Kali's recovery diary (I hope)

Diddleydoo said:
That is very good news, I'm so glad to hear it's all treatable and that box rest is not necessary. Better for both of you :). You've every right to be cautiously optimistic it's always scary starting a recovery and return to work program. (I do at least one a year :rolleyes:)

Will he have the lovely Roger for company in his nice new field?

PS No, you don't need kidneys they are over rated ;). However, demand is currently low. I've failed to shift one of mine since HRH's last demand for veterinary attention :mad: :p
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Thank you . . . um, no, Rog will not be able to handle all that grass (would hate to see him get laminitis) so will go back in with the in-foal mare and the blind mare to resume his caretaking duties with them. I separated the dynamic duo early this afternoon - they will be reunited when Kal goes back in his regular field in a couple of months.

I spent this morning taking down the electric fending in his field (the tape has to go back on the reel - I don't "do" scrunching it up in a sack - so it took ages) and then walking the fence line in his rehab field and replacing some of the poles along the electric fence line between him and the girls. The battery is on charge overnight and I'll set it up tomorrow and then he can go out in a grass haven (will take pictures - it is seriously lush - he will LOVE it - plus lots of herbs/different types of forage - proper old grazing). There's no water trough, so I'll have to tote a water container up every morning, but it's a small price to pay!

P
 
Oh, and I am LOVING not mucking out twice a day or having to deal with "box rest poos" . . . and having a much more chilled out boy (he fell asleep while I cold hosed his leg this afternoon).

I am just a tad (well, more than a tad) worried about him not sproinging too much when in the field . . . he is a naturally playful and exuberant horse. I have cut his feed right down - all he's getting is (un-molassed) chaff as a carrier for the bute and his supplements and ad lib hay - but he can still have Tigger tendencies and I'm pretty sure they won't help the healing!

P
 
Last thing . . . a funny . . . after I had taken the fence down in their field, little Rog displayed his enormous pleasure by doing laps while Kal, the trotters, Frey and the two mares (blind Queenie and pregnant Peggy) all looked at him bemused . . . he looked so cute - little floofy shetland mane and tail streaming . . . I've never seen him move that fast! Bless him. I did have my phone on me, but he was too far away to film.

P
 
That all sounds pretty positive!

Possibly a numpty question: might he be less inclined for sproinging if he had less painkillers? Sometimes, pain is there for a reason...
 
spookypony said:
That all sounds pretty positive!

Possibly a numpty question: might he be less inclined for sproinging if he had less painkillers? Sometimes, pain is there for a reason...
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He's on the bute for the anti-inflammatory properties, not for pain relief . . . I'd love for him to be able to "feel" it so that he is less inclined to sproing, but that ligament needs the inflammation taken out of it somehow.

P
 
amandap said:
I am so glad to read your vet's advice and that he is much calmer. Spookypony makes a good point.
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NOT calmer - we had an awful day today. Will do a full update shortly. In the meantime, I tried to PM you to say the package had arrived but your inbox is full . . . so THANK YOU!

P
 
Kali is an idiot and I am tearing my hair out :(

So I spent all morning yesterday sorting out the fencing, the battery charged overnight, I took up water . . . we were all set. This morning I put him on the walker for a little while to take the edge off, hosed his leg, gave him his breakfast, covered him in fly spray, rugged him up (because it was supposed to rain) and took him up to his new field. He was a little snorty going up there, but nothing major. Made a bee line for all that lovely grass and I thought "great - that went well!" Fifi decided having a BOY next door was just too exciting for words and had a little hooley - Kal thought he'd join in but really only did a rather sedate trot - for about 90 seconds - and then put his head down again and ate.

I left him to it - went to finish mucking out - and about an hour later, fellow livery shouted that he was running around. Someone one was moving the stallion from the top field RIGHT PAST KAL'S NEW FIELD!!!! I observed for about five minutes and he wasn't galloping, but he was having a trot round . . . no sliding to a stop, nothing horrific. I thought I'd leave him to it to give him a chance to settle down again and by the time I left, he had calmed down.

