Sig's Excellent European Adventure

[McFluff]

So sorry life is tough just now. Please do make sure you get support or you could end up with ulcers yourself.
You should be proud of how well he’s recovered from his ulcers, with your determination and care. Hopefully this injury will just be one of these wee knocks and all fine soon. Sending HHO vibes to you both.

 

[laura_nash]

This Forum is a good place to vent - maybe not about military matters but certainly horse matters so don't apologise for doing so.

Of course venting about non-horse matters in the Club House is also very acceptable if it would help. We even have a special thread for it (the safe place to feel down).

I'm so sorry Sig's European adventures aren't so excellent just at the moment. It does sound like the non-horse stuff is maybe making everything much worse than it might be otherwise. Fingers crossed his healed tummy means he copes with box rest ok and the injury isn't too bad.

 

[SO1]

Just a very quick post to say if you are worried about colic/ulcers when on box rest you might want to try pro equine colikare. My pony has been on active box rest for nearly 6 month due to tendonitis and has had a couple of colic issues and colikare seems to have helped.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Just a very quick post to say if you are worried about colic/ulcers when on box rest you might want to try pro equine colikare. My pony has been on active box rest for nearly 6 month due to tendonitis and has had a couple of colic issues and colikare seems to have helped.

As you say, and I mentioned them earlier, its brilliants stuff. Def recommend this product. Helped many colic horses here on this yard.



OP You are having it tuff and everything thrown at you, I had something similar last year, first my mare diagnosed with navicular and laminitis at the RVC. Then accident in the field, where she came in lame, turned out to be check ligament and 6 months box rest. I too was worried about ulcers. (my boy gets them now) chin up, you have support and experience people or some whose been through this - and advice to help you through.

 

[Reacher]

Very sorry that both Sig and you are still having such a hard time. You have had a bad dose of bad luck.

I hesitate to make any suggestions as I don’t necessarily think you want advice, just an outlet to vent (which is fine!) do please take the following with a pinch of salt:

Can you take some annual leave or sick leave / get some medical support?

If you feel strongly about the scan I wouldn’t be shy about telling the vets you want it done ASAP.

If leg is something superficial, is it really necessary to box rest? Is he likely to hooley about?

Obviously you know your horse and the vets are the experts so please ignore the above if inappropriate .

Hope things come right for you both quickly.

 

[MereChristmas]

Simply sending best wishes for a speedy recovery for Sig and hoping that you can find support from HHO and elsewhere.

 

[j1ffy]

I've been loosely following this thread and have loved seeing Sig's progress. Is there any update on him? I sincerely hope he's doing ok (and you) x

 

[SibeliusMB]

Hi all...good news and more bad news. I had been meaning to update on several occasions, but more bad news honestly drained me of any enthusiasm to do so.

Sig's leg injury appears to have healed up fine. Ultrasound revealed no injuries to the tendons or ligaments; he likely got kicked by the new yearling and had a pretty dramatic imflammatory reaction. There's still some slight thickening up top near where the check ligament would be, but it's slowly started to go away and he's stayed sound. We had just started back with full turnout and under saddle with some tack walking two weeks ago when he came in very lame on the left hind....abcess. While I was glad it was "just" an abscess, it meant more time in the stall. Fine. After a few days the farrier was able to cut it all out after it had drained, and he happily went outside with the foot wrapped and in a hoof boot just in case. It got reinfected. A couple more days in. Then the damn thing blew through his coronary band just on Friday.

So...we're playing it extra cautious with poulticing, cleaning, and him spending a week in a stall before he goes back out. He's sound, the abcess is nearly done draining again and he's feeling fine so far. I'm still very stressed about him being inside (on a daily does of Gastrogard...$$$$). I'm glad that the last setbacks have been relatively minor, but I'm beyond frustrated with this abhorrent luck and why we're having setbacks at all. I'm watching the whole yard go on and train and hack and compete and just generally have fun with their horses. I just want to get back to having fun with Sig. It's been an impossibly long time. He and I haven't been in consistent training since the end of September.

Those recent, repeated abcess issues were on top of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and me still being quite busy at work as a result. The yard was generous enough to let me ride one of theirs this weekend, which was great and much needed for my own mental health, but it's not the same. Hopefully Sig and I can get back to it soon, but I'm honestly terrified to say that because it seems like every time I get remotely excited about starting over, one more thing happens. I know it's just rotten luck, but put it all together and it does feel like the universe doesn't want us here. I'm getting to the point of being completely done....not sure what that means yet. I asked my friend back home if she might hypothetically be able to find a loaner for him if I ended up sending him home. I think we're one more disaster from me pulling the trigger on a return flight.

Which all sounds very sad and dramatic, I know. I think I'm emotionally better than my last desperate post, but I'm definitely a lot more exhausted and ready for some improvement in circumstances. I really appreciate you all continuing to follow and for your best wishes. Means a lot!

