Smiles of happiness followed by tears of sadness .. Oldies & stiffness

[Eaglestone]

HELP! Sorry Long ..

A plea to all of you with Golden Oldies, who knows what I am going through …… what else can I do to help my boy

Tonight …. one moment I was smiling at my old boy Cantering across his paddock for his daily grass 'treat' (as he is a Cushings Horse) and the next minute I am sitting in the field in tears, watching him struggle to get down and up again

I have not really seen him roll, since the ground hardened and as he has been getting a bit stiffer behind, it has been in the back of my mind that he felt that he should not attempt it. However, tonight it was my fault, as I left it later to put his Hoodie on to stop him itching, so he was desperate to get out and have a good roll, wherever!

I watched him sloooooooowly lower his back end and then really hit the ground with a bang as he got past the point of no return and then had a good roll and rolled all the way over …… then when he tried to get up he struggled and had to have two attempts …. he did not seem bothered by all this, but I was …. my mind went into overdrive, thinking that he could break something or bruise himself, or even not be able to get back up again ……. I am now devastated

Up until a couple of years ago, it would not have crossed my mind that this could be an issue. However it was then that I was asked to help a horse, up the lane from me, who could not get up on a couple of occasions. However on the second occasion , we tried in vain and the Vet and owner decided ‘enough was enough’ and Euthanised …. I was really sad for this lovely horse and cannot get that scenario out of my mind now ...

He has been lying down in his field shelter every night, but over the last week or so have noticed that it is in more of a mess every morning ….. so he must be struggling in there

The field shelter has a thick bed of shavings of at least 6 inches on top of soil. See pic below

He has never been happy being shod, although has always ‘grinned and bared it’. He has always had the tendency to tuck his hinds legs right up underneath him and not relax and let you hold it, but has always ‘allowed’ the Farrier to. Last time he was shod was a nightmare, as the Farrier brought his normal Apprentice, who is excellent with Motor and a ‘new’ one ….. Well they all turned up and ‘pounced’ on Motor and he was really tense, as the ‘new’ apprentice tried to remove his shoes. My main Farrier could see the problem and took over and his normal Apprentice continued …. but Motor was soooooooooo stressed and would not relax and was causing the Apprentice problems …. But the apprentice said ‘do not worry he is always like this’ …. well I am always there and keep an eye and Motor was so bad ….. I was an emotional wreck by the time he had finished ….. Farrier due again next Thursday ...

Last Summer I was able to leave Motor out 24/7 ish, as he has the Field Shelter and his little wood chip paddock to mooch around in and therefore can stretch his legs a little and his stiffness disappeared and all through the winter he was fine. But over the last couple of months I have noticed that he has got stiffer, even though he is out 24/7 ish again ....

He is hacked out on both Saturday and Sunday for an average of 1 ½ hours and seems absolutely fine when ridden, apart from, over the last couple of months again, seen that he is scrapping his hind toes!

I walk him back to the stables every day and try and take him for a walk up the lane for 15 minutes, as much as I can.

I would take him out more however, my TB will not allow him to be separated, so it is also dependant of another rider, or I have to ride and lead, which is not my preferred option

He is on Newmarket Joint Supplement and has just starting having Corn Oil …

Is this really the beginning of the end ….

A large one for anyone who gets to here …. and I am joining you

 

[brighteyes]

Oh bugger - is it stiffness or weakness or pain perhaps?

This is what I will worry about next - they really don't like not being able to get up

How did he finally stand up?

If it's stiffness, all I can suggest is another supplement - although I'm betting you have him on everything possible which is suitable and appropriate for him.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

It may be, but my friend has a chap who was a trotting racer (Standardbred) who is 26 and has the worst legs youve ever seen, one of his hinds turns inwards markedly, hes got shot tendons, arthritis, always gets abcesses etc. But he doesnt want to give up, hes got a lot of spirit. It sometimes takes him 3 goes to get up - but if a horse goes past the field he takes off and canters alongside. He sometimes has good nights and bad nights. He isnt ridden tho but thats because he got very lame and isnt now hes retired.
Your field shelter bed looks like my friends Princess and the Pea bed - I used to take her 'dirty' sieved shavings to put into my shitty monsters lairs! They were pristine.

I guess what I am saying is that your chap will tell you how he is feeling, his dragging might mean he needs different farriery approach, the bad nights might mean he needs extra help on the shelter walls to give him purchase as he gets up, but none of it is disastrous as long as he is happy. And you know whether he is happy or not. My friends horse is happy, you can tell, despite his compromised mobility, so they can surprise even the vets )

 

[brighteyes]

I wish I'd enough brains to post this! It is what I think exactly.