Went back up early afternoon (wasn't going to leave him out too long on all that lovely grass) to see him cantering up and down the fence line . . . went up to the field and he was so sweaty that it was running down his legs. Clipped on the leadrope, whipped his rugs off and took a look at the state of the field . . . massive track along the fence line and ground churned up by the gate where he had been cantering/stopping. Sigh :(.

I brought him in, had to give him a wash because he was sooooooo sweaty, popped him on the walker just for ten minutes (it calms him down), cold-hosed his leg, hibiscrubbed a cut on his leg (managed to knock himself despite wearing brushing boots), bandaged him behind, rugged him up and put him away - and then had a little cry.

YO was out all day so hadn't noticed and this field is out of sight of the main house.

Vet is coming out tomorrow to do the first shock wave treatment - I will talk to him about how we deal with this . . . is he better off in? If he does go out, is there something I can give him to take the edge off/make being out less exciting?

I can't put Rog out in the field with him - waaaaay too much grass for him. My only option is the blind mare - but her owner can be a little funny. Too much grass for Frey (and I don't trust her as far as I can throw her). Too much grass for the two mini shetties. I don't trust the two trotter boys - they are VERY playful.

P
 
Anyone used ACP tablets? They still legal? Can I use them long term? What side effects do they have? I will obviously talk to my vet about this tomorrow, thought I'd pick your brains too.

Seriously frustrated by today :(.

P
 
Ah good. I've deleted some messages.

Oh bummer! Looks like stabling might have to be the option unless he's settled in his normal field and vet agrees.
 
amandap said:
Ah good. I've deleted some messages.

Oh bummer! Looks like stabling might have to be the option unless he's settled in his normal field and vet agrees.
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It's looking that way. Thing is, gentle movement (strolling around the field grazing) is better for the arthritis in his hocks and his navicular . . . but try telling him that! I'm hoping today was a one-off and that if we give him something to calm him, he can just go out and munch . . . if not, he will be confined to barracks for the next two months - which is not something I want tbh, but neither do I want him hurting himself/setting his recovery back.

Why didn't I buy a donkey again?

P
 
You know, I'd happily spend a couple of hours in the field with him reading a book and keeping him company if I thought it would help . . . or attach him to a lunge line and basically tether him (to me) . . . from past experience, if he's clipped on to something/someone or has company he will graze . . . I think he's just not liking being alone. Perhaps I'll see if I can borrow the blind mare AND spend some time in the field with him (AND give him something like ACP to take the edge off) and see if that works?

P
 
PolarSkye said:
You know, I'd happily spend a couple of hours in the field with him reading a book and keeping him company if I thought it would help . . . or attach him to a lunge line and basically tether him (to me) . . . from past experience, if he's clipped on to something/someone or has company he will graze . . . I think he's just not liking being alone. Perhaps I'll see if I can borrow the blind mare AND spend some time in the field with him (AND give him something like ACP to take the edge off) and see if that works?
P
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Sounds a good plan! I think putting him on horse walker continuously to take edge off will just maintain his fitness and you're better to let that go so he doesn't hool around. Horses eh? Who'd have 'em?
 
First Shockwave Treatment

Well after being a complete twonk in the field yesterday, I confined him to barracks while I waited for the vet this morning - tied him up in Frey's stable while he proceeded to poo everywhere, generally stress and wind himself up. Vet arrived, and before we even got started with the shockwave treatment, we had a pow wow about how to manage him through his recovery. So . . . given that he can't behave himself in the field, he is now confined to barracks with Rog next door in Frey's stable for company during the day. I'm bummed that we can't turn him out because I would love to see him have a rest on some lovely lush grass . . . but he just isn't going to do himself any favours and, while box resting him is more work for me, it's the single best way to keep him quiet/help that leg heal. So . . . I'm armed with sedalin and Magic to get him through his trickier days (usually the weekends when there's more going on at the yard), good old Rog will get a rest from the grass during the day (no bad thing for a Shetland with Cushings in the Spring) and I get to muck out two stables twice a day for the next two months.