 

[ycbm]

I'm glad it's not worse but I'm very sad for you that it's not a better update S, you deserve a break!
.

 

[j1ffy]

Thank you for coming on here and updating - you really are having the most rotten luck ?

I'm sure better fortune is around the corner and hopefully you'll be back on board and fit, ready to go when the better weather comes along. Everything crossed for you.

 

[Michen]

Big hugs, spring is around the corner and I hope things then feel better.

 

[Squeak]

Glad you've had some good news in between the bad Hopefully spring will come and help sort out the issues such as abscesses etc.

Crossing everything for you that this is the end of your run of bad luck.

 

[Northern Hare]

So sorry to hear of your continued run of bad luck, but hang on in there, spring is on the way and I'm very hopeful that it won't be long before you're back on board, and once again getting out and about on lovely Sig! ????

 

[Peglo]

I’m so sorry to hear of more bad luck but so glad his previous knock has healed ok. I was really looking forward to hearing what you both got up to over here, fingers crossed things will pick up for you both very soon.

 

[Trouper]

Thanks for the update - mixed tho' it was!! By this stage of the winter I think many of us are hanging on by a string so you are not alone. Add to that the world situation and your particular work and it is not hard to see how stressed you must be.

Hang on in there. This has been Sig's first UK winter and, though we might not get the extremes of cold/snow other places get, the long, damp, grey days can be equally challenging to health - ask any arthritis sufferer!!
We have a saying here - Winter is not over until the Blackthorn (sloe) blossoms and I have known it take until April here in the Midlands. Yesterday I walked the dog and found several areas which were definitely white with blossom.
We're nearly there.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi all...good news and more bad news. I had been meaning to update on several occasions, but more bad news honestly drained me of any enthusiasm to do so.

Sig's leg injury appears to have healed up fine. Ultrasound revealed no injuries to the tendons or ligaments; he likely got kicked by the new yearling and had a pretty dramatic imflammatory reaction. There's still some slight thickening up top near where the check ligament would be, but it's slowly started to go away and he's stayed sound. We had just started back with full turnout and under saddle with some tack walking two weeks ago when he came in very lame on the left hind....abcess. While I was glad it was "just" an abscess, it meant more time in the stall. Fine. After a few days the farrier was able to cut it all out after it had drained, and he happily went outside with the foot wrapped and in a hoof boot just in case. It got reinfected. A couple more days in. Then the damn thing blew through his coronary band just on Friday.

So...we're playing it extra cautious with poulticing, cleaning, and him spending a week in a stall before he goes back out. He's sound, the abcess is nearly done draining again and he's feeling fine so far. I'm still very stressed about him being inside (on a daily does of Gastrogard...$$$$). I'm glad that the last setbacks have been relatively minor, but I'm beyond frustrated with this abhorrent luck and why we're having setbacks at all. I'm watching the whole yard go on and train and hack and compete and just generally have fun with their horses. I just want to get back to having fun with Sig. It's been an impossibly long time. He and I haven't been in consistent training since the end of September.

Those recent, repeated abcess issues were on top of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and me still being quite busy at work as a result. The yard was generous enough to let me ride one of theirs this weekend, which was great and much needed for my own mental health, but it's not the same. Hopefully Sig and I can get back to it soon, but I'm honestly terrified to say that because it seems like every time I get remotely excited about starting over, one more thing happens. I know it's just rotten luck, but put it all together and it does feel like the universe doesn't want us here. I'm getting to the point of being completely done....not sure what that means yet. I asked my friend back home if she might hypothetically be able to find a loaner for him if I ended up sending him home. I think we're one more disaster from me pulling the trigger on a return flight.

Which all sounds very sad and dramatic, I know. I think I'm emotionally better than my last desperate post, but I'm definitely a lot more exhausted and ready for some improvement in circumstances. I really appreciate you all continuing to follow and for your best wishes. Means a lot!

When my mare got bad laminitis her abscess blue out the coronary band only small but it did, I don't want to go into detail as you don't need the details. Coming out the coronary band is there any risk to it getting close to the pedal bone. I would def speak to your vet about it, I had to put my mare onto Baytril to kill the pedal bone infection. You need to make sure the pedal bone is not at risk.

 

[j1ffy]

When my mare got bad laminitis her abscess blue out the coronary band only small but it did, I don't want to go into detail as you don't need the details. Coming out the coronary band is there any risk to it getting close to the pedal bone. I would def speak to your vet about it, I had to put my mare onto Baytril to kill the pedal bone infection. You need to make sure the pedal bone is not at risk.