 

[popsicle]

I really feel for you. But if he is still hacking out ok, I guess he's just getting old and stiff. If he is still eating and doesn't seem depressed, then it's probably not as bad as it looks to you. I heard that a herbal remedy with devils claw in can really work wonders in the long term, it might be worth trying. good luck x

 

[flowerlady]

Awe Eagleston,

I've been there 4 years ago was told to retire mine as he had a damaged sacrialic joint. The silly b*gger always laid on the bad side so it seemed to go dead. He couldn't get up very well. He used to sit like a dog for about 5 to ten mins (or thats how long it seemed) He got slower and slower and began to look quite miserable as winter was drawing in I had a company come and alter the side door to large garage/workshop made into another stable door. Why! Well after 2 years of retirement because I knew that this would be his last winter and he always got down in his stable, bought thick rubber matting and put 6 inches of shaving on top. I did this because when the time came I didn't want them to have to break his legs to get him out of the stable (he was 17.1) there's no way the ywould have got him out of a normal stable door. When the time came one morning (I used to dread looking out the back door because I knew if his head wasn't looking out he couldn't get up). Sent OH out to check he said call the vet. He was pts the dividing wooden wall was pulled down and the large wooded garage doors opened. (I stayed in the house sobbing) Still do when I talk about it.

Sorry didn't mean for this to be so long. I hope he's still got quite a while to go yet. But YOU will know.

 

[kit279]

Aww, I'm sorry that you're feeling bad. If it's any consolation, my dad retired a lot of golden oldies to our home. He was a vet and was always concerned about their quality of life, when they didn't enjoy life anymore, they were PTS. Nearly all of them were very stiff in the mornings when they got up. We used to joke about the zimmer frame paddock! But it wasn't until they weren't eating properly and lost condition that they were PTS. If I were you, I'd just keep an eye on him and try not to 'look for things' if you know what I mean. Once you start worrying, you start to see all sort of things you wouldn't have noticed before.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Ah E. It's hard isn't it to see age catching up and overtaking them. I guess ned is on bute or danilon? Re his back feet, another owner on the Forum has a golden oldie and the farrier has to come every couple of weeks to file a bit off ned's feet coz he can't stand long enough with a foot in the air for the farrier to do it all at once. I think that's a brilliant idea. I know your ned has shoes coz he's still ridden, but a thought for the future. But he still sounds as though he's enjoying life, even if the limits of what he can do are shrinking little by little. As all animal owners know, they do tell us when it's time. I always say, pretend your ned can speak. If you asked him how he is and if he would rather have a lovely long, painfree, forever sleep, what would he say? I think at the moment, he would say Don't be daft, I want my hack out at the weekend and there's my daily grass treat to look forward to etc etc. Hang in there E and carry on keeping a close and loving eye on him xxxxx

 

[cellie]

Only read your post to send some moral support.There was one thing that crossed my mind would gel pads help ease his discomfort with back shoes maybe a little bit of cushioning to help with the old age.Try and keep positive

 

[Eaglestone]

Thank you so much for all your replies .... it is amazing how much it helps knowing that there is so much support and love and caring out there

Brighteyes

Not sure if it is stiffness, weakness or pain so I think I ought to have a word with my Vet … and the Farrier again before he visits ‘mob handed’ next week.

I will look to change his Joint Supplement, as the one he is on is Pure Glucosamine, but this is what Vet suggested a couple of years ago, after being on Danilon for months on end.


Haffieliesel

Aw thank you for your compliment about his field shelter …. This stems from being told that your bed should look inviting enough to sleep in yourself …. It does help that he is a very clean boy.

He seems to be causing the mess at the front of the shelter …. and when I watched him get up tonight, you could see that he struggles if he does not get a good ‘purchase’ on the ground ….. He is fine in his stable, which is completely fitted out with rubber matting and a full 6 inch bed …. I think I will buy rubber matting for the floor of his field shelter now.

Motor is still a very happy chappie and what made it worse tonight is the fact that he was cantering out for his grass as happy as larry and then was so excited (of perhaps stressed due the flies) that he decided to roll.

Popsicle

Thank you for your suggestion on the Herbal remedy of Devils Claw, I will go off and google it …..