Vet's happy for me to continue to use the walker to keep him moving, as long as we can keep him calm/still in his stable (and is certainly calm when Rog is next door).

Bad news is that he is still in a considerable amount of pain (even on bute) so it's possible he has made that ligament worse with all his shenanigans . . . but the good news is that we were looking at trauma and inflammation rather than a tear or lesions.

So . . . won't be taking him barefoot until he goes back out (in HIS field with Rog) after the shockwave and (possible) injection - no point doing it while he's on box rest. I will, however, have to have a chat with my farrier about taking that heel down a tad . . . it's all a juggling act.

P
 
Would it be a possibility to set up a paddock paradise track system in the field? Then Pop and Rog could be turned out together (maybe muzzle Rog until the grass has been eaten down) but after that it would be good for encouraging movement for both of them.

I have a friend with a QH and a Shetland. The QH has lameness issues and obviously the Shetland needs restricted grazing so this has worked really well for them. Just and option for you :)
 
ImmyS said:
Would it be a possibility to set up a paddock paradise track system in the field? Then Pop and Rog could be turned out together (maybe muzzle Rog until the grass has been eaten down) but after that it would be good for encouraging movement for both of them.

I have a friend with a QH and a Shetland. The QH has lameness issues and obviously the Shetland needs restricted grazing so this has worked really well for them. Just and option for you :)
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I had considered this, but tbh, if they move the stallions again, it will just set him off - and I really, really can't have him running around while that bone/ligament heals. Box rest it is :(.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
I had considered this, but tbh, if they move the stallions again, it will just set him off - and I really, really can't have him running around while that bone/ligament heals. Box rest it is :(.

P
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That's a shame but you've got to do whatever you think is best. Good luck with his recovery :) x
 
Just had to add . . . how lovely is my yard?

Because Pops will have to be in, which means his pal Rog will be stabled next to him during the day in Frey's stable, I will have to muck out Frey's stable twice a day as well as Kal's. Frey's owner has just texted me to say that she is willing to come down super early (she works, as a teacher) to feed, turn Frey out and muck out Frey's stable so I have one less thing to do!

I have, of course, told her she will do no such thing . . . she has enough on her own already overflowing plate (plus she's in her 50s and suffers from vertigo) . . . but what a lovely thing to offer to do!

Once again . . . I LOVE MY YARD!

p
 
So sorry to hear about him being a tit in the field.:( What a shame...sometimes they just don't know when you are trying to help them! Not sure you really have any choice do you?

ACP tablets......don't see why they wouldn't be legal but they are just sedalin in a tablet I believe? Always thought sedalin was just acp?

Good luck with the rest of the rehab x
 
I think we've found a routine that works!!

Yesterday, I was nearly in tears . . . he was soooo stressed and wired and I just couldn't think what to do with him while I mucked out his and Frey's stables. He wouldn't settle on the yard, he wouldn't settle in Frey's stable while I did his (even when I tied Rog up right outside), he couldn't stay on the walker indefinitely and I daren't turn him out in that mood. Somehow we muddled through, but left the yard extremely stressed.

I realized I was trying really hard to please everyone and achieve the impossible . . . keep Frey's stable as tidy as possible so as not to waste S's bedding, keep Kal calm and still, rest his field, etc. So . . . had a rethink. What's most important is managing Kal as best we can. So . . . I double-netted his overnet haynet so that could still trickle feed but would be hungry this morning. Gave him a dose of sedalin and hosed his leg while the sedalin was taking affect (only used a couple of clicks). Turned him out in HIS field with his breakfast and then caught Rog in from the mare's field and put him in with Kal. To my surprise, Rog came straight to me (I was expecting to have a job to catch him) and as soon as he could see Rog coming up to his field, Kal was completely calm. He had a mini trot round before I took Rog up - but nothing awful . . . and once Rog was in with him he had a good roll and immediately started eating. I mucked out both stables/hayed/watered, etc. and then caught both boys together and brought them in. When I left them, they were quiet and calm :) :D.

