HeresHoping
Well-Known Member
Hi there,
Some of you may recall my thread about my occasional bucking bronco: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=11065936#post11065936
Well, I have an answer, round a pretty circuitous route. I instigated a lunging routine, as suggested, largely out of necessity when it was declared that my saddle fitted two months previously really didn't fit any more. Was trying out various saddles to be told rather bluntly and rudely on the first one that he was lame and there was no way the saddler would fit a saddle to a lame horse. Had him checked, he wasn't lame so wondered if the saddle we tried didn't actually do him any favours. Went to another saddler (due to lack of availability of the first) and ordered a T8 high withered GP. It was going to be five weeks before it was ready, so we got lunging in earnest. We cured the right rein napping and we even got to the stage where I thought sod it, and climbed on bareback. He was a sweetheart. I will admit there were a few tail swishing moments on the lunge but I put this down to naughtiness more than anything else.
Fast forward to the day he was due the farrier and the vet came to provide him with his jabs. We have had to give him sedalin for shoeing - he was getting better but was always very agitated about having his hinds done. Now we know why.
Anyway, we had a scary few days because he had an adverse reaction to the sedalin, having never suffered before. It didn't seem to take very well and he was still leaping about. Shoeing was abandoned behind. Then the sedalin hit him like a wrecker ball and he stood in his stable for 4 hours like a giraffe at a watering hole. Called the vet, who said wait for it to wear off and try some fresh air if he's standing a bit more upright....only he couldn't walk, his back end was all over the place. Next morning he was a little more alert but couldn't walk more than a couple of steps at a time. On vet's advice he was put in the winter corral with hay and water. (Another) Vet came later that day and he was in so much pain we thought we'd have to shoot him there and then. Managed to get him back to the stable by literally lifting his hind legs for him. Xrayed his back and pelvis in case of fractures.
So, no fractures but he does have KS at two points. One at the base of the withers, the other just behind the saddle. Vet has sent his xrays to Newmarket for assessment. Most likely, though, they will recommend the op. Having read up on things (through a veil of tears), I think Richard Coomer's ligament snip sounds the most promising. He wasn't behaving aggressively under saddle, we'd just have these odd bucking bronco moments in the canter on the right rein.
Of course, we have to get him moving again before the op is even considered. It is suspected that he has pulled the ligaments in his sacroiliac joints and these are improving rapidly - walking almost fine now and even managed to stand on his back feet yesterday whilst being led around the school
My question...if you have survived thus far... is: is my insurance likely to pay for the op? I cannot find an exclusion on my policy but I need to 'phone up to ask and I am dreading it. If they don't, I think it may have to be the end because I haven't got £4k lying around to pay for it, nor the means for procuring a loan as we have had a few horrendous years with redundancy, house in negative equity and rebuilding businesses, etc. I am insured to £5k.
In hindsight, that's probably a piece of string question but any knowledge would be gratefully received and provide me with the courage to pick up the 'phone. Thank you.
Some of you may recall my thread about my occasional bucking bronco: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=11065936#post11065936
Well, I have an answer, round a pretty circuitous route. I instigated a lunging routine, as suggested, largely out of necessity when it was declared that my saddle fitted two months previously really didn't fit any more. Was trying out various saddles to be told rather bluntly and rudely on the first one that he was lame and there was no way the saddler would fit a saddle to a lame horse. Had him checked, he wasn't lame so wondered if the saddle we tried didn't actually do him any favours. Went to another saddler (due to lack of availability of the first) and ordered a T8 high withered GP. It was going to be five weeks before it was ready, so we got lunging in earnest. We cured the right rein napping and we even got to the stage where I thought sod it, and climbed on bareback. He was a sweetheart. I will admit there were a few tail swishing moments on the lunge but I put this down to naughtiness more than anything else.
Fast forward to the day he was due the farrier and the vet came to provide him with his jabs. We have had to give him sedalin for shoeing - he was getting better but was always very agitated about having his hinds done. Now we know why.
Anyway, we had a scary few days because he had an adverse reaction to the sedalin, having never suffered before. It didn't seem to take very well and he was still leaping about. Shoeing was abandoned behind. Then the sedalin hit him like a wrecker ball and he stood in his stable for 4 hours like a giraffe at a watering hole. Called the vet, who said wait for it to wear off and try some fresh air if he's standing a bit more upright....only he couldn't walk, his back end was all over the place. Next morning he was a little more alert but couldn't walk more than a couple of steps at a time. On vet's advice he was put in the winter corral with hay and water. (Another) Vet came later that day and he was in so much pain we thought we'd have to shoot him there and then. Managed to get him back to the stable by literally lifting his hind legs for him. Xrayed his back and pelvis in case of fractures.So, no fractures but he does have KS at two points. One at the base of the withers, the other just behind the saddle. Vet has sent his xrays to Newmarket for assessment. Most likely, though, they will recommend the op. Having read up on things (through a veil of tears), I think Richard Coomer's ligament snip sounds the most promising. He wasn't behaving aggressively under saddle, we'd just have these odd bucking bronco moments in the canter on the right rein.
Of course, we have to get him moving again before the op is even considered. It is suspected that he has pulled the ligaments in his sacroiliac joints and these are improving rapidly - walking almost fine now and even managed to stand on his back feet yesterday whilst being led around the school
My question...if you have survived thus far... is: is my insurance likely to pay for the op? I cannot find an exclusion on my policy but I need to 'phone up to ask and I am dreading it. If they don't, I think it may have to be the end because I haven't got £4k lying around to pay for it, nor the means for procuring a loan as we have had a few horrendous years with redundancy, house in negative equity and rebuilding businesses, etc. I am insured to £5k.
In hindsight, that's probably a piece of string question but any knowledge would be gratefully received and provide me with the courage to pick up the 'phone. Thank you.
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Where's the little bouncy man smiley when you need him?