little_pink_piggies
Well-Known Member
Thank you for all your vibes, I texted just as he was taken off to be Xrayed and they obvously did some good
We took him up to vets today as trot ups have been a bit "lets get through by the skin of our teeth"-esque, and I had an inkling he wasn't 100% still (tbh I don't think he's ever been) and I feel like I keep hitting this same keeping the contact wall, and I know I'm no dressage diva, but my trainers ridden him (once, and is dreading the next time she has to!) and they really struggle, and also nows the time of year to sort everything... He still looks like he could run tomorrow, and we have the time to get anything right correctly...
So got off the lorry, explained that I wanted to ride him so vet could see what the DR judges see! And that we were probably going to give him Dec out in the field while I settle in my new yard/job... To which the response was "Why on God's Earth do you want to give this horse a holiday- he looks F*ing fantastic!"
They lunged him on gravel and I have to admit, he looks better than ever, vet said he's taking big, regular, free steps infront, and hind legs (what ground juries have questioned) are active and 100%... Would definitely pass a 5stage vetting (Which, a few people know the vet in question, is quite a compliment I think!) He didn't believe me when I said he was moving like a crab when ridden though!
So tacked him up, checked the saddle on him (Devoucoux Makila- 18th birthday pressie this summer- spoilt much?!
) and it was fine. Went into the arena and the 4 people (vets/nurses/etc) there couldn't believeit was the same horse- "bridle lame" doesn't come into it, and although I have a tendancy to hurry him the general consensus of opinion was that I wasn't really causing the problem... When I went sitting he looked awful
So with him being 110% with no rider, and about 70% with a rider
a back investigation was in order...
They seemed to take forever and horrible things go through your mind
Basically there were arthritic changes to 2 of the vertebra directly under the middle of the saddle
There was damage to the interspinous ligament that was all inflamed and horrible, which has caused it to look like a mouse has taken a few chunks out of the edge of the vertebra! Also more damage to the ligament (although not the bone) on the withers.... And where the ligament splits to go to the hind legs the right hind was 0.5cm thick whereas the left hind was 1cm thick- though the right hind was affected more by his neurological issues than the left so it's highly likely its because of 8 years of compensation!
Very common in this age TB horses appareantly. We asked what caused it (Overstretching at some stage wasn't specific enough
) and could it be an old injury... Vet said strong possibility, and the only thing we know about with him is when he turned over in the field as a baby- when he did his neck, so that one fall has probably been very influential in the lovely boys life!
Treatment wise he's had steroid injected inbetween the two different spaces with good prognosis provided I follow rehab instructions religiously! 1 weeks boxrest, 3 weeks out in the field, then 3 weeks of Pessoa-ing... And once he's in work pessoa, pessoa and more pessoa combined with the riding! Reassessment in the new year
So that's my poor boys end to 2009, just so glad he doesn't have to be opened up! I feel like I go looking for problems with him and a horse his age (11) is bound to have injuries etc. But, he does have contact issues and I just hope it does make a difference- it must have been hurting him?
He's in a very deep shavings bed and keeps rolling- not colicky he's eaten his food... Either objecting to the plaster on his back or the fluid of the steroid is providing a bit of a relief? He's very well in himself and undid both lorry particians on the way home... little darling!
Some pics of the boy... He's so genuine to keep going for me the way he does, he flew around his past few events for me... I am going to spend the next few months grumping about not being able to jump him though- but at one point earlier I was worrying I wouldn't be able to for longer than a few months!
Chipshop chips and vino if you made it through that
We took him up to vets today as trot ups have been a bit "lets get through by the skin of our teeth"-esque, and I had an inkling he wasn't 100% still (tbh I don't think he's ever been) and I feel like I keep hitting this same keeping the contact wall, and I know I'm no dressage diva, but my trainers ridden him (once, and is dreading the next time she has to!) and they really struggle, and also nows the time of year to sort everything... He still looks like he could run tomorrow, and we have the time to get anything right correctly...
So got off the lorry, explained that I wanted to ride him so vet could see what the DR judges see! And that we were probably going to give him Dec out in the field while I settle in my new yard/job... To which the response was "Why on God's Earth do you want to give this horse a holiday- he looks F*ing fantastic!"
They lunged him on gravel and I have to admit, he looks better than ever, vet said he's taking big, regular, free steps infront, and hind legs (what ground juries have questioned) are active and 100%... Would definitely pass a 5stage vetting (Which, a few people know the vet in question, is quite a compliment I think!) He didn't believe me when I said he was moving like a crab when ridden though!
So tacked him up, checked the saddle on him (Devoucoux Makila- 18th birthday pressie this summer- spoilt much?!
They seemed to take forever and horrible things go through your mind
Basically there were arthritic changes to 2 of the vertebra directly under the middle of the saddle
Very common in this age TB horses appareantly. We asked what caused it (Overstretching at some stage wasn't specific enough
Treatment wise he's had steroid injected inbetween the two different spaces with good prognosis provided I follow rehab instructions religiously! 1 weeks boxrest, 3 weeks out in the field, then 3 weeks of Pessoa-ing... And once he's in work pessoa, pessoa and more pessoa combined with the riding! Reassessment in the new year
So that's my poor boys end to 2009, just so glad he doesn't have to be opened up! I feel like I go looking for problems with him and a horse his age (11) is bound to have injuries etc. But, he does have contact issues and I just hope it does make a difference- it must have been hurting him?
He's in a very deep shavings bed and keeps rolling- not colicky he's eaten his food... Either objecting to the plaster on his back or the fluid of the steroid is providing a bit of a relief? He's very well in himself and undid both lorry particians on the way home... little darling!
Some pics of the boy... He's so genuine to keep going for me the way he does, he flew around his past few events for me... I am going to spend the next few months grumping about not being able to jump him though- but at one point earlier I was worrying I wouldn't be able to for longer than a few months!
Chipshop chips and vino if you made it through that
