Honey's trip to Willesley today

[debradley]

Well we're home. Honey has been diagnosed with quite severe Kissing Spine and has been booked in for surgery; we go back on the 4th June for D:day. For those who have been through it you'll understand when I say she is having T14, T16 and T18 removed and her ligament running across the top of the spine is only about 2mm thick across this section so there has been a lot of degeneration. Svend found a small nodule/bone growth on the bottom of T14 which nothing can be done about, but is not too concerned as he feels it maybe Honey's spine's way of trying to bridge the injury and is hoping that when he sorts her back out it will not progress further. He did say he's not too concerned and she has the cleaness pair of hocks he's seen in a long time. I would just like to thank everyone on here for their support and in recommending Svend; I am just so pleased that Honey is going to be ok again even if it does take a year to get her back on track. I can't say when I've met a nicer bunch of people down at Willesley, they were just so kind and patient, and Svend just leaves you feeling so positive about the whole thing. I'll keep you posted on the operation.

 

[Caritas]

Hi there again
I am sorry to hear that your horse has been diagnosed with Kissing spines but as I have said before, its really not the end of the world. A horse at my yard has had four removed and is fine, my horse has had 2 removed and is fine so there is nothing but hope for you. Thanks for keeping us informed, good luck and do keep us posted. Do remember to keep to your strict regime after the op as this is a really important part of the healing process.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Im so sorry, I must have missed your post.

Sven Colt is supposed to be the best orthopaedic vet surgeon in Europe. I have been to Willersley and they are a fantastic team. Honey is with the best there is. Lots of vibes coming your way and to Honey.

Please let us know how it goes.

 

[debradley]

Thanks folks. I have to agree, I really think Honey is in the best hands now; and if Svend can't help her no-one will; but as I say he is really positive that he can get her back to how she was before. I'm lucky because although I only have her liveried on a local farm at the moment with just fields and stables, and the people are so good I wouldn't chose anywhere else; I do have a racing yard just up the road who have horse walkers and full facilities, so I know that if I need to hire facilities for her I have them very close to hand; and they are a great bunch of people up there who I've always found to be really helpful. I was just saying to my partner that I must take some before and after photos so that I can see her progress. As soon as I've done this and figured out how to post them on here you'll be able to have a dukie. I'll keep you posted. I really don't feel quite so petrified any more, and although Honey was only there for about four hours today, I've never seen a horse so happy to get back on a trailer and come home; so god knows what she'll be like after the op (a big baby, I think!!).

 

[PuddingandElla]

Have to agree on the Willesley team. They are great. They are my vets and they managed to mend my pony who had stomach ulcers
Good luck with Honey - she is with the best team!

 

[debradley]

Well here goes, if I've got this right you will finally get to meet the beast. It will be interesting to see how she progresses after her operation. After her trip to Willesley yesterday she is sporting a rather fetching go faster stripe down her spine which graduates to a lovely tear drop shape to the rump. I'm sure her hair style will be even more artistic once she has the operation!!

 

[Caritas]

Ow, she looks lovely, I do wish you the best of luck. My pictures in my sig are my horse a few weeks ago!! He had two removed!!

 

[BethH]

Ryan is now 1 year on from his op and we are just entering him for pre-lim and Novice dressage this summer. He was pretty much re-backed after his op and has only now learnt to use his back end properly as it was impossible for him before, he has been back in ridden work for 9-10 months and although we still have loads of work to do with him he is improving every week still and now copes with being ridden 5 or 6 days a week. He had 3 bones taken out by Svend and when I left him at Willersley I was amazed at how happy I felt, I thought I'd be in pieces but I just felt he was safe there.

They will look after Honey really well and you will be welcome to visit whenever you want - I saw Ryan stuffing his face with hay 3 hours after he was out of recovery - he looked amazing, they are good at getting the pain relief right which really helps post op.

You will have bad days and backward steps, but when you have those, just remember the forward ones are so fantastic you mustn't be disheartened, it is a long old road but you are well on the way and I wish you and honey the best of luck. As Caritas says, the post op rehab work is the most important bit of all of this, I year on I am grinning from ear to ear every time I ride Ryan, it was all so worth going through and I have my beautiful gentle little horse back . We have everything crossed for you.

 

[debradley]

Can I ask; after the op I know Honey will have to be re-backed as she now has such a fear of anything going near her back at all; even hands. Did you seek professional help with this? I have a very good instructor who I know will help me if you think I may need it. Also did you have to have a physio out much afterwards to help with the recovery or is it all down to the rehab work which I know is very intensive; and which I am prepared for?