That's interesting, I'm glad your mare was ok in the end. My horses are barefoot and only one has had abscesses. They've always blown out of the coronary band (apparently it's common with barefoot horses as their soles are so tough) with no issues, I wonder if the laminitis made her more prone to a pedal bone issue?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

That's interesting, I'm glad your mare was ok in the end. My horses are barefoot and only one has had abscesses. They've always blown out of the coronary band (apparently it's common with barefoot horses as their soles are so tough) with no issues, I wonder if the laminitis made her more prone to a pedal bone issue?

sadly it did not turn out right in her case.

 

[j1ffy]

sadly it did not turn out right in her case.

So sorry

 

[SibeliusMB]

When my mare got bad laminitis her abscess blue out the coronary band only small but it did, I don't want to go into detail as you don't need the details. Coming out the coronary band is there any risk to it getting close to the pedal bone. I would def speak to your vet about it, I had to put my mare onto Baytril to kill the pedal bone infection. You need to make sure the pedal bone is not at risk.

Vet was called by the farrier the night it blew and they had a lengthy conversation. They specifically advised not putting on antibiotics.

Very sorry to hear about your mare.

 

[Zuzan]

Vet was called by the farrier the night it blew and they had a lengthy conversation. They specifically advised not putting on antibiotics.

Very sorry to hear about your mare.

Just to reassure you .. I've had abscesses blow at the coronary band with no lasting impact..

 

[Bradsmum]

Wow I've just caught up on this thread - no idea how I missed so much. My heart has been in my mouth, you both have had such a time of it here in the UK but as someone said earlier, Spring is on its way and both horses and owners seem to relax into a warmer routine. I have a horse that has had two abscesses blow through coronary band and both times he has come sound, he just needed some time. Fingers crossed that all comes good for you both again and you can get back to some fun rides.

 

[Zuzan]

And to add to my earlier post (sorry was in a rush) Very sorry the road to recovery has been bumpy. Wishing you and Sig well.

 

[SibeliusMB]

A tentative (positive??) Sig update for everyone.

Abcess looks like it healed up well and thanks to Gastrogard he handled the stall rest okay. He got to go back out a few days ago and to say he was happy is an understatement. ?

View this content on Instagram

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I took this past week off to just sleep in, relax, and ride. Even if it was just walking with a bit of trot, being back on Sig felt like going home. ❤ I took advantage of the extra free time and took care of some spring cleaning. I gave Sig a bath on Thursday and did his spring full clip that afternoon (don't worry, he had a lovely physio appointment earlier that day so he didn't suffer the entire time ?). He was perfect as usual and I blended his legs to leave most of his full hair cover on the lower leg as he lives out. I love the look of a fresh full clip and he looks so handsome. ?

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

He is feeling VERY good undersaddle, maybe too good because I definitely came off after a spook yesterday (I'm fine and so is he) and he escorted himself allllll the way back down the drive to go see his herd. We will be riding with the doors/gates closed for the foreseeable future. ?

And today we hand a lovely hack with our fellow American expat at the yard. Sig was an excellent guide for her horse who is still getting comfortable out hacking.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbBEgQvKyGv/?utm_medium=copy_link

So there's a better update. I hope this doesn't jinx us though! ??

 

[MereChristmas]

Great to hear better news. Hoping the good progress continues.

 

[ycbm]

Pleased to hear that S.

 

[Trouper]

Great update. Onwards and upwards - she says with fingers firmly crossed!

 

[Reacher]

Pleased he is doing better and that you have had some time off to recharge batteries. Onwards and upwards and spring is on its way.

 

[SibeliusMB]

Sig and I had a lovely weekend! ?

We've only just started back in regular work and have focused on building up a base of fitness with a lot of walking. Slowly increasing his trotting and cantering, and decided to take some footage to see how we look just starting back in work.

Finally got the Pivo functioning after 18 months, different app, new phone, and one motivational speech with a lot of rude words.

Have some things to work on myself, but overall thrilled with how he looks early on and trying to be kind to myself. I've been off most the winter too. ?

View this content on Instagram

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Then today we had a lovely hack just the two of us. Sig has confidently conquered the bridge over the busy dual carriageway and loves exploring. So grateful to have such a lovely weekend with my boy. ?❤

 

[MereChristmas]

Sig and I had a lovely weekend! ?

We've only just started back in regular work and have focused on building up a base of fitness with a lot of walking. Slowly increasing his trotting and cantering, and decided to take some footage to see how we look just starting back in work.

Finally got the Pivo functioning after 18 months, different app, new phone, and one motivational speech with a lot of rude words.

Have some things to work on myself, but overall thrilled with how he looks early on and trying to be kind to myself. I've been off most the winter too. ?

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Then today we had a lovely hack just the two of us. Sig has confidently conquered the bridge over the busy dual carriageway and loves exploring. So grateful to have such a lovely weekend with my boy. ?❤

View attachment 89316View attachment 89317

Fabulous news.
Although Finan has been ridden out at walk by some one else it is my first sit-on tomorrow after 3+ months off. I hope it goes as well as yours.