He is eating better than he has for months and funnily enough I was about to put a post on with a pic to show everyone how well he looked …. It is just this, dropping himself down to the ground with a bang thing, and then struggling to get up ……..

Flowerlady

Fortunately his field shelter has easy free access and he seems more at ease in this Stable as he has rubber matting plus a full shavings bed.

I know what you mean about starting to worry .... that started in October 2005 when he went down with the Cushings Induced Laminitis and I have got steadily worse each month

Kit279

Thanks for your reply … and yes the quality of his life is the best I can give him …. but I may see if there is a Zimmer for Horses ……

As you will see from my response to Flower lady …. I started worrying too much ages ago

Box of Frogs

Motor is not on Danilon …. I will talk to the Vet and see if she suggests that I put him on it so see if the stiffness reduces.

I will also talk to Farrier before he comes next week ..

I know that if Motor could talk he would say he is quite happy …. I can tell from the squeals he does and the whinneys when he hears me and how he contentedly eats his tea ATM ….. And the fact that he did initially Canter out of his paddock squealing … he would be happier though, if he was allowed to be turned out in the full 6 acres, he used to share with his mate

Cellie

Aw thanks for the moral support … will talk to Farriers about Gel Pads

 

[ann-jen]

All you are describing sounds exactly what I went through with my oldie before she died. She became progressively more arthritic as she got older and was on bute most of the time in her retirement. The one thing I would say is she got a lot worse when I did retire her - I think the little bit of exercise I did give her kept her ticking over and when I stopped she stiffened up a lot more so the fact that your lad is still enjoying hacking out is great.
As far as the farrier is concerned - I had similar problems. Once she was retired I took her shoes off - which took her a bit of time to acclimatize to but once her soles hardened up she coped really well. We took her hinds off first and let her get used to that and then eventually her fronts too. She obviously still needed them trimming from time to time - but realistically not as often as when she was shod. She used to find it quite uncomfortable to stand in position for the farrier and he equally found it a strain on his back to sit lower for her to trim her feet. He came up with a ingenious way round it which was why I was replying to your post. He built a little raised platform that Cherry (and his other OAPs) could be led onto but there was a little section that was cut out where he could place the foot so it was already off the ground a bit so he didn't need to lift her foot so high. I'm probably not explaining it very well but I hope you get the gist. Anyway it worked wonders for both of them and made shoeing/trimming so much easier for both of them. Cherry was a very laid back type of pony mind - it might not work if you had one that was a bit uptight and fidgety but I thought I'd mention it in case it helped with your oldie too. I was so grateful to my farrier for making it - he said he had loads of oldies and it wasn't doing his back any favours but I still think he was very thoughtful to have made that instead of just forcing them to hoick their legs right up. Sadly he's no longer a farrier although my current one is equally brill.

 

[Eaglestone]

ann-jen
Thank your help and advice ... I will print this out and see what my Farrier has to say, as this 'platform' sounds really intriguing

 

[Rana]

Hi Eaglestone

Your chap sounds just like my girl, with the only difference being that she doesn't struggle to get up. She does hit the ground with a bang though! She also can't hold her back legs up very well, and kicks out when I pick her feet out. Somehow, she's better for the farrier!

Mine is fully retired now, as she isn't sound enough to work in circles, and isn't quiet enough to make a sensible hack (in fact, she's borderline dangerous when she's out and about).

I completely understand the highs and lows with oldies, and the advice given above is the best - you will know when the time comes.

That said, from what you've posted, I don't think your chap is anywhere near that. My girly is 26, I've had her since she was 14. She had a hard life as a polo pony, and doesn't have a good leg on her (splints, tendons, arthritis, scars, you name it). She was stiff when I got her, and I don't think she's got much worse.

Can you ask your farriers opinion? Sounds silly, but he sees Motor regularly (more so than the vet I would guess!), but less often than you do. Sometimes when you see them every day, you notice the tiniest thing, when really you need to look at the overall picture. I'm completely guilty of this! I changed farriers a while back, and thought Rana was getting much stiffer. Went back to my original farrier, warning him that she was lots worse. He told me to stop worrying, she was only very slightly stiffer, and he shoes much worse. Put my mind at rest!

Do you know where Motor is stiff? Just thinking, if it's through his hocks/fetlocks, perhaps "leg warmers" might help. If Wormhugs reads this, she might be able to recommend the brand she used for her chap. I thought they made a huge difference to him on a winter morning. (She may disagree!)

