Ronnie update

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BeckyD

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Ronnie went to Cambridge yesterday for evaluation and a 2nd injection into his sacroiliac joint, following his falls in the field in October and subsequent lameness. It's a month now since he came back from Cambridge after the scintigraphy and first corticosteroid injection. He's been on box rest since.

He trotted up virtually sound yesterday
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Vet was very pleased, so he's had a 2nd injection, and now has another 10 days of box rest and can then be walked out in hand (or ridden, if he's too silly in hand) for 15 mins a day for 2 weeks, then increasing to max 40 mins a day after another 4 weeks. Then he has to go back for reassessment.

I'm so glad he can finally get to stretch his legs, bless him! And I feel hopeful that he may recover well from this though I know I mustn't get my hopes up.

The people at Cambridge are all fantastic! Massive thanks to them.
 
I mustn't get my hopes up too much! From your experience - am I best to try and do this walking in-hand rather than ridden? I don't want to do anything to harm his chances of recovery. There is a possibility I may be able to keep him calm if I walk him in-hand indoors at certain times of day, but it won't be easy. He's a big fan of airs above the ground at the best of times, let alone after 2 months box rest.
 
Oh yes! Have to admit I put my hat on for handling him yesterday although he was an angel (surprisingly!).

By the way he travelled PERFECTLY with those top back doors closed on the trailer. Not being able to see the lorries pushing us along seems to make so much difference. He didn't sweat, panic or poo lots - all of which are his usual travelling responses!
 
I think if he is going to be sensible, then walk in hand. If he is going to be an idiot (mine is generally and worse after box rest!) then ridden. You dont want him going up and straining the area again.

What I also did was graze in hand away from other horses (otherwise he would have tried to joing them). He is remarkably calm when he has food - mine is a simple creature though! Even when he is behaving like a loon and spooking at everything and nothing he immediately becomes calm again at the sight of a carrot.

Have you tried a calmer? I have heard good things about horse first relax me if the GH TB calmer didnt work on Ronnie? I would even resort to sedalin if I had to - you want to avoid any exertion or force on that area until he has built up his topline again.
 
I always do any walk work ridden as mine isn't the easiest to handle especially after box rest. I feel I can better control him from on board. I think it does the horse less harm to have you on their back than to get loose and be an idiot. So glad he's on the mend though.
 
In that case it may have to be ridden. He's not got the best manners when being led and feeling exciteable. Unfortunately grass/food doesn't make much difference. When he's away with the fairies, nothing will bring him back. He'll nibble a feew blades then start leaping vertically!

I've tried almost every calmer on the market. Relax Me gave him the runs and made him hyperactive. Magnesium has a very bad effect
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.

I've gone back to Temperamend as it works on every other horse on my yard, and I was really hoping the valerian would work. No joy yet though.

He's now gone on ACP to try and settle him in the stable. He's started to lose the plot at times. Bless him I feel so sorry for him. But he was an absolute angel at Cambidge yesterday.
 
If it is ridden, I would try in the school first unless he is very good hacking. the last thing you want is for him to run off with you out of excitment!

Suprised they havent said lunge intensively for 3 months though - that is what I had to do with mine to build up the topline (good thing too as he was a bit excitable to say the least).

I really thought the GH TB calmer would work ... even on double dose? Have you tried the nupafeed one as well? and cool, calm and condition (that was next on my list)?

Glad he was good yesterday.
 
Nupafeed is what started all this bl**ming problem! He was slightly edgy, so I tried Nupafeed at which point he became a manic nightmare, and to be honest he's never really recovered! Grrrr. GH TB calmer, superclam, and rigcalm all make no difference - even on the full dose for a month.
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Nothing seems to touch him, it's not just me saying it as the yard owner hasn't seen any improvement either!

I was expecting the lunging too - that seems to be common. Should I be worried?

I haven't tried cool, calm and condition...will investigate now!
 
Did you ask about the lunging? Or did they not want him doing tight circles? I had to long rein mine for 3 months round a 20x60 school. When he did the ligament again this year, I just gave him 6 weeks off work all together then lunged for 6 weeks and rode in walk for 6 weeks. We have ended 6 weeks of trotting so am now onto cantering!

Cant believe the nupafeed had such an effect! CCC is completely different from regular calmers which is why I had it last on my list as it required a whole different regime.
 
I didn't ask about the lunging as she seemed very sure of her instructions. Walking only on a reasonably hard (i.e. not deep school) surface.

All that long-rening must have kept you fit! I shall try long-reining Ronnie to start with, at least I'm a bit further out of the way if he does become a problem!

