be learning she can throw her weight around, especially when her handler can barely stand up straight ;). It's really either that or try and loan her out but I think that would be courting disaster.

Phew, sorry that was so long! Glad to have got it off me chest and would appreciate any opinions :)
 
Turn her away, forget the rugs, will she have a friend?
My son had his fingernail stuck back on once, it worked a treat. Hope it doesn't hurt too much.
 
I think most horses will go through the "testing" phase. Where they will see what they can get away with. Personally I don't think it will do any harm to turn her away for the winter and start work with her again in the spring. Hope your toe is better soon! :)
 
Firstly, congratulations on the well written post. :p Sorry to hear about the toe though... the older I get the wussier about things like that I become. I would've been heaving too! The last time a ned trod on my foot was when I'd had the genius idea of feeding them in flip flops. Luckily for me it was only the shetland that trod on me and no major damage done! Lesson learned.

I'd also turn her away I think. She can have a good winter with her chums and come back into work a little more mature. :-)

Hope the toe heals up fast. I think I heard that chocolate is great for mending toes...
 
I've done that! Years ago - I was in a bit of a rush, ancient little pony I was looking after - picked up front hoof - picked out - rushed to back hoof "hup", unfortunately ancient pony obviously had altzeimers as he had forgotten to put down front hoof - he jabbed the point of the back hoof down right on my big toe and yes I though owwww that hurt, turned out pony, home in car with dad, took off trainer (yes I know unsuitable footwear!) and loads on blood - dad gently peeled off sock and hey presto off came nail too. A&E actually told me it was good that it came off as they would had had to remove it for me anyway! Toe was not mashed though!

Get well soon!!!!!
 
I agree with the turning away bit but when you're up to it you can still do some in-hand work. Suggest you find a knowledgable/experienced person to help ypu re-start he next yeat. Good luck (am feeling your toe pain)!
 
I would also turn her away and get some prof help next spring.

Your toe must have been extremely painful.
Spend the winter taking care of yourself and get well soon.

Labyrithitis is absolutely hideous as well.

Poor you.

*hands over slice of yummy homemade chocolate cake*
 
Thanks for your replies everyone, much appreciated :). I'm glad the turning away idea isn't too harebrained. I was thinking a bit more, I could put the money saved on shavings/shoes etc towards prof. help restarting her in spring. That's a relief, and a big weight of my mind.

Thanks too for the toe-pain sympathy!! I'm a walking (well, hobbling) disaster. I think I should turn myself away for the winter too.

I probably shouldn't but a combination of solpadeine and sauvignon is taking the edge off ;)
 
I also agree with turning away but am actually posting to horrify you with this news - I lost my big toenails a few years ago (non horse related, in fact caused entirely by my own vanity in buying too small hiking boots :o ) they grew back but have never been the same - they fall off again as soon as you stub a toe :(
Welcome to the select world of bald toes x (hope you not hurting too much :D )
 
Just a thought/suggestion: maybe there's a local equestrian college fairly near to you who'd take her on?

Yes, I know people on here will probably wail with horror as she's only 5, BUT its just an option I'm suggesting for your situation.

Equestrian colleges (and the staff) would no doubt have some of the more advanced students who'd be able to work on her, school her and bring her on a bit - and would probably be glad to have a horse that wasn't "run of the mill", and it would do you a favour as she'd get the work she needs plus she'd be brilliantly schooled and you wouldn't have to keep her for the winter and have all the bother (tho' you'd have to arrange to either bring her home for the hols OR keep her there).

Anyway, just a thought.
 
I feel your pain, my 2 year old Welsh D leapt on my feet in excitement at his first show.

It hurt a fair bit but I ignored it til I got home where I realised I could barely walk...took socks off to find both big toes and second toe on one foot were completely black - I will lose all 3 nails :( at the moment they are like wobbly teeth just hanging on by a thread!
This happened almost 2 weeks ago and still the only shoes I can wear are flipflops

Kim
 
when I had labyrinthitis, all I could do was spin and vomit, and then fall over :eek: In the pub I worked in, in fact, Went down well. not.

So you must take the easy way out and do what is best for you - it it a horrific virus, but I got over it, albeit hubs having to sorts the horse for weeks.

Hope you feel better soon - rest is the key xxx
 
Ouch!

Hope it heals quickly and well m'duck :)

Turn away sounds like a good idea, along with some in-hand work when you have some prof help (and can stand up!).

Gentle hugs and a large hot choccy (other drinks are available :cool:).
 