The weather also isn't what we would expect for this time of year. If he's arthritic, this slightly chilly, damp, weather won't be helping.

Sorry, this has got really long! Hope it helps anyway

 

[wormhugs]

I have indeed read this post Rana!

The hock socks that I have used on my boy are 'hock socks' :http://www.kmeliteproducts.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=band006
if you want to have a look at them, Eaglestone. I also use wraps on his lower legs in winter, which are Thermatex ones.
I think all the advice on here has been lovely, people are really rooting for Motor, and I would second Box of Frogs' suggestion that Danilon might help him feel a bit more comfortable about using his poorly stiff joints.
Could you give him a hug from me Eaglestone, he sounds such a lovely chap from your previous posts about him

 

[HayleyandBob]

defo keep the excercise up!, i decided to retire my boy thinking it would be nice for him to enjoy some time in the field but its probably the worst decision i could have made, and its now hard to get him back into work

my boys also has cushing (mild), and has "bad" knees and i also havnt seen him roll that much, but he certainly enjoys his food and isnt ready to give up yet, so i guess our job is just to try make hima s comfy as possible!, i have found bute is the only thing that really works, not nice but it helps!, and i have noticed a difference when i took him off it for a few days, it got to the point were i thought it was ner the end but put him back on bute to ease the pain and he was a spring chicken again lol

try to forget the bad days and make the most of the days when there feeling good !

 

[alisonpook]

Hi -Eaglestone - Sorry to read this - just a few quick thoughts as am at work. Jamie is similar in his roll technique - lowers to a certain degree and then wallop - hits the floor with a bang - I have to turn away at times - we can only protect them so much. He tends to always go down on the same side and somedays you can see the bruising.Some days are better than others and hopefully the episode you saw was on 'off'day . I think I am one of the few sad people happy for wet summers and soft ground. Jamie also went through a toe dragging phase almost verging on lameness.This responded well to visits from both a 'back' girl and a 'muscle' girl and he now has regular visit to help keep niggles and compensatory issues at bay. May be worth a thought. Re the general stiffness have you researched Pernamax - may be worth a look - supposed to be good for general stiffness and their site mentions positive results in some laminitics - Re the shoeing issue it may be worth slipping him some Danilon a day or so prior to ease any aches or pains. Have you considered the amount of exercise he does in any one go. In his younger days Jamie could still be galloping down the road pulling my arms out after a 15 mile drag meet but would be rather sore the next day. These boys with a fighting spirit put their heart and soul into things but sometimes the next day their bodies pay the penalty. I know the strain - each time we have a blip I wonder if this in the One but keep heart girl you are doing a wonderful job of looking after him in his senior years -
All the very best to you and Motor
PS : I only saw your post the other day with his history and pictures and have been intending to send you a pm with a general update + query on natural Balance shoes.

 

[CBAnglo]

I would ask the farrier to maybe roll the toes back a bit behind so not dragging so much? Also, make sure his back is checked - if he is sore at all in the back/pelvis then this could lead to toe dragging.

I think he has a ways to go yet. I know a 34 year old who cant get up in the field. Takes 5 people with lunge lines to haul him up but once he is up he happily grazes and trots around. He finds the grass too slippery to get up on and is fine in the stable as he has rubber matting - think your idea of rubber matting in field shelter is good.

Other things I could suggest are trying other joint supplements and also apple cider vinegar which has made a difference to both of mine. Also, magnetic wraps in winter might help - I have a magnetic rug for mine to promote circulation in his back (old pelvis injury) and I think it has made a difference as well.

I think you need to work him more regularly and not just on weekends, especially when he hasnt done anything Mon-Fri and then being hacked out 1.5 hours sat and sun. he needs more regular consistent work. A friend of mine has a 26 year old with arthritis in the stifle - makes him walk on 3 tracks. He was retired at 24 after a life of eventing and later hacking 6 times a week and overnight turned into a stiff horse who couldnt move. So he decided to start gently walking him out for 10 mins every now and then. Now he hacks him out in walk and trot for about an hour 4 times a week and he canters about the field (he also tries to canter on hacks but he isnt allowed). He is on 1 bute a day for the stiffness but if he wasnt worked 4 times a week he wouldnt be able to move now and would be back on 2 bute a day. Long term I think danilon is much better though.

 

[HayleyandBob]

forgot to say my boy doesnt have shoes, and has his toes trimmed back to !, which has defo helped with tripping and dragging his hooves!