I can't find CCC on google? Any idea who makes it?
 
Magnesium doesnt work on him then? Have you tried brewer's yeast? It sent one of mine absolutely potty (didnt risk it on the other one) but some people have had good results with it and it is supposed to help switch itch as well.

I take it you have looked at all of his feed etc and taken out anything heating?

In which case you might just have to work with it. He is quite young so eventually with age he might calm down ...

By walking on hard ground, does she mean for you to hack him out? In which case I would def give him something to take the edge off, like sedalin or something. You dont want him getting ideas and setting you back.

Cant you explain to him that it is hard enough bringing a horse back into work without said horse being an idiot?
 
Tried Brewers' Yeast, made him really fill out but unfortunately seemed also to make him a bit siller (maybe because he was digesting his food better?). He spooked much more.

There's nothing heating in his food - he gets chaff and fibre nuts as hard feed, I understand that the chaff is unmolassed. I do give him a handful of Dengie alfa-a oil since he's been in, just to give him soemthing different to munch at lunchtime. it is only a single handful though.

It's ok I can walk/ride indoors, we have a very firm surface! Otherwise my life would not be worth living. He's gone onto ACP every day (soon to change to sedalin) which seems to have stopped the bucking and rearing in the stable.

Believe me I have tried to reason with him, but it does no good! He's just a total and utter muppet.
 
Yeah BY made one of mine really spooky (and he is not the spooky sort) which is why I didnt try it on the potty one.

how is Ronnie doing without shoes? Or did you have him reshod?
 
[ QUOTE ]
He's just a total and utter muppet.

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Just a thought, knowing he can be funny with mares, have you tried a hormonal balancer? I know hilton herbs do their equilibrium range for mares, and it states on their website that some geldings or stallions may benefit from the same products.
 
He's doing well without shoes
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But, to exercise him I have to cross a very gravelly stony area, so I think I'll have his fronts put back on on Christmas Eve, when the farrier is next out - before he starts his exercising. I'll leave his backs off and see if he can survive without them for good. I've been umming and ahhing whether to leave the fronts off again, but I figure he'll have to have them back on at somepoint. I don't think he'd survive on our yard without them. Hard to know what to do for the best though. I'm quite enjoying him not having front shoes as he's reared up twice and caught me when he had shoes on, now I don't think it would hurt so much
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How's your boy doing with the KS?
 
Oh, he is same old really. Not been able to stick to the exercise plan for one reason or another so havent really made much progress with him over the last couple of weeks. Am waiting for vet to ring me with appointment date for another assessment.

I assume you are feeding him something for his feet? I have started feeding BOSS and so in about 6 months time (the midst of summer!) I will be able to see if my boy with SI can cope without back shoes. He is much sounder now he isnt having them on over the winter and there is less concussion on his back legs. I havent done any road work with him since he has had them off though, and he hasnt needed them trimmed (he barely grows any hoof at all).

Otherwise you could always try boa horse boots or something? They are quite fiddly to fit though and can rub.
 
You've really not had much luck. Fingers crossed for you that you manage to get going consistently (these horses don't help themselves do they?).

Ronnie is fed feed balancer for his feet (D&H ultimate balancer) plus seaweed. He has super strong hard feet, massively improved over the 18 months I've had him. The first year he lost a shoe approx every 3 weeks, the 2nd year he's lost two shoes since April! His feet, however, are very flat and perhaps not suited to barefootedness. I will be guided to some extent by the farrier (who is very good). Ronnie's feet do grow very quickly (he's on 4-week intervals).

What is BOSS? If it's anything like as good as the D&H one, and I imagine it's better, you'll notice a big improvement by the summer. Hopefully your SI boy will be fine without shoes on then.

I'm not sure what Ronnie would make of Boa (etc) boots - he's bad enough about brushing boots - acts like he's never had them on before every time he wears them! He's probably forget how to walk and then fall over. (You may laugh but he really is that stupid...)
 
Hiya - thanks for the suggestion. He's already spent three months on Rigcalm (global herbs) to no avail. He's been on Hilton herbs' "Stroppy gelding" to no effect for a month. He's just immune to everything!!
 
BOSS = Black Oil sunflower Seeds. Good for feet and coats (they are both super shiny without any grooming). The new horn definitely looks different - Theresa_F on here recommended them to me and they both seem to love them.

You must have tried every calming supplement on the planet by now! Dont think I have any more to suggest (not sure if you have used the valerian ones since you were competing?)

He would probably do himself more harm in the boa boots - probably best to stick to conventional shoes!
 
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