Ronnie update

B

BeckyD

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I think we must be overdue for a Ronnie update - thanks to those of you who have PM'd me. I was hoping to be announcing good news following our trip to Cambridge on Monday for his first post-PSD op checkup. As a refresher, he banged a tendon last July (2008), then did somersualts in his field whilst recovering from that, injuring his SI, which required medication, and then whilst on box rest recovering from that he did both hind suspensories (PSD), which were operated on in May 2009, but the wounds broke down, so he's been in stable cross-tied for weeks, then on 24/7 mini-pen turnout. Wound is finally healing so we went back to hospital for the check this week.

The verdict on Monday: Lame on three legs, very lame in a straight line, slightly better on the lunge. Not sure why better on the lunge. Scans didn't show anything remarkable.

So on initial investigation it seems the operation hasn't been a success - possibly because the wounds broke down and now legs could have gone into some sort of "super-healing" mode and laid down scar tissue and adhesions here there and everywhere. I've got to do 6 weeks increasing work and then take him back to see if there's any improvement, for final assessment.

But on the whole, it's looking pretty
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And he was very sore yesterday, hobbling about in his pen after the exertions of Monday. Gutted does not begin to describe it. It seems that I have a 6yo TB who is going to have to be retired on part livery unless there is sudden improvement. I don't even think he can be a companion as he's a bit of a horror with other horses, riggy but not a rig, and a handful to handle (experienced people only!).

I'm just hoping for a miracle during the next 6 weeks.

ETS: In the meantime we had a check ligament scare - but it turned out to be a varicose vein on a front leg!!!! Only Ronnie...
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[HUGS]

Long period of rest a possibility? Maybe over winter and then see how he is in Spring? Not what you want to hear of course, but time can be a great healer when all else fails. Really hope he comes round for you. x
 
Jeeze, what a complete nightmare for you both. Fingers crossed there is some positive feedback following the next check up, then.

It's always so hard when the prognosis is so vague after a vet check up. Leaves you not knowing where you are.
 
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Yes, you're right. But I'm trying to not to think beyond the next 6 weeks just yet
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((((((((((((((( )))))))))))))))
 
So very very sorry to read this have been wondering how you were doing.

He sounds very like my daughters lovely boy - SI problems HS problems and collaterals gone in both fores right worse than left. He is also naff with other horses and difficult to handle and is at the moment retired on part livery while we decide what to do. He is now 11.

No advice at all just lots of (((HUGS))) and I think I know exactly how you are feeling. It is just sh1t.
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I think you should start an "Owner of expensive pet on part livery" clique - there must be loads of us who don't have our own land and end up working to keep a loved animal who is no use (but ours is known as "George Clooney" on the yard as he is soooo handsome!).
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Oh well I suppose that is horses for you
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Haha Ronnie is desperately handsome as well
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It's his only saving grace.

I agree about the "expensive pet on part livery" - when I was a teenager my "horse of a lifetime" went lame after a year and had to be retired - she was DIY whilst I was at school, and then FULL livery whilst I was at university!!! I had three jobs to ensure she was paid for whilst I was at uni. She was part of the family though and even though that meant years of not riding, I couldn't part with her. The debt afterwards took a while to pay off though
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I don't want to go through this all over again but circumstances seem to be repeating themselves
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I know Jesper hasn't been ridden for 6 months and was on off lame for 2 years before that.
We should probably PTS but while he is paddock sound (individual turnout of course
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) and happy in himself we cannot bring ourselves to do it. He cannot walk without shoes and refuses to live out (self harms if left and needs to be out alone) so "normal field retirement" is out of the question. My daughter now works full time with long hours and I work so we can no longer do DIY either. I often think he has no idea of the effort that goes into keeping him in the style to which he has become accustomed
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While we have him we cannot afford another horse for her to ride either! Then I look at him and my heart melts
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Oh B I am so sorry to read this. Still another 6 wks might make him more sound. He has had a lot happen in a short space of time so he really hasn't had a chance to heal. Also he seems intent on self-harming which doesn't help! Being off boxrest is going to make an improvement in itself.
 
Oh hun, I'm SO sorry.

As you know, I really do know what you're going through.

I dont know what else to say except huge ((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))
 
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Also he seems intent on self-harming which doesn't help!

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Never was a truer word spoken
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He's been off box rest since early July, about two months now, but it's not helped him any yet - but it may still do so I hope. He's still bit of a wally in his pen some days - despite 20 ACP tablets a day!! I'm sure that leaping and spinning can't be helping but he's always been full of beans on turnout. And in the stable actually. He just IS full of beans.

How are D and R?
 
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Thanks for the hugs, much appreciated! It's a mess isn't it?!

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I just cant believe how draining it all is, then when you think you're getting somehwre, even 10 mins in the paddock without stunt pony moves, they go and throw something new at you!

I can only hope these next 6 or so weeks turn out well for you.

everything crossed x x
 
D still crippled and getting cheekier every day as he hasnt been ridden for 3 months so feels a bit full of himself now. The other idiot managed to hurt himself in the field yesterday - must have realised that the fat one never gets ridden because he limps so he should develop a limp to get out of work as well.

Lots can happen in 6 weeks keep thinking positively. Did you look at that calmer I told you about?
 
