Kali's recovery diary (I hope)

Turnout Issues

Sigh . . . he really doesn't like change :(. He isn't happy being out all day now . . . to be fair to him there isn't much grass in his field but I did give them a haynet out there this morning which they hadn't finished when I went up at 2.30 to bring him in - but it's pretty clear he paced the fence line A LOT. Sigh.

I didn't hand walk him today because he pretty much self exercised. Tomorrow, I will move them onto the side with more grass AND give them a haynet to keep them occupied and hope that works. Right now I'm praying for rain.

Oh - and he has ripped his right front shoe off taking a goodly chunk of foot with it . . . which will just accelerate taking his fronts off. I have got my camera back (friend borrowed it) so once I have uploaded her pictures, I WILL take some for you lovely lot of his feet - any and all critique welcome.

I didn't think for one minute that we were out of the woods after Friday, but why can't he just do rehab like a normal horse?

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Good news about the scan! :) I hope the drama today hasn't been a setback, and FWIW, I think you're making the right call thinking about shoes off; a good BF rehab will be the best chance for both his navicular and his dodgy ligament! :)
 
Not been able to post FOREVER! thanks to a tip from someone else have FINALLY managed it. So glad all is going well and scan sounds very positive. We had rain last night if that helps?
 
Hetsmum said:
Not been able to post FOREVER! thanks to a tip from someone else have FINALLY managed it. So glad all is going well and scan sounds very positive. We had rain last night if that helps?
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Welcome back!

No rain yet - but it's forecasted for tomorrow - that'll do me. Boy is more settled in the field now that I've moved them onto the grassier side - and little Rog will not be staying out there 24/7 any more - he's more efficient than a flipping lawn mower!

Gave them both a bath yesterday . . . first bath Rog has had this year - he wasn't impressed at all and kept trying to "hide" underneath Kal . . . very funny/cute.

Kal is very sore on his right fore on the gravel (courtesy of ripped off shoe) but sound on the tarmac and in the field. Had his first pootle down the drive yesterday (in a bridle, attached to a lunge line with me wearing gloves and a hat) . . . he was very snorty but very well behaved.

Assuming Z is mended (she's had to take a very infected middle finger to hospital this morning - rang me in tears at half seven this morning - she doesn't "do" tears), she'll be sitting on him on Monday afternoon.

How are things at Hovis Towers?

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I'm a little bit excited/apprehensive . . . just got in touch with a barefoot trimmer (thank you spookypony :)) about starting this barefoot rehab . . . eek!

It's a trifle scary, I have to admit . . . but if it means we can keep him sound/give him healthier feet, then I'm all for giving it a try :).

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spookypony said:
Good news about the scan! :) I hope the drama today hasn't been a setback, and FWIW, I think you're making the right call thinking about shoes off; a good BF rehab will be the best chance for both his navicular and his dodgy ligament! :)
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Thank you so much for your help and support. I'm more than a tad daunted, but gotta put my big girl pants on for him and get on with it :).

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PolarSkye said:
Thank you so much for your help and support. I'm more than a tad daunted, but gotta put my big girl pants on for him and get on with it :).

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it is terrifying but you won't regret it! I thought I was going to have to retire my boy earlier this year.. he is so much happier unshod now and we even won a showing class this weekend.. anything is possible ;)
 
Sheep said:
it is terrifying but you won't regret it! I thought I was going to have to retire my boy earlier this year.. he is so much happier unshod now and we even won a showing class this weekend.. anything is possible ;)
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Thanks for this . . . yes, it is pretty frightening, but words of encouragement like this help hugely :).

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Poor sod is now quite lame/footsore on his off fore (bad leg - foot now missing shoe). He was really quite subdued this morning which is a) worrying because he is NEVER quiet; and b) actually a little helpful because at least it means he won't pace. I have had a look at the foot and can't see any obvious bruising and he's happy enough to walk to the field and back so that's where he is (he has to walk up a tarmac drive).

I am waiting for the recommended BF trimmer to get back to me but if she doesn't hurry up, I will need an alternative . . . I really want him to start his walk work under saddle with Z on Monday and we can't do that if he's dog lame (plus he still has a bar shoe on the near fore!).

If I haven't heard from the trimmer by end of day today, I will get my farrier out to remove the other front shoe.

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You might have to delay or start in hand with the walk work if he is very sore without shoes.

Did you get my pm btw?
 
Lol Ester. I was thinking if the hooves are very weak even with booting there may need to be a delay to avoid doing too much too soon.

ps. Hopefully the trimmer will advise after assessment.
 
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So trimmer came out this lunch time (thank you paulineh) . . . assessed him, watched him move (sound in walk, but lame on the "footy" foot in trot), we chatted about diet and management, etc. She is very happy with his diet - no need to change anything there (which is good) and is relatively pleased with his hind feet (which have now been without shoes for a good 10 weeks). He does have evidence of sidebone behind (which is news to me), his heels are contracted a little but he has a decent frog and a nice healthy white line. She removed the other bar shoe and took a good look at his fronts. Again, contracted heels and beefy frogs - although the heel on the off fore (his club foot/the limb with the suspensory) is less contracted than the left and the frog is smaller. Very thin white line and not much outer wall - and very weak sole (on both). What's really interesting is that he has been basically walking on the insides of his feet. As he is a new "patient" for her, she needs to see how his foot develops without shoes/coming back into work to tell whether that's the way he goes or the way he's been trimmed . . . having seen him move, she is leaning towards the latter, however time will tell. She really couldn't trim much off all round because he has so little for her TO trim, particularly in front, but she did balance them up.

Plan going forward is to put pads on him and walk him out in hand for the next week - just to stimulate the soles of his feet and get things moving. After a week of that, he can start ridden work. We are lucky to have access to a lot of flat, straight tarmac with little to no traffic on it (very long driveways and connecting roads around the farm) which will be very useful for the first weeks of his rehab. If he is still footy, boots are the next step - with pads - so that he can get the stimulus to the sole/foot AND be protected.

And I know . . . I still owe you pictures. As I will be farting about with his feet anyway tomorrow, will try and remember to take the camera up and get some shots for you - as I have said before, please be kind, his feet are AWFUL!

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Oh . . . and we will take as long as it takes . . . I'm in no hurry . . . I just want him sound and comfortable in the LONG term. We have written off this year anyway competition-wise, and that ligament will only benefit from taking more time . . . having learned that a dear friend had her beautiful horse PTS this morning, I just feel very lucky to have him at all . . .

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While you are all waiting for the much-vaunted hoof pictures, here's a short vid of the reprobate and his partner in crime . . . just after I washed the two of them.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204248335827907&l=8426340886757325609

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P.S. And, yes, yes, they are tied directly to the ring . . . but Pops had just broken the bailer twine (when I sprayed him with fly spray) and they were quite happy with their hay . .. expects call from RSPCA or WHW imminently . . .
 
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