April showers bring May flowers and June bugs. Our goals and progress thread

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Way to go Ponichiwa!!

[blob]

Congrats, Exvet--results and improvement to be proud of!

Ponichiwa-- that is so exciting! You must be so thrilled to see all your hard work paying off!

we had an uncharacteristically chilly weekend for this time of year (highs in 60s). So, I took advantage to push MM's fitness a bit more. On Friday we did 4 minutes trot, 2 minutes walk, 4 minutes trot with very good respiratory response. So, on Saturday I snuck in some canter--only 2 minutes, but it was really nice to see that her breaths per minute did not change from the trot work to the canter work. I do think as we head into HOT and HUMID season here in GA that both of those things will play a role. So, I will not necessarily incorporate canter into our work every time. Instead, I'll play with it some while it's cooler early week and then when it gets hot, I will go back to just walk and trot and evaluate.

[StraightForward]

Exvet - congrats on the great scores for Junior and good showing for Brandon!

Aleuronx - sounds like a solid plan, glad your girl is doing well.

Ponichiwa - I'm envious, what a guy Queso is!

Nice bridle SF. I couldn’t get either size Micklem to fit Kyra right. I wonder if the Bobby’s is any different?

Possibly, I'm not sure. I had Micklems for Annabelle and Rosette and didn't have fit issues. Yesterday I did shorten the cheeks a hole on either side to bring the nose up a touch. I got some nice moments with Tesla in terms of contact. She got pretty excited after cantering and did a bizarre front leg launch/Spanish walk maneuver when I picked up the reins to go for another trot. Cantering early and then getting her to go back to relaxed trot work might be the thing for the next few weeks. I probably need to have the chiro out for her too - her right lead canter is really wonky when I'm on. I think she is just overthinking it and then she starts flailing, but perhaps an adjustment will help. The teen trainer is back from her recent working student gig, so I might put her up there on the lunge line and see if that helps her work things out.

Annabelle has come up NQR and is going to the vet tomorrow, and I canceled her lessons for the week. I'm thinking left hock, but we'll see. She looked OK on the lunge, but didn't want to collect under saddle - a barnmate whose eye I trust said she was about a 0.5 or at least under a 1, so it is mild. At least I hadn't completed my show entry yet. I knew something would happen as soon as I paid my membership fees for the year.

[khall]

Major congratulations Exvet!! What a great accomplishment with your two boys:)

Ponichiwa that’s awesome!! Yeah for Queso!

Aleuronx good luck!

I might show next fall. But only schooling show. Just way too expensive to show recognized these days. Head over next week to school at poplar place show facility after I find out if Gaila is in foal:). A poster on a Lusitano page I’m on just had a Saphiro foal born in the UK. She said first to be born there by Saphiro. I know he has offspring in France. Excited!!

Riding out and having fun with my buckskin girl. Incredible late cool spring weather we are having. Though the snakes are definitely out. DH killed a juvenile rattle snake right by our hay barn Saturday

Happy riding all!!

[Aleuronx]

Let us know how the vet visit went for Annabelle today StraightForward. I honestly felt the same way when I sent my dollares in for USEF/USDF memberships and spent the time re-doing my safe sport. Felt like it was highly tempting fate and all.

My good news of the day is my jacket has SHIPPED! I was in contact with the service rep I've been dealing with and this morning the final invoice came across and they were able to get it out to DHL today. Y'all keep fingers crossed that it makes it way over from the UK okay. Need it at least for June 4th...

[blob]

sigh. i have been thinking the last few weeks how insecure and weak i've felt in my position lately and well today i paid for it. I was cantering RP on a long rein in half-seat while warming up. He spooked, i lost balance more than i should have, which scared him and led to plenty of bucks and me hittimg the ground.

right now neck and back are pretty sore and I have a very crooked and painful right pinky, hoping it's not broken. I can move it some...

[khall]

Oh no blob! Ouch. Jingles you feel better soon

Well my plans of schooling at poplar place have been canceled. The friend I was going with had something come up and can’t go now. Shoot really wanted to go again. Just don’t feel comfortable riding by myself over there. Oh well

[StraightForward]

Ouch Blob, I hope you're feeling better tomorrow and your finger is OK!

Took Annabelle to the vet tonight and she was definitely a bit gimpy on the pavement, but nothing really noticeable on the lunge in the arena. Vet concurred that it is her left hock, but he wasn't too worried. He sent us home with Previcox and a course of Adequan. She'll get the rest of the week off and then start back and see how she's doing a couple days after the second dose of Adequan. I'm bummed to be missing our show, but hopefully this is just a bump in the road and we'll make it to the ring at 2nd yet this year.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Jingles for Blob and for Annebelle! Hope all humans and horses feel better.

