khalswitz
Well-Known Member
Bit of a mixed bag this report - and none of it even involved competing this time.
The bad news first. Geoff is broken
As I posted a little while ago with the dramatic shoe-twisting and foot-impaling scenario, and the subsequent jumping outing where he turned into a rodeo pony again for the first time in seven months, he has been as high as a kite. He even came in one day lathered an inch thick in sweat from the field. Something has been Up.
I went up to catch him on Wednesday night and the YO caught me. Said Geoff had been very unsettled and jumping up onto the bank next to the fence line and down again, and galloping right up to the gate as if to jump (which he can!) before skidding to a halt and galloping off again. Went down just to feed, as had a horrific cold, and he ambled up to me. Fed him, but noticed he was a bit... Trippy. He went to walk away, and on the turn I watched him trip again. He wasn't right.
When I took him on the hard and tried to trot him up he looked clearly lame, on the hind leg where he had twisted the shoe two weeks before. Must have abscessed. Took him in, and called the farrier who came out the next morning. He was very quiet when I arrived, unlike him, and when I took him out of the box he looked very, very lame on his opposite fore. Farrier took a quick look and agreed opposite fore, no sign of any tenderness in either foot.
I did a thermal scan, to see what I really didn't want to see - a lot of heat over the inside of his fetlock. I didn't have my computer with me so couldn't refine the images to get a look at the individual tendons, but that was now my fear.
Out came the vet, who said on palpation he seemed very tender over the inside of his fetlock. She said it didn't seem specific to a tendon or tendon extension, so he is on box rest for a week with antiinflammatories. If he is still lame, we start nerve blocking and scanning tendons. But I am keeping fingers crossed for it just being a strain from hooning around the field. He has been a very good, quiet patient so far, which to be honest is a bad sign... If he was feeling well he'd be very angry by now...
However, some better news. I've been looking for a part time job alongside my business for a wee while now, just to keep me going through the quieter winter season especially. Part time office work has proved hard to find, and I'm hating doing bar work with a passion. However, I saw a flexible part time position advertised last week on an event yard - I applied, was interviewed, and have been offered it!
It's part time, assisting with general yard duties, cover when they are away (with not very many events let alone international events in Scotland they travel quite a bit), and a bit of riding. I'm very excited, albeit a bit nervous. Have warned them that I'm no comp groom, and whilst I'm very happy and confident dealing with youngsters and riding different types of horses I am far, far from a pro rider. I go along for a half day on Monday to sort out the fine details and get to know the routine a bit.
So all very mixed news in our world at the moment!! Vibes appreciated for Geoff, and fingers crossed for me for Monday!!!
The bad news first. Geoff is broken
As I posted a little while ago with the dramatic shoe-twisting and foot-impaling scenario, and the subsequent jumping outing where he turned into a rodeo pony again for the first time in seven months, he has been as high as a kite. He even came in one day lathered an inch thick in sweat from the field. Something has been Up.
I went up to catch him on Wednesday night and the YO caught me. Said Geoff had been very unsettled and jumping up onto the bank next to the fence line and down again, and galloping right up to the gate as if to jump (which he can!) before skidding to a halt and galloping off again. Went down just to feed, as had a horrific cold, and he ambled up to me. Fed him, but noticed he was a bit... Trippy. He went to walk away, and on the turn I watched him trip again. He wasn't right.
When I took him on the hard and tried to trot him up he looked clearly lame, on the hind leg where he had twisted the shoe two weeks before. Must have abscessed. Took him in, and called the farrier who came out the next morning. He was very quiet when I arrived, unlike him, and when I took him out of the box he looked very, very lame on his opposite fore. Farrier took a quick look and agreed opposite fore, no sign of any tenderness in either foot.
I did a thermal scan, to see what I really didn't want to see - a lot of heat over the inside of his fetlock. I didn't have my computer with me so couldn't refine the images to get a look at the individual tendons, but that was now my fear.
Out came the vet, who said on palpation he seemed very tender over the inside of his fetlock. She said it didn't seem specific to a tendon or tendon extension, so he is on box rest for a week with antiinflammatories. If he is still lame, we start nerve blocking and scanning tendons. But I am keeping fingers crossed for it just being a strain from hooning around the field. He has been a very good, quiet patient so far, which to be honest is a bad sign... If he was feeling well he'd be very angry by now...
However, some better news. I've been looking for a part time job alongside my business for a wee while now, just to keep me going through the quieter winter season especially. Part time office work has proved hard to find, and I'm hating doing bar work with a passion. However, I saw a flexible part time position advertised last week on an event yard - I applied, was interviewed, and have been offered it!
It's part time, assisting with general yard duties, cover when they are away (with not very many events let alone international events in Scotland they travel quite a bit), and a bit of riding. I'm very excited, albeit a bit nervous. Have warned them that I'm no comp groom, and whilst I'm very happy and confident dealing with youngsters and riding different types of horses I am far, far from a pro rider. I go along for a half day on Monday to sort out the fine details and get to know the routine a bit.
So all very mixed news in our world at the moment!! Vibes appreciated for Geoff, and fingers crossed for me for Monday!!!
