JenHunt
Well-Known Member
after a bit of a nightmare summer with our boys - firstly they came out of the winter feeling a bit fed up, and looking a bit poorer than i'd have liked, and our grass didn't really get going... so I roughed them off in March, and didn't ride again with any serious intent until the end of may...
then end of June Tom came in from the field having skinned a 5x6inch patch of skin off the front of one hock!
fortunately no stitching required, but he did have 10 days of antibiotics and bute, and every time he moved it opened up a bit again.... which meant I couldn't do anything with Ron as Tom gets so stressed when you leave him behind.... then in August we finally thought we could make a proper start on bringing them back up for hunting.
then, mid september Ron came in from the field not right in walk, and definitely lame in trot... not a jot of heat or swelling or anything, anywhere.... a couple of days box rest and he improved enough that I put him out, watching him carefully. now we only had odd strides in walk that weren't right, and he was less obviously lame in trot. I could only conclude that it was a bit of a bruised sole. But, it has seemed to rumble on and just when I'd think he was ok, we'd get a few strides that weren't right... I'd spoken to my vet on the phone and he'd said to just monitor him, ride if he seemed ok but then watch to see if he was better/worse/no different after, and make a note. We built up a diary and could see no pattern, until my dad spotted that he'd seen them larking about in the field one morning when Ron was worse on the evening.... The farrier was out routinely and had a good look, and could find nothing, but suggested that it might be early navicular, or DDFT strain.
Finally last week I'd had enough, I think it was the opening meet that did it! I asked the vet to come and see him, and today was the day! He's said that most likely thing is a bad bruise in the heel, which could potentially take 8 weeks to fully disappear.... anyway, he thinks that while at 19 arthritic changes are likely, he doubts that's what's caused this!! So, we're to give him a course of bute, and work him, and see how he goes, and see whether he gets worse when he comes off it. The vet even said, even if he's the same as now then he'd be happy for us to hunt on one bute as and when he needs it.
So, the best news of this year.... my hunting season is back on!!
*trundles off to dig out the clippers!*
then end of June Tom came in from the field having skinned a 5x6inch patch of skin off the front of one hock!
fortunately no stitching required, but he did have 10 days of antibiotics and bute, and every time he moved it opened up a bit again.... which meant I couldn't do anything with Ron as Tom gets so stressed when you leave him behind.... then in August we finally thought we could make a proper start on bringing them back up for hunting.then, mid september Ron came in from the field not right in walk, and definitely lame in trot... not a jot of heat or swelling or anything, anywhere....
a couple of days box rest and he improved enough that I put him out, watching him carefully. now we only had odd strides in walk that weren't right, and he was less obviously lame in trot. I could only conclude that it was a bit of a bruised sole. But, it has seemed to rumble on and just when I'd think he was ok, we'd get a few strides that weren't right... I'd spoken to my vet on the phone and he'd said to just monitor him, ride if he seemed ok but then watch to see if he was better/worse/no different after, and make a note. We built up a diary and could see no pattern, until my dad spotted that he'd seen them larking about in the field one morning when Ron was worse on the evening.... The farrier was out routinely and had a good look, and could find nothing, but suggested that it might be early navicular, or DDFT strain. Finally last week I'd had enough, I think it was the opening meet that did it!
I asked the vet to come and see him, and today was the day! He's said that most likely thing is a bad bruise in the heel, which could potentially take 8 weeks to fully disappear.... anyway, he thinks that while at 19 arthritic changes are likely, he doubts that's what's caused this!! So, we're to give him a course of bute, and work him, and see how he goes, and see whether he gets worse when he comes off it. The vet even said, even if he's the same as now then he'd be happy for us to hunt on one bute as and when he needs it. So, the best news of this year.... my hunting season is back on!!
*trundles off to dig out the clippers!*