Bummer about the show Khall. I was supposed to do a clinic with Jessica Wisdom end of May but it got postponed until fall. I am trying to find something to go do. I definitely want to go to an off property schooling show. A clinic would be nice (depending on who) just to have professional support. I think the dressage trainer will only be going to rated shows and I'm not ready for that.

[Kyras_Mom]

Ouch blob. Take care.

SF, hope the Adequan straightens out Ms. Annabelle.

It looks like Kyra has another week off…from riding at least. We got next to no rain or snow in February or March. The last two weeks we have been inundated. So, twice in the last two weeks, the arenas have been closed due to excessive water. Yesterday, I had about 0.5 inch of snow at my house. At the barn…4 inches of heavy wet snow with it sliding off the barn roof and snapping tree branches. The owner said that stall cleaning was a bit adventurous! I got Kyra out of her stall and yes, she was a bit amped up but soon relaxed after she figured the sky wasn’t falling. I walked her for 30 minutes and it snowed big heavy wet flakes the whole time I walked her. Sunday and today I put her in long reins for our walk. We do some half steps, some ly, turns, and backing (uphill to work the stifles). I figured that at least there is some training and muscle building value with working in the long reins. When you have lemons…make lemonade .

I got her started on her magnesium load so will be interesting to see if that helps her tension under saddle. I also took her off her MSM. She has been on it for a while (about a year) but I thought I would give her a washout on that. I did have another mare that was very hyper and anxious on MSM but that occurred within days of starting it. I rechallenged that mare with it and the MSM definitely did something…and it wasn’t good. Thursday, she gets her feet done so hopefully but Friday or Saturday the arenas will have dried out and I can ride…yes, that would be the ticket.

Susan

[exvet]

sigh. i have been thinking the last few weeks how insecure and weak i've felt in my position lately and well today i paid for it. I was cantering RP on a long rein in half-seat while warming up. He spooked, i lost balance more than i should have, which scared him and led to plenty of bucks and me hittimg the ground.

right now neck and back are pretty sore and I have a very crooked and painful right pinky, hoping it's not broken. I can move it some...

BTDT more than once. My right pinky goes in three different directions as a result of multiple fractures over the years. Hoping yours isn't broken and that your other aches and pains subside quickly. While I'm not a regular for unscheduled dismounts, the number of horses and number of times over my lifetime are oh so on my mind when I get up every morning. May the velcro be with you

[Moutaineer]

Oh, darn and ouch, Blob. Do get that finger looked at. I hope everything else is subsiding a bit today.

I got completely and finally signed off by the PT today. Yipee! Potters is going great, I'm a fat, unfit lump. That needs resolving...

[heddylamar]

Ouch, blob!! Get your finger checked out. The last time I broke a finger it was a compound fracture (I will spare you the second finger fracture details). Other than a slight funkiness when folding the finger down, it is fully functional. That functionality is all due to my frequent flyer miles with the hand surgeon (two surgeries for that finger fracture) AND months of PT with hand specialists.

In my own riding, I've ridden Maia two days in a row. She was horrified today I can't wait to see her reaction tomorrow/Friday!

The house is nearly ready for showing. Most of the painting is done. Carpets get shampooed tomorrow, and I have a cleaning crew coming in on Friday. I redid the drywall and textured ceiling that I hired a contractor for several years ago. It was done so badly that when the pipe leaked again, I just cut the whole damn thing out. It's been repaired a few years, and we've had a hole in the ceiling just as long I just need to do a bunch of yard work and stage all the rooms for pictures on Tuesday.

[khall]

So excited over Joplin today! She is really starting to understand piaffe under saddle and we are getting the clarity in our work I was wanting. One time she did break into canter from medium trot but otherwise she was spot on with all of our work even getting piaffe to canter transitions! We ended up with some really nice piaffe steps. Dang this horse is just so special I’ve never ridden anything quite like her mentality and physical abilities.

Still riding out in my hay fields. No rain so footing is great.

Hot weather coming in next week and we are so dry. Need rain badly

[Lipsmackerpony88]

I'm tired reading that Heddylamar. I hope it sells fast, I'm sure it will!

Hope you are okay Blob.

Khall, very exciting!! And probably a nice change to ride in the field in good weather.

Well, the vet thought Lynx looked good via video so we shall continue on and strength. He has gotten really girthy last few days, like trying to bite. His manure has also been more runny. So I got sand clear for him (it's so sandy here) and some nexium to try. Fingers that he feels better. Saddle fitter though saddle looks fine when she came today.

Horses! Always something.