 

[CBAnglo]

Oh, just to add that I am on week 4 of trying pernamax and havent seen a difference at all. will decide whether or not to continue once I have finished the bottle but in the meantime both of mine are still on superflex which is the only thing that I have seen make a difference, apart from ACV.

Pernamax is meant to be good for laminitics and also for sweet itch (think it has improved that slightly for my two). I know someone else who has a horse with lam/cush and she uses pernamax on the advice of her vet and she thinks it has helped. but her horse hasnt had more than a blade of grass in 10 years nor has he had anything other than coarse last year's hay - she cant even risk soaking this year's hay for him and he is only about 16.

 

[Theresa_F]

This is what I am going through with Cairo. He is a big old lad - 16.3 clydesdale and 740 k and now 23 and realistically we know he may not have many years left.

I found when he initially started having problems that feeding instant linseed, glucosamine and MSM helped - for him this was as good as cortaflex. The other thing that for him really assisted was putting on magnetic straps that he wear non-stop. I made sure he was kept warm and had regular exercise and out as much as possible.

He was not doing too bad until this January when he had a piece of bone break on his near hind resulting in some ligaments coming away which caused his tendon to blow.

Now he is not great and is retired. I have put magnetics on all four legs now, and added Global Herbs morefree which seems to improve things. He has a danilon am and pm.

We keep him out as much as possible - 24 x 7 from May to October and I hope I have found another field to rent next to his so this year he will be out every day in winter. Again he is rugged when it is wet or cool to keep his hips warm. He is walked in hand 4 days a week for 10 mins and we still do a short 20 min hack every few weeks which he really enjoys.

He had another physio session this week and his hips had a lot of work and he better at raising his hind legs to have them picked out, so though £60 a time, he will now have this every other month - we will do anything to keep him comfortable.

Feet - hinds are very difficul to do. He is barefoot but it is hard for trimming as the damaged leg can't hold his weight for more than about 30 seconds to a minute. Very distressing to see him trying to stand as he is such a good old boy and he finds it distressing that he can't stand for trimming.

Walking on concrete helps to keep them down, hence his walks in hand - up to the pub which he loves. My farrier is teaching me to rasp this weekend so we can do a few strokes every day to keep his feet down rather than any more trimming. He will trim the fronts and monitor the hinds to make sure I am keeping them ok

He can still get up and down though a bit wobbly. He does not seem to worry that it can take a couple of pushes. He does lie down a lot to sleep now - sometimes for over an hour. His stable has thick rubber mats for when he is in.

However, we have said when he really struggles and shows distress or the first time he cannot get up, it will be time to go as he is so big we can't attempt to help him and we want him to enjoy life not fear it.

It is heart breaking to see him getting old, but as long as he can get up, and is comfortable mooching about the field we will keep him for as long as we can.

Hope some of the above may help in your case.

 

[Charlie77]

You know what im in the same place as you, I have found having my old girl on Pergalide for the Cushing's & 2 x Danilon has helped her a great deal, I am wondering how much more would be fare to her though! at the moment she is happy and moving around much better than she has in years! and for the first time in 3 years she is not on restricted grass.

Good Luck!

 

[Fransurrey]

It happens to us all at some stage, Cushings or not. Things do get harder and that includes getting up and down. My old boy very rarely rolls (in fact I've never seen him roll in the whole 6 years I've had him), but there is evidence that he does it when I'm not there.

I would say that for 1.5 hrs hacking a week, I wouldn't bother with shoes and would get hoof boots instead.

I do know how you feel. I sometimes see my little man and get all tearful, thinking, 'this is the last summer/winter'. Then the little critter bounces back and although he's always stiff, now, he enjoys a good mooch around and even manages to put my piggy exmoor in his place, these days!

That bed looks fantastic! Makes ME want to dive in!

 

[Pink_Pampas]

Hi, I noticed my 26 year old taking a couple of tries to get up after rolling around March. I had him on pure Glucosamine from December onwards as he stiffened up up over winter. This didnt seem to do much and switched him onto Cortaflex HA liquid around May. Spoke to the vet when I noticed this and she put him on 1 bute a day for a week then I gradually reduced it down to half every other day while starting him on devils claw (2 capsules a day from Holland and Barret) to give that a couple of weeks to start working. I have taken him off bute now so he has Cortaflex HA, cod liver oil and devils claw. I would give him cider vinegar but he wont eat it. I think everything has helped a little bit - and being out 24/7 over summer. I think the cortaflex had started to kick in when I had the vet out a few of weeks ago as he was alot better for him (did flexion tests and watched him cantering etc). I may have to put him back on bute in the winter but am going to get some magnetic hock boots as some people on here recommend them. It really isnt nice to watch, but once he's up he is fine - vet is happy for him to be hacked 3 or 4 times a week as he walks and trots fine and is no worse the day after. I am just going to see how he is as each week goes on and adjust his workload/pain management accordingly, but there will be that dredded day which is hopefully a while away yet. It really is horrible to see them ageing, and can empathise with you.