Oh dear that is such sad news. You know we are going through the same thing with Rory & understand exactly how you feel. We too can't afford to keep another horse to ride & cannot bear to think about getting rid of him to get another one when in himself he is so very happy. Ronnie & Rory sound so alike, Rory is not the easiest to handle either
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Sending you lots of hugs (give Ron one too) & really hope you get a pleasant surprise in 6wks, think you and Ron are due some much overdue luck xxx
 
Rory and Ronnie do sound like peas in a pod
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I don't want to think about what to do with him if he can't be ridden. He's not a fan of turnout, and only seems to be coping with it as he's so sedated (20ACP). He must be the only horse who loses weight with turnout, because he frets so much! Am so tempted to get him a little old companion but am frightened about what he might do to it. But with slow introduction it might just work
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But hopefully he'll come sound from this 6 weeks of exercise, fingers crossed! At least having something to do every day should perk him up a bit. He's gone a bit brain-dead not doing anything
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Everyone keeps telling me how he sleeps flat-out in the field, snoring, but I haven't seen it - he just sounds so cute!
 
Yes, it looks good. Am saving my pennies for my vets bills at the moment, but I think I've just paid the last of the biggies for a while, I hope, so should be able to stop being so frugal soon. I'm hoping to get some in November. It's got to be worth a try; I want to get him off the ACP once we've started ridden work. He'll have been on it most of a year by then and it can't be doing him any good, but he's self-harming without it
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Your two are a disaster area. Do you think they talk and compare stories? "I tried limping and look now I don't have to work", "Hmmmm I noticed that, maybe I should try it", "Yes, then we can both relax together", "Great idea, hobble hobble limp"...
 
Yes I think they do talk over the stable wall and probably on the phone to Ronnie every night comparing notes.

You can get a trial pack it is about £10 from horse medics. Saves you shelling out on a big tub. I think it definitely doesn't have magnesium. The only other thought is valerian?
 

Oh my word, I had missed the bit about him fretting when turned out, when we first got Rory he went out with the other geldings but one of the other owners complained that he was too dominant & insisted he be segregated from the others
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As soon as he was put in paddock on his own, he too fretted like mad & either charged up & down the fence line, stood looking wistfully at the others or lay down flat out!! Like Ronnie, he too lost loads of weight & at first we thought that maybe he had stomach ulcers as he was grumpy as well. He was so unhappy when turned out it was awful.

To cut very long story short, I moved him to another yard & the yard owner said he could go out with the other geldings, I explained he could be a real git with them & I was worried he may beat them all up
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Although he is clearly the boss, we have had no problems at all & he likes to play as well.

He is a different horse now & drags me out to the field each morning, it may well be worth you looking into getting a companion who is fairly laid back with other horses. I think it's working with Rory because there aren't any power battles going on & the others accept he is the boss. Because of this, he doesn't bully them at all & loves his mates.
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Oh gosh I thought Ronnie had stomach ulcers too! He sounds very similar in turnout - except he always drags us out to the field (when he's in at night, out by day, which he hasn't been for a year) rearing and bucking and biting - he has to be led out in a chifney or with a chain around his nose! And then once out he goes nuts on and off all day and seems to just want to come back in.

He was out in a herd when I bought him, but I was warned that he was bottom of the pecking order. When I brought him home there were no lone horses for him to go out with (horses are in pairs at my yard) so he was alone in a paddock for nearly a year. Then a mare was stabled and turned out next to him who had a hormonal problem and was always in season, and since then he's been an agressive so-and-so in the field. He'll chase me out sometimes! He attacks other geldings when we tried turning him out with them. Rips their rugs and chases them up and down the fence!!

I have been thinking about getting him a companion, I'm just worried about what he *might* do to it. I've seen him in stallion-mode and it's not pretty! But then if I found the right one he might be ok. What I really need is a companion for him that I can ride
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Ha ha the chifney, ours is in constant use too. Rory isn't impressed when he sees it coming & clamps his lips shut really tight as if to say "no I'm not having that thing in my mouth again" lol x

As with Ronnie, when we got him we too were told that he was bullied by the others & had been beaten up. I wonder if he decided it was a time for new beginnings when we got him & made sure he asserted himself so he was now the boss. His previous owner was so shocked when we said he was being a git in the field.

Even now, he has to be first in or he gets cross and will chase the other horses away from the gate which can be very embarrasing when the owner is trying to catch their horse & there is a big 'blonde' beast in hot pursuit of their horse.

I make sure I am first now & it has solved the problem. I had thought of turning him away for 6 months but it would never work with him as he loves his home comforts and would not accept being out 24hrs. As soon as he sees us coming he will head to the gate with his ears pricked & calling to us to walk faster
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Now that is a brilliant idea about a rideable companion (don't be surprised if Ron wants to tag along too when you go out with the new one) Ha ha I have visions of you riding out with him tagging along beside you on a lead rein
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I think ours are twins, separated at birth! The likeness is uncanny. I'm now feeling hopeful that he could be a happy field ornament after all
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Yaaaaaaaay!

Hehe I sometimes ride out on other peoples' horses, and when I ride past his paddock he actually has an expression of confusion and upset. If I walk past on my own 2 feet he doesn't give 2 hoots
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He's so funny! If I got him a companion and he deigned to be friends with it, he'd probably never let it go. I can just imagine him coming along on the lead, leaping on top of my other horse when frightened. Sometimes I'm sure he's trying to leap into my arms when scared, like Scooby Doo.
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I reckon you are right about the twins lol x We have to hide when my daughter rides our friends horse as poor Rory looks so sad. She nips past on the horse & I distract him but it doesn't always work. One day he saw Bob (the other horse) going in HIS trailer, he looked so upset that he wasn't allowed to go out & party but instead we were taking Bob
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I can just imagine Ronster Monster as a lap horse
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:)
 
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