Wagtail
Horse servant
This is a bit long, sorry!
I am posting this just to give hope to all those people dealing with horse injuries that can sometimes seem hopeless. Almost three years ago my mare suffered a catastrophic injury to her shoulder in the field. She was on three legs. That night I sat up with her watching her pain filled eyes and her repeated failed attempts to lie down. The vet had seen her at 6 pm and given her massive injection of pain relief, but despite this, by 4 am my finger was hovering over the vets number to have her PTS. Then, suddenly, just as I was about to press the speed dail, she lay down. I looked at her and her eyes had softened and she gradually spead herself down and closed her eyes. I watched her for a few minutes and then thought I would leave her and try to get some sleep myself. At 6 am I was back out with her and she was on her feet, still on three legs but the pain had gone from her eyes.
She was box rested and after 12 weeks was sound enough to travel to Rossdales for evaluation. She had bone chips in the point of shoulder and her bicceps brachii tendon was almost ruptured in half. The joint was extremely unstable and the vets told me the bad news. That she would never be ridden again, and it looked doubtful that she would ever be paddock sound. I was gutted. She was not in much pain, but the joint was mechanically impaired and could give way if overly stressed.
I got her home and looked at her. She looked bright and happy and full of spirit, so I decided to make a go of it.
Long story short, it has taken her three years to come fully sound. But now I am back riding her. We have a long way to go. I have started short bursts of trot and she is flowing and loose and over her back swinging. She is straight and supple, and much easier and more flexible than the younger uninjured horses here that I ride. We may have a major setback, who knows? But I just wanted to repeat what my delighted vet who treated her at Rossdales said:
"It is often the most hopeless cases that come right in the end. I am forever being surprised."
I would have been happy, just having her alive and well as a paddock ornament, so this is a massive bonus for me. As for her, I can tell she is pleased as punch to have me back in the saddle, though she must have noticed the extra stone I have gained since I last rode her.
I am posting this just to give hope to all those people dealing with horse injuries that can sometimes seem hopeless. Almost three years ago my mare suffered a catastrophic injury to her shoulder in the field. She was on three legs. That night I sat up with her watching her pain filled eyes and her repeated failed attempts to lie down. The vet had seen her at 6 pm and given her massive injection of pain relief, but despite this, by 4 am my finger was hovering over the vets number to have her PTS. Then, suddenly, just as I was about to press the speed dail, she lay down. I looked at her and her eyes had softened and she gradually spead herself down and closed her eyes. I watched her for a few minutes and then thought I would leave her and try to get some sleep myself. At 6 am I was back out with her and she was on her feet, still on three legs but the pain had gone from her eyes.
She was box rested and after 12 weeks was sound enough to travel to Rossdales for evaluation. She had bone chips in the point of shoulder and her bicceps brachii tendon was almost ruptured in half. The joint was extremely unstable and the vets told me the bad news. That she would never be ridden again, and it looked doubtful that she would ever be paddock sound. I was gutted. She was not in much pain, but the joint was mechanically impaired and could give way if overly stressed.
I got her home and looked at her. She looked bright and happy and full of spirit, so I decided to make a go of it.
Long story short, it has taken her three years to come fully sound. But now I am back riding her. We have a long way to go. I have started short bursts of trot and she is flowing and loose and over her back swinging. She is straight and supple, and much easier and more flexible than the younger uninjured horses here that I ride. We may have a major setback, who knows? But I just wanted to repeat what my delighted vet who treated her at Rossdales said:
"It is often the most hopeless cases that come right in the end. I am forever being surprised."
I would have been happy, just having her alive and well as a paddock ornament, so this is a massive bonus for me. As for her, I can tell she is pleased as punch to have me back in the saddle, though she must have noticed the extra stone I have gained since I last rode her.
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so glad to hear. So many people would of just given up and you have carried on and come out the end of it, very happy for you x
I thought i posted that I hope your boy gets better soon. Some horses are always in the wars, especially TBs. 