 

[Araminta]

You could try Sports massage, Bowen or Equine Touch.

I have seen really good results on older/ stiffer horses from all of the above.

 

[Eaglestone]

I really cannot believe the amount of support I have recieved .... Thank you All very much

Rana

I am glad to hear that your girl is doing ok …. however I should not be ‘glad’ hearing that your girl goes down with a bang, but feel less ‘alone’ now ....

I do not know why his sudden stiffness has come on ..... I have now arranged to have someone come to check him over .... all booked for 1st August

Wormhugs

Aw thank you for your Hug for Motor and he has had that today

... and yes he is a lovely chap and means the world to me

I will look at the Hock Socks and consider the lower leg wraps and the Danilon .... will see what the Vet has to say as I will be getting my 'favourite' Vet out to see him asap ..... mind you she is the one that instantly diagnosed his DDFT problem and his Cushings, in and instance ... so unfortunately is kind of a bearer of bad news .... but I trust her with my Boy

Bob the Cob

Thanks for your reply.

I will defo keep the exercise up, unless advised not to by my Vet .... and will put him on a NSAID if the Vet advises

EllieP

Thank you so much for your thoughts …… Sounds likes Jamie’s ‘Wallop’ is exactly the same as Motor’s ….and yes I really wanted to turn away and not see it happening, but I was so pleased seeing him so excited that I was watching …… and the bruising is one of my worries …..

I am in the same ‘club’ as you, as Motor quite happily rolled regularly when the ground was soft and he found that easy …. Mind you the ‘extra’ stiffness has only been apparent this last couple of months (since being out in his Field Shelter paddock nearly 24/7

).

His stable is back ready for him now …. But when I let him stand in during the day, the little bugger will not lie down, as he is so ‘shy’ about it

I have never heard of Pernamax …so will have a google on it

The only chance I have to get the two horses out ATM is at weekends …. I cannot split them up as the TB does a hoooooooooly …… I keep my two horses separately to others, so am basically on my own …. Which I love, but it does not help Motors ‘issues’ ....


CBAnglo

Thanks for your advice …

He is in NB shoes and therefore his toes are already ‘rolled’ ….. and the ‘back’ lady is booked for 1st August

And yes I agree with you , he does (fingers crossed) have a long way to go yet ….. He is looking so good atm …… let’s hope I can elivate this problem a little

The Laminitis Trust suggested Cider Vinegar for him, as well

Will have a look at the Magnetic Wraps …. I have never been one for extra ’gadgets’ ….but I expect I will now have to consider them …….


Theresa_F

Oh Hug for Cairo… sounds like he is as dear to your heart as Motor to me…… and yes your reply has helped me …

Another vote for Magnetic boots and another chap taking a couple of pushes to get up ….. Motor has thick rubber matting in his stable, topped with a normal shavings bed

Charlie77

You are soooooooooo lucky that you r girl is not on restricted grass ….. How do you get away with that ????


FranSurrey

Thanks for your support

I have not seen Motor roll in the field, since the ground hardened …… I was hoping it was due to him ‘knowing’ not to …. Perhaps he just forgot that day!

Awwww thanks for the compliment on his bed …… the one in his stable matches

Pink_Pambas

Thanks for all the extra ideas regarding Cortaflex HA Liquid ….. I vaguely recall that this one is expensive?

…. And yes I agree it is not nice to watch them struggle and I now wish that I had not looked

Araminta

Thanks for your reply.

Now then .... I know an ‘Aramita’ in RL I doubt it is you though

I have booked a back lady for 1st August

A big 'Thank You' to you all

 

[Chex]

Chex is another one one seems to fall from a great height and land wth a wallop! Must be an old horse thing. He rolls all the time so I don't think it bothers him, strangely. Only seen him struggling to get up a few times - it certainly is a "heart in mouth" moment

I found taking his back shoes off made a big difference, he was always lame for a week after he was shod.