[StraightForward]

It is always something, isn't it? Tesla tended to have inconsistent poo, sometimes elephant flops, sometimes watery. Dynamite probiotic seemed to fix it for a little bit, but then it came back and I added Daily Gold, which has seemed to help for about two years now, and is pretty cheap (she only will eat about 1/2 of the suggested amount for a horse her size). Now that she is on GutX I'm phasing it out and seeing if I notice a difference (she's stayed on the probiotic the entire time).

[Kyras_Mom]

Horses! Always something.

That is for sure. Kyra had a weird episode today. She was getting trimmed today so I got to the barn early so I could get her out and move her around on the lunge before the trimmer got there. She was a bit short moving but it was cool and she has been stall bound except for work due to the heavy rain and snow we have had in the last couple weeks. I rode her yesterday and she felt A-Ok. We even mosied up the hill (a whole 80-100 yards) and back and she handled it fine. This morning she did move better as she warmed up and was nicely forward and willing. Took her in the barn and did a bit of trimming on her bridle path and jawline then the hoof trimmer got there. She was kind of pissy with Julie. Didn’t want her holding any foot for very long. Very tight with her hinds. She would put one foot down and Kyra would immediately pick up the other one like someone had been making her stand on hot coals. By the time she finished trimming, she was very stiff legged…all 4. Once I got her turned and walking she seemed fine. Feet were cool with no pulses and she didn’t trim her any different than she has the last 14 years. She has never tied up before. I lead her back out to the arena to try and assess and she was walking OK. landing heel first. No coaxing needed. Not even ouchy walking over gravel. I had some bute with me and gave her a dose just because. So weird. I wasn’t going to go to the barn tomorrow but now I hate not to. Today was just NOT normal. Neither one of us could figure out what was going on. She was bright eyed and of course, eating fine. So yeah HORSES!

Susan

[piedmontfields]

Susan, is there any chance getting off MSM made a difference for Kyra in the trimming process?
(No judgement here: I actually took Em off MSM/glucomasine/chondroitin as a little test. She snap crackles and pops more, but feels similar.)

Jingles to those who need them (ouch Blob! Fingers crossed it is not busted). SF, I'm sure you know this, but if Adequan doesn't make a difference, for some horses Pentosan does.

I'm smiling at the silicon breeches--they sure are sticky and I have gotten stuck in some awkward positions when I had them on (like trying to dismount)!

I love the Brandon, Melty Cheese/FC Master and Joplin updates especially. Chiasamba, I continue to learn from your reflective training descriptions. Also glad to hear that M and Potters are getting on better and better.

I understand that the tack walking queen title here is competitive, and frankly, I don't want to win! Emi is now *walking outside the arena*. We started with the farm driveway. Yesterday, she happily walked a farm road out to the hayfields. Her butt (gracilis muscle tear) continues to shrink and she is acting happy.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

SF, yeah he's on a probiotic (just probios) and the daily Gold. For a long time I thought it made a difference but I also skipped a month of the sand clear... But I think he just really needs it every single month. It's just so sandy where he is.

Susan, that is weird!! I sure hope Kyra is okay. If she's anything like any of my horses have ever been, she will be totally fine today and you will have been worried for nothing lol. Which is the best case scenario anyways.

Piedmont, in glad Emi is still improving! I really admire your patience and dedication to her. She sounds worth it!

I'm having a dressage lesson today. It seems like it might be windy again today, so might be stuck in the indoor arena. We have gotten outside a decent amount lately though. It's really warm and dry here which is actually pretty scary. April and May are supposed to be some of our wettest months and it's been bone dry for the most part. Eek.

[Sue B]

Wow, Susan, that is weird! Tio got shoes Tuesday (Wednesday?) and did something similar with the shoer. I wasn't present but he said when he came, Tio was laying down and acted really stiff, sore and gimpy when he got up. He was also resistant to holding his feet up so shoer was worried that he might be early laminitis. He couldn't find any evidence though of laminitis while trimming, but he did have multiple bruises on his soles. Two days post shoeing, Tio is trotting out beautifully, no sign of any soreness so must've been his crummy soles suffering under this crazy weather. He also said Rudy, who usually stands like a rock, was flipping out about holding his back feet up for his apprentice and he had to calm Rudy down and take over the shoeing. Apprentice got a good lesson in calm leadership and how to ease the fire out of a po'd TB.

I've been working like crazy (relatively quiet today so, of course, wind is howling and storm clouds abound) and had meetings every evening this week that I've had to attend in person--not on zoom. Horses are fired up and doing fine.

[Kyras_Mom]

Pietmontfields…I think she barely finished the MSM or is nearly finished. I do baggies and Sunday, she had 4 left that had MSM.

