tremorfa
Well-Known Member
As some of you will know, i got Clyde-a 17year old cob- on loan last year. He had been on light duties for a year. He had ruptured his Peroneus Tertius tendon in his off hind in Nov 2005. By the time i got him, he was allowed to be ridden at walk and trot, nothing more. We have spent the last 3 months getting to know each other, I fell off in December, which dented my confidence. I just got back on him again last week, so far, so good. On Mondays, we go to RDA. We are the only branch in our group to carry on during the winter as we are allowed to use an indoor school. In order to get there, we have to be boxed. He has never been in a box, but has done really well. He might get stubborn, but only for a few minutes. Because he once kicked the inside when he was being transported sideways, the leader decided to make him travel facing forward. Now, he is fairly big boy. So, last Monday, he was loaded up the side ramp to face forward. As they had already loaded one horse, Clyde had to go up the ramp, turn round in a very small area to face the front AND pick his back legs up over the high step into the box. Anyway, he slipped on his near hind leg. By the time we got to RDA, he was lame. He has not improved, so today, out comes the vet. Guesss what? He has done exactly the same thing to his other back leg! The vet was astonished. He said that, not only was the original injury rare, it is unique for a horse to injure it's other leg as well. He has actually taken pictures of Clyde. If you can imagine it, lift your horse's hind leg as if to pick out it's feet. The foot automatically bends into your hand. With this injury, the leg is kept totally straight from the stifle to the foot,something you cannot do with a sound leg. It made me feel physically sick to see the vet flexing Clyde's leg. So, he is on box rest for 6 weeks, then very restricted grazing for six weeks. I wish I had gone with my original inclination and not gone to RDA because of the rain!(I have to walk him quite a way to get to where the lorry picks us up) He will be thoroughly spoiled of course. So, I now have to go to a riding school to keep my confidence up for when I can ride him again!