So . . . the most important objective may have been achieved (keep Kal calm in the mornings), plus with the boys only being on the field for a couple of hours a day, I'm hoping that's enough time for it to really rest/the grass to grow. Rog really is being a superstar and is so obliging about having to field hop and come in during the day - although he was a sweaty boy when I brought him in late morning so a little time in the cool of the barn was probably welcome.

A dear friend has bought tickets for us to go to Royal Windsor tomorrow and I'd arranged for another friend to do Kal tomorrow morning - but if he hadn't settled today, I'd have struggled to go. Now that I know we have a routine that works, I feel happier leaving him . . . but more important, I feel happier that we can keep him calm/quiet enough for that leg to mend.

Onwards and upwards!

P
 
Great! Hopefully that routine will do the trick. I might be out on a limb here but I do think horses feel safer in 'their' spaces and are therefore calmer. Usual mates as well of course.
 
amandap said:
Great! Hopefully that routine will do the trick. I might be out on a limb here but I do think horses feel safer in 'their' spaces and are therefore calmer. Usual mates as well of course.
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Not out on a limb at all! I (stupidly) thought all that grass in the recovery field would have been enough to make him forget/get over being out of his environment . . . given how quirky and sensitive he is, I should have known better. Lesson learned.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
So . . . won't be taking him barefoot until he goes back out (in HIS field with Rog) after the shockwave and (possible) injection - no point doing it while he's on box rest. I will, however, have to have a chat with my farrier about taking that heel down a tad . . . it's all a juggling act.
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Right I've caught up. Sorry he was a plank, but glad to hear you may have found the solution. The field may not get the rest you hoped but it will still get some rest and as long as Kal is calm, happy and more calm then that's what matters most.

Just one question, why are you going to ask the farrier to take his heel down?

I thought with Navicular rehab that bulking up, bringing back, the heel and caudal hoof was most important, is it because of his current injury?

I do accept I've never seen his feet and you see them every day so are certainly more familiar with them than any one but Kal himself.
 
Diddleydoo said:
Right I've caught up. Sorry he was a plank, but glad to hear you may have found the solution. The field may not get the rest you hoped but it will still get some rest and as long as Kal is calm, happy and more calm then that's what matters most.

Just one question, why are you going to ask the farrier to take his heel down?

I thought with Navicular rehab that bulking up, bringing back, the heel and caudal hoof was most important, is it because of his current injury?

I do accept I've never seen his feet and you see them every day so are certainly more familiar with them than any one but Kal himself.
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Well, we're playing one step forward and about thirty backwards at the moment . . . there's been a few changes at the yard which have upset him further so I'm immensely frustrated and stressed. Every time I feel like we get a handle on how to manage him, something or someone throws a spanner in the works and I have to come up with another plan. I have had a very stressful day.

Yesterday, without warning me, my fellow livery whose mare lives next to Kal in the barn, decided she would turn the mare around so she would be out at night and in during the day - and she doesn't want me to put Rog in the stable at night . . . cue Kal spinning like a spinny thing all night long in his stable last night and not eating either his dinner or his breakfast. Sigh. Oh, and I wasn't there to either witness all of this or do anything about it because I spent yesterday at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

In addition, early yesterday morning the pregnant mare had her foal (a beautiful little chestnut filly) but because the mare had not wintered well, the foal was quite weak and there was rather a lot of flapping and panicking going on which upset the mare . . . which wound Kal up. This morning when I turned him out for his little jaunt while I mucked out, they were moving the mare from the overnight stable to the paddock and the filly was too weak to follow - cue mare panicking, filly panicking and much flapping from all concerned - cue Kal galloping up and down the fence line like a muppet. I managed to catch him after a couple of minutes, clipped him onto the lead rope and stood with him while he calmed down and grazed and then he was happy for me to leave him . . . but he still walked . . . and walked . . . and walked the fence line. Not horrific - vet was happy for us to take him out on walk hacks if it would help calm him down (it won't - he won't walk on a hack after this much time off) . . . but not ideal.

