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drats!
Apr 13, 2014 6:50:41 GMT -5
Post by Trailpal on Apr 13, 2014 6:50:41 GMT -5
Tanner and I have been doing pretty well at the new place - With the drier weather, I've been riding about an hour 3-4 times a week. We start in the arena to warm up then ride up and down the driveway or explore areas around the farm. The driveway has some nice hills to it, and even the arena has a slope and I use it to our advantage. He's in at night and out with two geldings during the day. Friday, I brought him in to ride. After tacking, as I led him out I saw a "hitch" in his left hind. So I just had him walk in the round pen to see if he would warm out of it. He tracked up well on both sides and seemed to be working fine, so I got on - and he did not feel right, so I did not ride. He had the same thing (much more pronounced) once over the winter - the next day, he was turned out the next day and was running and bucking. Saturday, I was hoping he'd be ok, but it is a little worse. I had to walk him a few steps before that leg was loose enough to pick up to clean the hoof. I just did a good grooming (he likes the attention) and gave him two bute for any swelling. I felt all along that leg hoof-to-hip and felt no heat or swelling, so am guessing it's a mechanical thing like a locked stifle or slipped patella. The vet is coming for shots on Thursday and I can ask if they will confirm what I think it is. At least he doesn't seem to be in pain. I hope it resolves quickly - I'm signed up and have paid for a 3-day clinic 2 hours away the first weekend in May. Darn, I hate making plans! things always seem to come up
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drats!
Apr 13, 2014 9:46:09 GMT -5
Post by ride4fun on Apr 13, 2014 9:46:09 GMT -5
I understand that feeling like making firm plans is often a jinx with horses. I hate when a ride needs pre-entry cuz of that very superstition.
I hope Tanner is sound again very soon.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 13, 2014 10:28:34 GMT -5
Bummer!
Suggest getting a copy of "The Well Adjusted Horse" by Dr. Daniel Kamen. The best part of the book is all the diagnostic stuff that allows you to figure out just where the problem actually is. And there are some super easy things in there you can do without getting in over your head. Tony's favorite was the tail pull to stretch his spine. He used to love that. You could tell that it felt really good.
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drats!
Apr 13, 2014 18:01:50 GMT -5
Post by MJ on Apr 13, 2014 18:01:50 GMT -5
I sure hope he gets better quickly. I'm going to see if I can find that book at the Library.
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drats!
Apr 13, 2014 23:16:59 GMT -5
Post by Trailpal on Apr 13, 2014 23:16:59 GMT -5
Thanks, R4F! It always makes me nervous! Linda - LOL I already have that book (somewhere) but when I was trying to sort out atlas/axis issues that I first got it for, I couldn't do those positions safely, and totally forgot I even had the book! He was mostly improved tonight, so after a good grooming and some feeling around his patella, I did the stretches mentioned on www.thehorse.com/articles/28662/physical-therapy-for-stifle-problems-in-horses-aaep-2011 Oh boy! he loved that, dropped his head and licked and chewed - then offered me his other hind to do that one too. I hand walked him down the driveway (minor down hill) and along the bike trail (pretty flat) then back up the driveway (driveway is 1/4 mile each way). His cadence was very even and I didn't see that "hitch" either, though there was a very small wobble. I'll check him tomorrow (Monday) and probably another hand-walk - if he looks totally sound, I'll try riding the next good day (Tuesday looks like rain). Looks like I need to build up the muscle and underline.
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drats!
Apr 13, 2014 23:20:52 GMT -5
Post by ride4fun on Apr 13, 2014 23:20:52 GMT -5
Yay for improvement and Tanner loving his stretches.
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Post by Marci on Apr 14, 2014 16:31:20 GMT -5
Heck I have a BIG hitch in my get a long before I do my stretches in the morning....LOL
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Post by Trailpal on Apr 14, 2014 21:32:31 GMT -5
LOL Marci - I have to do my morning stretches just to do my morning chores - taking the dog out, feeding, etc.
Tonight he was looking really good, even offered his foot for cleaning. We did our walk tonight in fine style.
Thursday the vet is coming to our barn and the barn next door for spring shots, so I asked for a little extra time to see if it's really his stifle and get some kind of stretching & exercise program.
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drats!
Apr 18, 2014 11:50:33 GMT -5
Post by dawnh on Apr 18, 2014 11:50:33 GMT -5
What did the vet think? Hopefully nothing serious!
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drats!
Apr 20, 2014 0:30:54 GMT -5
Post by Trailpal on Apr 20, 2014 0:30:54 GMT -5
She thinks he probably slipped something when we had all that mud. Thursday, when she saw him, he was looking fine and she said he could be ridden. His stifles are somewhat straight, but not all that bad. Best thing for him is lots of turnout, riding, and whatever hills I can find. Thanks for asking!
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 20, 2014 10:56:28 GMT -5
An exercise you can do on the flat--since you have lots of flat--is stepping over poles. Start with them flat on the ground, and slowly raise them up. You can lead him over them, which might be better at the start. He is going to have to round his back and make a bunch of muscles he doesn't ordinarily use work. It will be easier to round his back without a rider, at least at first. After he gets used to the work, you can raise them--probably topping out at about knee high for him. As a goal, say 10 minutes of walking over poles (back and forth, unless you have a mile of poles set up.)
LTJ has a star exercise where you put a bunch of poles up on a 5 gallon pail. To make it easier, ride on the outside of the star where the poles are closer to the ground and farther apart. To make it more challenging, move towards the pail.
These kinds of exercises are good for horses kept on flat ground and especially for those who grow up and live in manicured areas (think OTTBs). Some horses grow up never having to think about where to put their feet. That isn't good when you take them out for a trail ride in the mountains....
I could send you some hills if you want to pay the postage.....
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Post by Trailpal on Apr 21, 2014 9:10:20 GMT -5
Lol we do poles; he is such a daisy cutter that I've been trying to get him to pick up his feet. But we can alwys do more! I'll try the bucket version too - it should get him to reach under better too,
This weekend, I found out he knows 2 words - big and easy. Big for nice long steps, and easy for short steps, like if we are walking with a person or a trotting horse. I also use physical cues and won't need to say the words pretty soon.
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