Shopping list...neck strap, sedative, superglue, rescue remedy...

BBP

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 July 2008
Messages
6,587
Visit site
...body protector, arena for nice soft landing, emergency telephone, extra person to peel me up off the floor. Then hopefully I will be all set to get back on the pony!

Bonkers black pony has been on box rest for three weeks following acute lameness thought to be a possible tendon injury, closely followed by a massive cellulitis infection. He has been super duper good on the yard, until about 3 days ago when I think his patience started to wear off and he has been being a pest!

The swelling from the infection finally went down and yesterday the vet was able to come out to assess the tendon.

You have never seen such a performance in your life! My normally hyper but sweet and well behaved pony was a demon, rearing, performing the most exceptional capriole you have seen outside the Spanish Riding School and generally being a lunatic. That was just trying to lead off the yard so we could trot him up on the road. Then she asked to see him trot on the lunge in the arena over the road. More rearing and rodeoing followed, followed by about one sensible circle in trot before he decided to do his best black stallion impression, bouncing around on springs with his head and tail in the air, nostrils flared and snorting like a dragon!

The good news is that the vet is happy he is 100% sound with no clinical signs of an injury (possibly the lameness and small amount of heat in the lower leg may have been the first signs of the cellulitis infection that presented 3 days later higher up the leg).

The bad news is, she wants me to get back on him and do some walk work! Based on yesterdays performance, im gonna get a broken bone for Christmas from my pony! The plan is restricted turnout this week, followed by hopping on next week. Trouble is, when he was in full work, even if he had 2 days work I would always loose school him before I got back on, so he could get the kinks out, as he has a buck like a rodeo bull when pent up. Once hes had a good session he is then lovely to ride and so much happier. but I can't do that this time round just in case he did have a mild injury that 3 weeks of box rest has improved.

No idea how to play it, but I definitely need all the glue and guts I can find for the first ride! (I did lead him out this morning after 2 hours on the grass, made sure I put side reins on and asked him lots of questions like rein back and over when he started to buzz up, much better behaviour today thankfully)
What I have now...
528771_10151893847035431_1968928788_n.jpg

2010-03-0614-38-46_EOS0219_resize.jpg

2009-07-0610-11-10_IMG_0042.jpg

2009-07-0610-11-10_IMG_0043.jpg

What I want!
2012-06-0611-10-12-IMG_1689.jpg
 
He's a beauty ! Picture 4 ..wow. Wow,

And you have to get back on board.. Uum. I'm sure he'll calm dwn by next week...maybe.

On the good side he is obviously now very fit and well and enjoying his freedom :D
 
Aw, good luck! I don't have much advice except to say mine is a lunatic loose in the school and does exactly that every time, but not with a rider on, so you might hopefully find he's not tooooo bad! Fingers crossed!
 
Could you rent a go on a horsewalker somewhere? Also, horses rarely buck under the rider with the same vehemance (sp?) that they do loose. You'll be fine :-)
 
ACP.

Used it on an injured horse that had been in the box for eleven months. Handling him (17.2) on the ground was more difficult than riding him. The ACP worked a treat, although the environment needs to be peaceful when the drug is given, it won't work if the horse is revved beforehand.

For our horse it left him alert but not silly. I prefer it because it does not inhibit the chew reflex so the horse can have his hay left in the box.
 
Don't get me wrong, I love the crazy critter...but I'm very glad he's 14hh not 17hh! He doesn't seem to have any worries about doing the same thing on the road or with a quiet friend or with a rider on board, so I'm hoping for a hot sunny day next weekend, its the only thing that chills him out!
 
Top