Roy update

[catembi]

I have owned Roy since 1 August this year, bought from the field, never done anything at all… I broke the cardinal rule of horse buying and bought him because I felt sorry for him. He just looked so sad though… Feet awful, face full of warts, tail on the floor…

Two months on, he’s had two trims which have transformed his feet, teeth done (they were so bad that he had a mouthful of ulcers), jabs started, done a few bodywork sessions and we have been doing groundwork lessons. We are doing 20 minutes a day and also doing the odd bit of jumping as he really loves it. He is starting to fill out a bit. He’s been on echinacea for 3 weeks for the warts and they are now drying up and dropping off. The sides are quite clear now but the front is still quite bad.

 

[FFAQ]

Lovely post, thanks for sharing! It's so nice to hear he's found a lovely home and is improving nicely ?

 

[rextherobber]

Lovely update, so nice when you find something they really enjoy !

 

[Quigleyandme]

I’m so pleased you are getting along after your disappointing experiences. Roy is a very lucky horse.

 

[LEC]

Juvenile warts will soon clear up. Just look awful. Try him on a probiotic as well to help as find on a horse with a weakened immune system and young can make a big difference.

 

[catembi]

Yes, agreed - the warts do look awful! I was sending my friend some photos of them this morning, taken a few weeks ago, & I suddenly noticed OMG so many of them have dropped off! The ones on the side of his muzzle have gone dry & then flaked off without scarring as if they'd never been there at all. Let's hope that the others do the same. He is on the older side for having them still and I was starting to worry that we might be stuck with them!

 

[ycbm]

His knees on the first small picture are pretty impressive! Is that you? You look like you're doing a spot of ballet ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Yeah the warts aren’t pretty but I’m glad they are dropping off. Is he young? I think I’ve missed a thread somewhere

 

[catembi]

Yes, that's me running! He gets quite enthusiastic & I have to run like mad to keep up & ensure that he has freedom! We literally only go over the jumps 3 time in each direction because I know he's young & I am trying not to run the weight off him, but he really enjoys it & it makes a change from the careful groundwork of (e.g.) reversing one step at a time or taking one step sideways. I also change the exercise & he seems to enjoy working it out & sorting out his striding. Hope he can do it with me on him...!

CC, the short version is - I bought a 3 yo ISH in April, v v nice horse, breathtaking paces, fantastic temperament, really supersonic jump, just started competing the month he was 4 (v low level, more to get out n about & see the sights than 'competing') and he came down hard with PSSM & is now retired. N/p4, px/px. He literally can't go faster than walk now :-( So I bought a cheapy 'project' to give me something to do. Untouched TB 4 yo. When I got him, he'd not been in a stable, didn't know what to do with feed in a bucket & was bemused by apples! He is such a dude though, & probably the most affectionate horse I've ever had, & possibly the brightest. I can really see the cogs turning when he's got something new to do.

 

[stangs]

So glad things are going well for the two of you, was just thinking about him this morning.

 

[ycbm]

PSSM & is now retired. N/p4, px/px.

Catembi I'm not saying that he doesn't have PSSM, you know your own horse. But purely for others, I think it does need pointing out that the test you used has failed peer review because 25% of horses without PSSM have those genes. The review panel reported that they could not recommend the test was used for clinical diagnosis.

He is a lucky horse to have come into knowledgeable hands with someone who is prepared to offer him a retirement.

I hope Roy really comes good for you, he looks like a very nice horse in the making.
.

 

[catembi]

Thank you - I know about the peer review thing. I have a doctorate myself & I understand how these things work. For other people - yes, second guess the tests. For me, observing their behaviour, there is no doubt. I wish there was, but there isn't.