SueB. Yes, weird. That is what Kyra was like. Julie said only one little bruise on the left hind (which has the goose egg on her leg), no stretching or redness in the white line, no heat or pulses. She was the worst on the concrete so yeah, maybe all the wetness is raising havoc with her soles. She did take a bunch of foot but they looked just like they always do when she finishes. I will head out this afternoon and check her out.

More significant rain last night. We do need it badly but really…we could use a break for a bit .

Susan

[khall]

I do appreciate everyone’s willingness to share their journey here. It’s a good group of similar minded people who are very obviously dedicated to our horses and our chosen discipline. We have some very good trainers here too that are inspiring in their posts and horses. Chisamba with her willingness to take on the not so perfect horse and the huge positive changes she makes in them is especially inspiring. Still would love to know if you’ve chosen a stallion!!

Anyway I’m glad to be able to share my journey with Joplin. Very much like Exvet it’s so fun to breed raise and train one and then have them be exactly what you had hoped for especially after I rode the challenging big red beast as long as I did!!

I find out Monday if I’ll have a Joplin sibling. I’m trying not to think about it much. No live foal guarantee is something I’ve never done

My next biggest news is Juliet. I had thought our relationship would come to an end when her owner decided she wanted to move her in order to not be constricted by my concerns over her riding the horse. Juliet took matters over by having eye issues. Serious uveitis issues for the past two weeks now she is developing a cataract in the eye. We just don’t know how much further south the eye will go. Conservative treatment with nsaids and eye ointment but it’s getting worse not better. Owner is struggling to come to terms. But yeah blind in one eye ( she still has vision it’s just impacted now) if it goes completely sour spooky horse. That imo is retirement. I’ve never dealt with uveitis before though I did have a horse with fungal infection that required enucleation. I’m helping care for Juliet right now hauling her for vet appointments etc.

Horses. This one has had more issues since she’s been here.

[exvet]

My next biggest news is Juliet. I had thought our relationship would come to an end when her owner decided she wanted to move her in order to not be constricted by my concerns over her riding the horse. Juliet took matters over by having eye issues. Serious uveitis issues for the past two weeks now she is developing a cataract in the eye. We just don’t know how much further south the eye will go. Conservative treatment with nsaids and eye ointment but it’s getting worse not better. Owner is struggling to come to terms. But yeah blind in one eye ( she still has vision it’s just impacted now) if it goes completely sour spooky horse. That imo is retirement. I’ve never dealt with uveitis before though I did have a horse with fungal infection that required enucleation. I’m helping care for Juliet right now hauling her for vet appointments etc.

My foundation mare, great grand-dam of Junior, developed uveitis in both eyes while she was on foal share lease with Tamara in TN. We suspect it was leptospirosis, given the location, etc. She went blind in both eyes over the course of about one year. She went on to have 3 more foals after that. One of Tamara's other mares was more or less her seeing eye guide for a while but eventually she came to live in Tamara's covered arena with a sizeable but contained and safe turnout area that she memorized. Tamara then would put bells on her foals as she delivered each one so that she could hear them and keep track of them (one colt she named Jingle and the subsequent one she named Jangle LOL). Tamara put Giselle down when she was slightly over 18 if memory serves me correctly which I supported based on her condition at the time. She was always a very level-headed sensible mare which she passed on to all of her offspring and allowed Tamara to manage and maintain her quality of life for a reasonable amount of time. Of course her job and duties as a broodmare were already well-established when the uveitis developed. Some blind horses, like blind dogs and cats, can do very well and have good quality of life.

[khall]

Exvet Juliet is not a broodmare candidate. She’s n/pssm1. 50% chance of passing it on. Would not breed this mare anyway. Conformationally challenged and nothing special talent wise combined with a mental quirk that’s landed her owner in the hospital from her spooks. She also colics regularly and has since she’s been here. No idea why.

As long as she can handle the one eye not visual I think her owner will just keep her. If she ever loses sight in both I’m pretty sure she would euthanize her. Doubt seriously this mare could handle complete blindness. I know that her owner will not ride her on my farm with impaired vision. Period.

Vet has pulled lepto titer to see if she’s been exposed. I’ve not heard that it indicated infection so I’m assuming it was negative. Reading on uveitis draft breeds are one breed that can have the problem. Juliet is TB/perch. Another reason to never have a draft cross.

[piedmontfields]

khall, please be careful handling Juliet. It is not worth getting hurt. The owner needs to step up, etc. There is no need to be the competent hero here, and frankly the mare may be on the way to leaving earth due to competency needs.