So now I'm back to crossing everything bendy that he will settle with just the other two mares in overnight for company . . . and what the eff do I do next weekend when they are away overnight?

I get that it's not my fellow livery's problem and she needs to what's right for her mare . . . but if I can't keep him relatively quiet, I can't get him sound (and there's no guarantee of that either) . . . and if I can't get him sound, I'm afraid I'll have to have him PTS. He won't retire well - he's an idiot in the field with no work and I'm not prepared to have him in long-term pain just to be a field ornament (there's that dreaded phrase).

As for the heel - the affected leg is the one with the club foot - the heel is substantially higher which puts additional pressure on the ligament. I'm not talking about taking wacking great chunks off the heel . . . just enough to give the ligament some relief, while doing what we can to preserve the integrity of the foot to stave off/support the navicular.

He's as broken as a broken thing . . . and I'm beginning to lose hope.

P
 
Bloody hell, I'm so sorry you are having such an awful time of this. You find something that works, then the pigging wheels fall off again. :mad:

I have two totally random (and possibly impossible and unhelpful) suggestions.

1) Is his stable big enough for him to co-habit with Rog, or is there a stable, or area, big enough? Kind of like yarding them together?

2) And this one really is strange. The last time we had to box rest was following an injury and little holiday at Leahurst. I gave Egusin as I thought the stress could have given her ulcers. I'm not sure it did anything for her tummy but it had the strangest calming effect. She was so chilled neither myself or other liveries could quite believe the change in her. She wasn't even a tool when walked in hand and this is unheard of for her.

It would have been kind if the other livery had at least given you a heads up. Yes, it is not her problem but it would have been considerate and surely she has noticed how upset and sensitive Kali is.

I'm glad the foal arrived safely and hope she can gain strength. With a bit of luck that will have been a one off and will hopefully not affect him again.

I appreciate Kali would not make a great retiree but please don't get ahead of yourself. I know it's difficult when nothing seems to be working but it is still early days and I'm sure someone will be along soon with a suggestion that may just turn things back around.

I can't help with the walking on hacks thing. It is exactly the problem I have at the moment and I don't know how to solve that one. I've already had unrequested canter and can't seem to get anything slower than jog.

Now I understand about the heel. Thank you

Do not lose hope, hang on in there. You can do this and so can Kali :)
 
This might not help, but could be an idea.

I used to hack out past a farm that had a field that looked like a maze of posts and rope type fencing in it, it looked really odd but the horse was stood grazing looking happy. Anyway to cut a long story short, it just so happened that a friend of a friend knew the horse/owner and the 'maze' was designed to stop the horse from being able to run around, as it had a leg injury (i didnt ask what) ive often though that it was a great idea to get them out, but prevent them charging round, but there would be a risk that they could get tangled in it all (it would need to be introduced slowly)

Have you thought of sending him to a re-hab centre?
 
What a nightmare for you, having done loads of rehab in the past you have my sympathy. At our yard we have several retired horses who all live quietly in a little herd, out all the time & are very chilled. Some had career ending problems & were lame, but now if you watch them are sound. If Kal were mine I would take his shoes off, move him somewhere as I have described & turn him out & leave him for 6 months or more. In the past lame horses were just turned away & most came sound with time. If he is isn't settled in the stable or his paddock then I think perhaps you should look outside the box. I know you think he doesn't like being out overnight, but if his little herdmates are all settled & just out all the time rather than coming in to be ridden or whatever, having observed the horses at my yard I really think he would be fine.