I have a 5 yr old cob and he can be a bargy bum swinging little *****e bag due to his lack of disapline by his previous owner, so would say as your not feeling well chuck her out in a field and let her do her thing.

Just out if interest how is she with the other horses, does she act immature with them ?

Had to google labyrinthitis , was thinking poor women has been stuck in a labyrinth how did she get food and water ....... :eek:
 
Ouch. I had a similar foot incident lately involving a fatty cob so I feel you pain. No reasdon at all not to chuck her out for the winter bond with some ground work (or none) and see what she thinks of it all next Spring x
 
Owie. Feel sick even hearing about it - poor you. I think giving her the winter off might be a good idea. It also gives you time to get yourself sorted.

I think Labyrinthitis is one of those things like the migraines I get - not caused by stress but requires you to learn to pace yourself a little. Remember first right on the chronic illness bill of rights

I have the right to do less than humanly possible. ;)

Paula
 
This happened to me when I was about 12, my cow of a horse (she really was evil) stood on me and I swear she made sure she ground into my toe as hard as she could. My wellie was full of blood and big toe nail was hanging by thread. I remember having a big toe bandage, and no toe nail for a while. It grew back normally eventually.
 
OK, here goes, gippy pictures... I really hope they don't come out too big!!

This is what I saw when I took my boot off..

IMG314.jpg


Then here's my nail when I took my sock off...

IMG315-1.jpg


Then here's the mashed gammy toe...

IMG316.jpg


Thanks everyone for your replies, I'm going to read them properly and reply!
 
Thanks again everyone, you've cheered me up :)

Kind of glad/sorry to hear I'm not the only trashed foot HHOer, thanks all for the sympathy, but I never thought I'd see the day when I joined the world of bald toes! ;)

MiJods, Reaseheath is just down the road from me; hadn't thought of that, thanks.

Shysmum, did you feel rough for ages with the L word? I'm completely clapped out. Had blood test results yesterday; everything ok, even liver function :eek:, except low white blood cells. It's bloody awful.

Wallykissmas, she's completely indifferent to other horses - everyone comments on it. She doesn't seek out their company at all, doesn't socialise, just prefers pondering the universe under her tree and looking a bit gormless. I've watched her for hours - she's not submissive or aggressive, she just seems to prefer people, her own company and food. She'll wobble her lip in ecstasy for hours if I give her a good old scratch but never gets involved with grooming other horses. The only time I've seen her react at all was when she was turned out alone with a young gelding. She almost immediately came into season - it was all a bit soft-porn, blimmin' gym-slip mum (she's had two foals).

Paulag, I'm loving your rights :). I have discovered that pacing is the only way to get anything done without suffering for 48 hours after.

Thanks again all.
 
At least you weren't as much of an eejit as I was the time I was badly stomped on.

I was 18 and a little bit dumb and thought it would be fun to teach my horse how to go down on one knee. The way this is often trained is you hold up a front leg with one rope and use another rope to pull the horse's head around to the opposite side and this will slowly bring them to the ground. This is why in movies, whenever a horse falls over for whatever reason, you'll see the rider bring its head around to the side in the split second before it goes down. Anyway, in my ingenuity, I decided not to use a rope to hold up the front leg, instead just holding it up myself, as you would if you were cleaning the foot, and pull her head around with the leadrope slung over her back. So there I was, kind of below her shoulder, hunched over, holding a front leg. I commenced with the plan and the horse, finding herself being pulled off balance, hopped around a bit. And hopped onto my foot. Ouch! Hurt like a mother. I thought it might be broken, but healthcare being what it is in the States, I decided to wait and see rather than deal with the morass of insurance and thought within a week, it would get better, get worse, or stay the same, and I would act accordingly. It got better, so scraped out of that one.

In retrospect, it was one of those things that fits into the category: "if it seems like a bad idea, it probably is." Don't try it at home, kids.
 
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Eeek, how brave are you !! The toenail in the bag did make me giggle though:D

Im just waiting to see if I loose my thumb nail after slamming it into the car door couple of days ago. It is very black. That hurt so much I tried to walk off the pain and ignore the beads of sweat on my forehead. Next thing I was sitting in a chair with my OH supporting me, having passed out cold. Always thought I was pretty tough and not the faint hearted type.
 
my 5 year old gypsy cob has just been through that pushy bargy no manners phase. people look at him and think "oh what a lovely plod" they coundt be more wrong - he`s very forward going and light footed and turns out a wow dressage test. I agree with the others for you - turn her away for winter unrugged as much as possible and restart next year.
ps. your foot will mend lol.
 
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