In more cheerful remarks, we made it to the cross country course today on our easy walking for about a 2.5 mile round trip. To an outside eye, her butt cheeks no longer look very different (unless you know what to look for). Power of walking! (for those in rehab)

[khall]

Piedmont if Juliet shows she will get dangerous if she loses vision in that eye most definitely she will either have to go or be put down. Remarkably on the ground when leading she is rarely an issue. Though I put quite a bit of time teaching her to lead from both sides as well as trot in hand. She’s easy to treat her eye as well and has not shown any change personality wise on the ground so far. She’s even loading relatively well considering she has had little trailer training. Her biggest issues are US. She will bolt and or spook hard. That one time she spooked so hard she could not keep her feet under her and fell over with my brand new Dynamic saddle on while lunging. That’s when I quit riding her.

[goldhorse]

Well my world came crashing down this week so no goals or progress for a long time
I took Piggy to UC Davis on Wednesday because he's been on and off again NQR. I really thought that this was a farrier issue and he just needed to be shod to xrays. But oh no! Xrays showed signficant (like HUGE) amount of rotation since the end of March (last set of xrays) when I thought his laminitis flare was over.
They kept him until today to run a bunch of blood work and put on special glue on shoes. Kaching! $$$ He's on stall rest for 5 weeks and then goes back for a recheck and a reshoeing. No riding for a year until he grows a new hoof. No guarantees of soundness after that but the vet was hopeful. The vet said that they have to get his metabolic issues (high insulin) under control or he'll continue to rotate. Metformin didn't help at all last time so I predict that we'll be finding a new medication by trial and error. Well, I lied. I do have a goal which is to keep him comfortable, find something to keep him mentally stimulated, and hope that he can come out of this sound enough to have a nice retirement, if need be.
So carry on so I can live vicariously through your successes.

[Srhorselady]

Goldhorse I’m so sorry! I’ve been where you are. You have a good Vet group you are working with. Hopefully you can halt the progress and keep Piggy comfortable. I fought for two years with a mare with a metabolic laminitis flare up. We tried everything both medically and farrier wise. Equithrive with Reservatrol and Softride boots worked the best. Eventually I felt like she was in too much pain and after two years let her go. However, they’ve been doing a lot more research on metabolic laminitis and hopefully Piggy will benefit from this knowledge. I’ll be jingling for the two of you.

[Chisamba]

Goldhorse I am sorry. So both Kimba and Saiph came to me with insulin resistance and laminitis. I hate to be an arse but weight loss is absolutely essential. I soaked every scrap of hay they ate. I did not use medication, just diet. Getting the weight off is doubly important, one to reduce the pressure on the feet, and secondly to counteract insulin resistance. These horses should be kept a bit thin.

I taught Kimba quite a few "tricks" to keep her brain engaged. I taught her to retrieve. Using clicker training. I also did bending and suppling movement in the stall. Wishing you the best outcome.

[Moutaineer]

I am so sorry, Goldhorse. What a total bummer. Poor Piggy.

[Kyras_Mom]

I am so sorry Goldhorse. Laminitis just sucks. Jingles for proper hoof building.

That is why I was so freaked out with Kyra’s little episode yesterday. Thankfully, she looked fine today. She was moving well and standing square. She still was a little stiff/stilted turning on the concrete stall aisle but much better than yesterday. She looked great in the arena. Gave me her head twirl and was moving easily and ‘normal’. I am still puzzled by what transpired yesterday.

Susan

[khall]

Goldhorse I’m so sorry. I’ve dealt with laminitis as well. It was a long road. Ended up losing my old mare last September to it at 26 after 6 years of good. Prascend is what helped her until it did not.

Joplin is a typical metabolic looking horse and I always worry about her. Soaked hay is the norm for my entire herd here and grazing muzzles when needed. I use a supplement from platinum performance called lip ox. It’s not cheap but it’s the only thing I’ve found to actually help me get the weight off Joplin. She was looking great last fall so over winter I took her off it and tried a cheaper supplement from smartpak. The weight went right back on even in winter on soaked hay and no pasture. Smdh I was stunned. And she’s worked regularly!! So back on the supplement she’s still a bit heavier than I want be better than she was. Dealing with easy keepers is no joke. Thankfully my WBs have changed the balancer and soaked hay works well for them.

Jingles for Piggy and you. Laminitis sucks

[exvet]

Exvet Juliet is not a broodmare candidate. She’s n/pssm1. 50% chance of passing it on. Would not breed this mare anyway. Conformationally challenged and nothing special talent wise combined with a mental quirk that’s landed her owner in the hospital from her spooks. She also colics regularly and has since she’s been here. No idea why.