I'm not far from you, PM me if you want details of the yard.
 
Diddleydoo said:
Bloody hell, I'm so sorry you are having such an awful time of this. You find something that works, then the pigging wheels fall off again. :mad:
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Thank you - I was NOT a happy bunny yesterday.

I have two totally random (and possibly impossible and unhelpful) suggestions.

1) Is his stable big enough for him to co-habit with Rog, or is there a stable, or area, big enough? Kind of like yarding them together?
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I had thought of this and unfortunately not . . . there is, however, a big field that currently contains the blind mare, the two mini shetlands and (when he's not being moved into Kal's field to keep him company) Rog . . . I'm hoping that once he's gotten through the shockwave treatment and that ligament is looking a little better (if we get that far), he can go in there during the day as I doubt he'll run around with that much company.[/QUOTE]

2) And this one really is strange. The last time we had to box rest was following an injury and little holiday at Leahurst. I gave Egusin as I thought the stress could have given her ulcers. I'm not sure it did anything for her tummy but it had the strangest calming effect. She was so chilled neither myself or other liveries could quite believe the change in her. She wasn't even a tool when walked in hand and this is unheard of for her.
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Off to look this one up! Thank you :).

It would have been kind if the other livery had at least given you a heads up. Yes, it is not her problem but it would have been considerate and surely she has noticed how upset and sensitive Kali is.
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Yes, it would have - she's a nice person and I think she's just trying to do what's best for her mare.

I'm glad the foal arrived safely and hope she can gain strength. With a bit of luck that will have been a one off and will hopefully not affect him again.
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She's a peach . . . cantering after Mummy this morning . . . so, yes, looks like a one-off and all at the farm was lovely and calm . . . little May (foalie) is such a timewaste!

I appreciate Kali would not make a great retiree but please don't get ahead of yourself. I know it's difficult when nothing seems to be working but it is still early days and I'm sure someone will be along soon with a suggestion that may just turn things back around.
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I know . . . but it's hard. He really is such a lovely boy, but he's so very sensitive . . . and I have never been this worried about him before . . . it's hard facing the reality that this time we might not be able to get him sound :(.

I can't help with the walking on hacks thing. It is exactly the problem I have at the moment and I don't know how to solve that one. I've already had unrequested canter and can't seem to get anything slower than jog.
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Maddening aren't they? Also Pops doesn't like hacking alone . . . he'll do it, but the risk of him spooking/napping is quite high . . . I would take him down the drive to graze in hand, but he doesn't like that either because he can't see the fields/his friends and has reared in my face before now (he got a massive telling off - but the fact is that rearing and landing on that leg isn't going to do it any good).

Now I understand about the heel. Thank you

Do not lose hope, hang on in there. You can do this and so can Kali :)
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Thank you - I needed that :D.

P
 
Flyermc said:
This might not help, but could be an idea.

I used to hack out past a farm that had a field that looked like a maze of posts and rope type fencing in it, it looked really odd but the horse was stood grazing looking happy. Anyway to cut a long story short, it just so happened that a friend of a friend knew the horse/owner and the 'maze' was designed to stop the horse from being able to run around, as it had a leg injury (i didnt ask what) ive often though that it was a great idea to get them out, but prevent them charging round, but there would be a risk that they could get tangled in it all (it would need to be introduced slowly)

Have you thought of sending him to a re-hab centre?
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That sounds ingenious! Certainly something for me to think about . . . however, knowing how nimble and agile he is, Kal could probably figure out how to charge through it ;). I will do some more research on this - thank you.

Rehab centre is something else on the list - that or a field somewhere with loads of grass and a nice, calm settled herd so that he can just chill and be calm and mooch about with no drama. I really don't want to move from where we are - but if he won't settle/can't heal, I have to do something different.

P
 
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