 

[BethH]

Hi am happy for you to pm me and can give you my tel no if you want to chat about post op stuff.

I personally felt Ryan had been through so much that I didn't want to send him away. He had been through so much pain and had such a rotten time and I felt he trusted me most and so would try his hardest for me and would feel safest at home - clearly I am a complete novice but I am glad I trusted my gut instinct with this. I know others who have sent their neds away to trusted trainers with good results, I would just worry about them pushing too hard too fast as I think mentally the horses have a lot to deal with as well as physically.

I found a fab instructor to give me lessons who was very good with behavioural issues (Ryan had accumulated quite a few of these) and excellent at ground work training - I chose long reins rather than lunging as I feel it is more balanced and makes them feel less claustrophobic - Ryan was very unsettled in the pessoa and I didn't want to chance the bucking and rearing which he did when I tried it pre-op, he didn't seem to like it being fixed round his bum, the long reins you are in charge of the contact which I preferred. I had the odd setback, like him tripping over the ground poles and landing on them so when you introduce them be a little careful how you go, typical Ryan, he landed on them and jarred his back 6 weeks in, just before I was due to get back on and that set us back a few weeks.

I have a great physio, (I used to have a fab chiropractor but was told the clicking would be a bad idea for him) who is an oesteopath/physio and she also does really thorough sports massage to keep him loose. Once I started the ground work I had him checked every couple of weeks to start with, then monthly and now I just get her to check him every 3-4 months so I can make sure he isn't sore. I will always and have always had his back checked at least twice a year just to be safe.

I also fed a small handful of dried marigold in each feed at it is good for soft tissue healing and seems to help take the stiffness away. I stopped this after 6 months, it seemed to really help Ryan but it is a personal thing.

Overall I would say do a little each day, use your instructor to the full (alternative views like intelligent horsemanship have helped Ryan a great deal) get a good physio to check honey regularly and you can't do much more for her than that. Take your time and don't go too fast, it is better to take longer to get a better long term result. I have taken it far more slowly than most other people but touch wood Ryan has stayed very sound and I can't believe he is still improving.

 

[Caritas]

Here, here, if you would like to talk atall, please feel free to pm me with your number and ill give you a call. Best of luck.

 

[debradley]

Thanks folks; I'd really appreciate being able to call you for back up (no pun intended!!). BethH, I have done some natural horsemanship which I do agree has helped Honey tremendously, it's also helped her to build up trust in me. I have a very good instructor, so when it comes time to get back on board, like you I think I'll go with my instinct and do it myself with my instructor, even though I don't bounce anymore when I come off!! I'll contact my physio and let him know what's happening so as he can be ready to help if needed. I'm going to use the pessoa method with Honey as she is petrified about anything that even goes near or below her hocks. (Previous owners thought it would be a good idea to have a sheep-dog round her up at night with all the other horses and then because she didn't need to come it rounded her back out as well) so I can understand were her fear comes from and it's just something we both live with (she doesn't have the greatest respect for dogs either now). She doesn't seem to object too much to the pessoa and infact seems to like the being wrapped up feeling, so that encourages me. I'll drop you both a pm with my number and thankyou.

 

[BethH]

Sounds like you are all equipped and ready to go then, it is brilliant you have a good team of people you trust that can help and support you along the way, it does really help, I feel that Ryan owes his life to everyone of them and it sounds as though you know your horse very well ands what works for her so stick with that, they are all different but they come through it with some time and empathy - let us know the op date so we can keep in touch.

 

[debradley]

Honey goes back to Willesley on Monday 4 June; given that pre-op's are ok the actual operation will be done on Tuesday 5th then back home on Wednesday.

 

[BethH]

Well everything crossed for the 5th. Are you sure she comes home the following day as Ryan had to stay there for a 10 days after the op so they could check him for a few days to make sure all ok. They said 5-7 days but we extended it a few days as it was such a long journey (to kent 4.5 hours!) Svend wanted him to be a bit less sore before he travelled. Hope it all goes well am sure you will be surprised at how well she copes. Best of luck for the week after next.

 

[debradley]

Hi, well I'd presumed so as Svend said that she would only be there for 48 hours, but I suppose it will depend on how well she recovers after op. I'm very lukcy as we're only in the next county so only have about a 90 mile journey; although I should imagine this will be painfully slow on the return journey with lots of stops to check on her.