As long as she can handle the one eye not visual I think her owner will just keep her. If she ever loses sight in both I’m pretty sure she would euthanize her. Doubt seriously this mare could handle complete blindness. I know that her owner will not ride her on my farm with impaired vision. Period.

Vet has pulled lepto titer to see if she’s been exposed. I’ve not heard that it indicated infection so I’m assuming it was negative. Reading on uveitis draft breeds are one breed that can have the problem. Juliet is TB/perch. Another reason to never have a draft cross.

I wasn't necessarily recommending that she be a broodmare just giving an example of a horse who did quite well blind and I'm not sure despite her great disposition that those of use closest to her would have expected that. Some horses are meant to be just a pet. Having stated that though, I am a huge proponent of humanely disposing of a horse without a job (pet or companion is a job if the owner chooses it to be) that could be a risk to humans, other horses or themselves. I've had to do it to one of my homebreds. It almost devastated me but even today I know it was the right thing to do. I'm sure you already know this; but there are many causes of uveitis. Some guarantee that the horse will go blind eventually in both eyes if medical treatment doesn't halt the progression. Others are a single incident (like trauma or injury) that have no DIRECT effect on the other eye.

[exvet]

Goldhorse, another one who has BTDT. It's rough watching them go through their flare ups. I ended up losing my first heart horse, my Arabian (Bey Shah son) who helped me earn my bronze to laminitis. He rotated and began sinking so I felt I had to let him go. He was not the most mentally fit for long rehabs despite trying. He was not overweight; but his issues were still metabolic related. I hope you don't mind me asking but what are Piggy's bloodlines? There was quite a division among my extended family who were breeders regarding their own suspicions of what lines increased the chance of laminitis in the breed..........this feud was back before metabolic syndrome had a name.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Khall, jingles for Juliet. That sounds like a tricky situation and I think it's good to have a line drawn in the sand regarding safety around here. I do hope she will be okay.

Goldhorse, I'm so sorry to read the latest about Piggy. I hope he recovers well. He obviously has a huge heart and a great, caring owner. Positive vibes your way.

[khall]

Exvet yeah trauma was also what our vet brought up but Juliet has a history of eye issues both eyes over the last several years. Some were true ulcers but most were not. She would have a flair, we would treat and it would subside until the next time. I had mentioned uveitis to the treating vet at the time associates of the treating vet now. This has been the worse she has been treating her eyes. Though I’ve seen the cloudiness before it but it would disappear with treatment. This time much much worse and the interior of the eye remains cloudy. Not as bad as initially but now with the cataract forming. Ugh that won’t go away and has the potential to get worse.

I just don’t know what the future holds for Juliet and her owner. I do have firm lines drawn though and have to. I don’t understand the stubbornness to hang onto a horse that has hurt you badly twice. Rip was no fun but he did not hospitalize me.

I hear you Exvet and fully understand your position on putting your homebred down. I had two that if I had not found the right places for them I would have done the same. I tell a rescue friend of mine who rescues dogs cats and horses. Horses are just too expensive for me to go looking to help them. I just cannot put that kind of money in a project that may or may no work out. As much as they tug on my heart strings I just cannot.

As it is right now I’ve ended up with another rescue dog. Found her on the country road no houses close by. Tiny mini dachshund who was terrified yet jumped right in my car ready to go with me. Older girl who is in good shape. Put her out there on the lost and found pet pages etc and nothing has panned out. I think I have a rescue for her thankfully but she started coughing yesterday so I have to hold onto her for a bit. Such a funny little girl who at first was stand-off ish but because I give her yummy canned food was dancing around wagging her tail now. Precious little one

[goldhorse]

The initial shock is over. Piggy is one who can deal with stall rest and he's set up so he can interact with his neighbor and supervise the day pens and snarl at horses that walk by. I will probably start clicker training with him and do a lot of Masterson work. Once he can start hand walking, we'll both be ok. I could use the walking too!
He was given a condition of 6 and they want him down to a 4. Our hay is always tested and hovers around 10% sugar+starch. I will switch him over to Teff if the barn manager can get it and/or start soaking his hay. He also gets some ground flax, vitamin E and a general vitamin/mineral supplement-either California Trace or Formula for Feet. This is just a bummer since I always used exercise to help with his weight.
He foundered as a youngster long before I bought him. I knew this was going to be his fate but we always hope that we'll get away with it.
My friends have offered up rides on their horses. I know that I will have to start looking for a replacement but that can wait for a bit.
Exvet, here is a link to his pedigree. Solid Working Western bloodlines.
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/icon+golden+farceur
As the new generation of diabetes drugs are coming out, they are being used on horses like Piggy. So I suspect he will go on something like a SGLT-2 inhibitor.

[StraightForward]

Goldhorse, I'm very sorry Piggy is having such issues after you thought he was recovering. He is obviously in the best hands with you, and I hope he recovers.

Khall, sorry to hear bout Juliet. It might be the best for the owner if she finally gives up trying to ride her. You've certainly gone above and beyond for both of them.

Second lesson on Tesla yesterday was tough. I'm not sure if she was a little sore from the day before, or if she was just ticked off at the increased demands, but it was another ride or die type day to get her cantering both directions. Once we finished with that, we worked through many, many transitions from trot to walk, right back to trot and within the trot. When I got her a little deeper, she would want to set her frame and charge forward, so we addressed getting her to stay on my seat and cede some of her power to me. Once she really started listening though, it felt amazing. She can be ultra sensitive and responsive when she stops fighting. I think the lesson lasted almost an hour and at the end my instructor said "OK, that's your warmup, now she's ready to work; you have to do more than you think with these horses." I was ready to die, but Tesla seemed completely unconcerned, and no super tired. We took a stroll around the pastures to cool out, which is the first time I've really ridden her out of the arena as I haven't trusted her obedience to any kind of aids for so long. So I'll try to replicate the work again today, then give her tomorrow off. Monday night I'll take her to the haul in arena and maybe try riding in one of the outdoors, depending on what else is going on there. Bit of a bootcamp for her while waiting for Annabelle to come sound.

[exvet]

Goldhorse - thanks for the link. He does come from tried-and-true stock that's for sure. There are some in my family that would point to one or two several generations back as possibly being 'more prone' to producing stock with metabolic issues. I can identify though with the 'hope you can get away with it'. I purchased a welsh cob filly who's full sibling and dam both had foundered. She was two and had no signs of founder. She was 4 when she had her first bout. She was put down at age 21 due to her ongoing problems; but, she was a good mare. I am always hoping that there will be more advancements in laminitis treatment and prevention as well as the underlying endocrine disease(s) that drive these syndromes. Keeping fingers crossed that Piggy benefits from one of the new medications.

[Tanga]

Wow, goldhorse, I'm so sorry. Seems to be the season for things. Seems like half my barn has horses down for one thing or another. Mine are good, though I'm bleeding money taking care of the cat who is OK, but had some kind of infection, and the old dog who managed to rip off his back paw pad while walking behind me at the barn.

[Aleuronx]

goldhorse I'm so sorry for you. Poor piggy. I hope you can figure out some management for him, poor chap.

The heat has come to New England the last couple of days. We went from mid-fifties last week to mid eighties to 92 today. Just wild, but the mare loves heat so it's just fine by us.

We took the opportunity to book in a lesson as it was time, we are starting to tap back into the good contact in the trot and it was time to get back with eyes on the ground. It was grand, I bloody rode for once. She was pleased to see Kora seeking out to the contact with a longer neck in warmup. We worked on straightening her body in the canter, especially to the right by really connecting that outside hand and slightly lifted inside to keep her from ping-ponging around. Some gentle leg yields to the wall from the quarter line to stand up the shoulders made a huge difference in the jump.

Then I asked a dumb question about the halt as I've had trouble with Kora halting right front then left front but that left front then picks up and down a time or two before she fully settles. So of course before we ended I picked up trot, turned down the center line and did a solid as a rock square halt. There might have been swear words and then 'well so I just need to get her really through the neck and not moving side to side in the shoulders and then she halts fine, huh?' Trainer: yup.

And... came home to the most exciting package!! It's stunningly beautiful and fits brillant, I cannot wait to go down center line wearing it soon. Schooling show tomorrow for another knock the rust off go around but with it hot as hades I won't be rocking the jacket just yet.

signal-2022-05-14-162431.jpg (175.2 KiB) Viewed 19755 times

[exvet]

And... came home to the most exciting package!! It's stunningly beautiful and fits brillant, I cannot wait to go down center line wearing it soon. Schooling show tomorrow for another knock the rust off go around but with it hot as hades I won't be rocking the jacket just yet.

Good luck at the show! We're 93 where I live but some parts of Phoenix is supposed to get close to 100. The summer is coming fast and furious here. BTW, love the jacket.

[Moutaineer]

We had snow on Tuesday. Supposed to hit 80 tomorrow. Craziness.

[goldhorse]

Thank you to everyone for their kind words. They are very comforting.
One day of stall rest is done. He was not pleased with his hay bag filled with soaked hay.
For all of you who have BTDT, I fully understand what you're trying to say. I know the odds are against me and the likelihood is that I will be putting him down in the next year or two. But I have to fight the fight.

[khall]

Goldhorse I don’t regret that I treated my older mare initially. She had not only been a wonderful riding mare but also foaled out two of the horses I own still. One retired one riding and I find out Monday if she is in foal. It was a long 10 months of stall rest but she handled it well. She was sound for many years not really having chronic issues. The last time though I just was not going to put her through another long rehab and recovery at 26

[Chisamba]

Thank you to everyone for their kind words. They are very comforting.
One day of stall rest is done. He was not pleased with his hay bag filled with soaked hay.
For all of you who have BTDT, I fully understand what you're trying to say. I know the odds are against me and the likelihood is that I will be putting him down in the next year or two. But I have to fight the fight.

oh no. I'm hugely optimistic for you. You sound like they person Piggy needs to get his health. Hope is the best of things

Also good luck with all the type 2 diabetes drugs. And I absolutely love Teff hay. Of course it comes from Africa and we fed it in my youth.

[exvet]

Thank you to everyone for their kind words. They are very comforting.
One day of stall rest is done. He was not pleased with his hay bag filled with soaked hay.
For all of you who have BTDT, I fully understand what you're trying to say. I know the odds are against me and the likelihood is that I will be putting him down in the next year or two. But I have to fight the fight.

Only you know when it's time. We're just acknowledging that it's a difficult fight and are rooting for you and Piggy. I've had several ponies as patients that were managed successfully for many years well into their 30s and 40s with periodic laminitic episodes and this was before most of the 'current' research. If the new drugs work, you and Piggy could help open up the door to a lot more hope and possibilities - a huge win for all of us horse owners.

[Srhorselady]

No! I also didn’t mean to send that message. My mare had her first flare up when she was four and didn’t have another until 18. She had many productive years in between. The final struggle was bad, but I don’t regret trying. Also at that point she had many other contributing factors. They’ve done so much more research now. I keep hoping they will find a successful way to combat this awful disease. Maybe Piggy will be that horse!

[goldhorse]

Well stupid me! I just wanted everyone to know that I know that Laminitis is a bad bad thing.
It's funny that I had started to look for a new horse and then this hit and now I don't have the stomach to even look at ads.

[demi]

I’m keeping up with everyone’s posts, but just barely. I’ve been at the in Houston since Wednesday. Several family members here supporting my brother and SIL. She was going to get into a clinical trial but got pneumonia and now they wont take her in the trial. Still some hope but they want to get her home to Michigan. She’s scheduled for an Angel Medical Flight today or tomorrow. They have to be ready at a moments notice. It’s been a major organizing task and it’s taken all of us to arrange things. The Med flight people are just amazing! Such good people. Anyway, once they take off, I’ll drive home. With everything set, my mind is able to start thinking about other things.

I have a PPE scheduled for Wed. I am looking forward to a possible new horse but just havent had the heart (or time) to think much about it. Ive ridden her twice and have some video. She’s a lot wider than Rocky so I’ll have to get in better shape if she passes the PPE. My plan is to leave her in full training with the working student who will ride her 3 times a week under my trainer’s direct guidance. I’ll take two lessons a week on her and if I cant ride, my trainer will ride her on those days.

It will be an adjustment for me as I have basically ridden on my own and kept my own horses for my whole life. I like my trainer’s program and am committed to doing things exactly her way. She uses a much tighter noseband than I do, but they are very padded and the horses still can take a treat easily. She always gives two treats at the mounting block, one before she mounts, and one from the saddle after she mount. She dismounts on the block, too, and they get another couple of treats. Oh, and she uses a flash, too. I’ll be riding her in a snaffle and the WS will use the double or snaffle depending what they are working on.

Her horses live outside 24/7 in 5 acre rolling pastures with trees and a run in shelter. But no bedding in the shelters. I have always though a working horse should have bedding to lay down at night, but her horses are happy so……

Also, the girth is leather with no elastic, and no sheepskin. I’ve always thought my mares appreciated cushy girthing. The new mare, blows up at girthing, and I have to wonder if at least a little elastic would help, but I won’t say anything yet. I just want to keep every thing the same. My goal is to learn my trainer’s way. The new mare is a “working girl” and has been for her whole training career. I have to let go of my amateurish ways so I don’t spoil her.

I am determined to keep up a full schedule with Rocky and before I left for Houston I had already switched over to “Texas summer” mode, feeding at 6 am and riding by 7:30-8 am. After just two lessons on the new horse, I was able to use what I was feeling when I got back on Rocky. One thing was the feeling of the working trot to lengthening trot. I also tightened Rocky’s noseband more than usual. I was able to get some VERY different trots from Rocky. I think the tighter noseband, combined with being able to recognize how the transition felt made the difference.