This morning was beautiful here in Texas, and I have been anxious to ride - it has been well over a month since the last time I rode - before I hurt my ankle. As I said before, Sweetie is always the first horse I get back on after a time off from riding. She loved the grooming, and the apples! I know that my ankle is still sore sometimes, but I just couldn't stay off the horses any longer. So we went out to the ring, and I mounted up - OUCH! It was pretty significantly painful. What did I think would happen? It was my left ankle, the one that you put your foot in the stirrup first, it holds all your weight. I was even using a mounting block (although not a huge one, and I was getting on a 16hh horse). It took several minutes for the pain to subside, and I quickly decided that we were not going to do more than walk this lazy Sunday. So we went out in the field to walk the fence a bit, and check out the pond ("tank"). Sweetie has never been one to really enjoy going away from the barn - even after all of these years. I had to straighten her out to stay the direction I wanted to go several times. But she did not fight it too bad for her. As we approached the pond, I could feel her anxiety building, and the moment I turned (no longer away from the barn, but perpendicular to it), she lifted up her front feet and began to get ready to bolt to the barn. Haha - I was ready for this - I know how she is - and I half-halted with my body to bring her back. As I continued to do the rest of the way back up the hill to the barn. I did not have to use a one-rein stop as she did not make that strong an effort, but it was all I could do to keep her walking the whole way back.
The good news was that the pond was full again after all the rain we have received. :) I liked that. :) And I took Sweetie back into the ring to dismount - for two reasons. 1) to teach her that we don't dismount at the barn and 2) it has much softer footing (sand) for my ankle :). I managed to dismount very slowly and only put weight on my good ankle first, and had no trouble from there.
So, I have come to the conclusion that I need to teach my horses to be mounted from the off side for a month or so while my ankle continues to heal. I suspect that although my horses will be initially surprised, they will take to it easily. It's me I'm worried about. :) I don't know if I'm that coordinated anymore. :) My body is so programmed to mounting from the left, I worry I'll mount up and end up looking backwards. :) (Not really... well, maybe. :) ) So we'll see what happens there.
I also took my foster horse, Arwen, out to the ring for some nice, calm, ground work. She was very relaxed, and always came back to me easily. Although I have not "played" with her as much as I'd like, she's learned that I'm pretty laid back. Every time she would come in to me, I would rub her forehead, and she would close her eyes and chew a little. You could just see how relaxed she was. It feels good to know that she trusts me and that we have built a bond even if it is based just on our daily interactions - grooming, a gentle rub on the forehead every time I pass her stall, etc.
Rocky had been sore in his front feet for a few weeks (not laminitis like) - like the change in weather to all the wetness made his feet hurt as the old sole shed off. It has progressively improved, and I took him out to longe him to see how he was doing. I put him out on a circle and asked him to trot - and he told me what for as he took off bucking/kicking/galloping and then came down to the trot. He did that both directions. I don't know if he was saying, "it's about time, Mom" or "how dare you make me work after all this time off." :) Something tells me it's the latter, as he would buck into the canter as a sign of resistance when we were riding regularly. But it was good to see him feeling better - and although I am anxious to ride him - he is 17hh and I've gotta get this off-side mounting thing down before I try to get on him. :) I don't think my ankle could handle the extra 4 inches right now.
It felt so good to ride again today! Here's looking for more of that!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Injuries - of the human sort!
What a frustrating year for injuries for me! Almost a month ago now, I bent my ankle way too far to the outside when I stumbled just plain jogging to open a gate at the end of the driveway - enough pain to make me suddenly feel ill and shock-like. I'm doing pretty well now, but still sore. I used a brace for about a week, walked on it more than I should have, and then muddled through limping to help it get stronger. I have not yet attempted riding with it, but that is next on my list. I think I'll go with Sweetie first. :) She's always the safest bet, and doesn't mind being lazy (so long as we stay up in the ring!)
I have also started doing some hoof trimming on my own. My wonderful farrier of 9 years suddenly stopped communicating - I have called him a few times to reschedule, but he has not returned my calls. So, I am trimming my own horses right now. I have been watching the process for the last 20 years, and actually bought the tools about 5 years ago. I can say with certainty that I am improving each time, and I'm actually not half bad. You really have to focus on what the hoof looks like to start, where you want it to be, and then BALANCE. I have also learned how much easier it is to do my horse of 18 years who pretty much holds the hoof up for you compared to a 1/2 draft mare that doesn't like to hold her feet for you. :) And then there is the aspect of being completely relaxed and patient with the horses. I get a little nervous/concerned when the kids are with me in the barn when I need to do a trim, and the horses can tell. But when it's just me in the barn, they are much better behaved!
I trimmed two horses all the way around this Sunday morning (in lieu of using that time to ride... *pout*) and my back is pretty sore - it is much better today (2 days later) but on Sunday evening, I had a few shooting pains in my back that made me catch my breath when I bent over. Some advil, and some ice along my spine really helped make it feel better. But I am again being very careful about my body!
I guess I am being forced to realize that my body is not quite as limber/elastic as it once was, and I am putting more thought into my own safety. I ride 16/17 hh horses, but am pretty sure that the next mount I get for myself will be about 14 hh :) Much closer to the ground! A nice quarter horse will do. :) Not that I don't love my TB, I DO! But she will always have the quick reaction of a thoroughbred, and is very sensitive to any stimuli from me or around her. Even after years of showing, trailering, and pleasure riding, she still reacts quickly to things (although not as severely as she once did). But I still trust her more than any other horse in the barn - well, except for Arthur the pony, but I'm far too big for him. :) Sweetie has been with me through so much over the last 18 years - we've done so many things together - I know how she will react - she is nothing if not consistent in her behaviors.
I guess this concern comes from not riding as much as I had been. I felt this way when I started taking lessons again over a year ago. But I haven't had a lesson for about 6 months now. As cliche as it sounds, I just need to get "back on the horse."
I have also started doing some hoof trimming on my own. My wonderful farrier of 9 years suddenly stopped communicating - I have called him a few times to reschedule, but he has not returned my calls. So, I am trimming my own horses right now. I have been watching the process for the last 20 years, and actually bought the tools about 5 years ago. I can say with certainty that I am improving each time, and I'm actually not half bad. You really have to focus on what the hoof looks like to start, where you want it to be, and then BALANCE. I have also learned how much easier it is to do my horse of 18 years who pretty much holds the hoof up for you compared to a 1/2 draft mare that doesn't like to hold her feet for you. :) And then there is the aspect of being completely relaxed and patient with the horses. I get a little nervous/concerned when the kids are with me in the barn when I need to do a trim, and the horses can tell. But when it's just me in the barn, they are much better behaved!
I trimmed two horses all the way around this Sunday morning (in lieu of using that time to ride... *pout*) and my back is pretty sore - it is much better today (2 days later) but on Sunday evening, I had a few shooting pains in my back that made me catch my breath when I bent over. Some advil, and some ice along my spine really helped make it feel better. But I am again being very careful about my body!
I guess I am being forced to realize that my body is not quite as limber/elastic as it once was, and I am putting more thought into my own safety. I ride 16/17 hh horses, but am pretty sure that the next mount I get for myself will be about 14 hh :) Much closer to the ground! A nice quarter horse will do. :) Not that I don't love my TB, I DO! But she will always have the quick reaction of a thoroughbred, and is very sensitive to any stimuli from me or around her. Even after years of showing, trailering, and pleasure riding, she still reacts quickly to things (although not as severely as she once did). But I still trust her more than any other horse in the barn - well, except for Arthur the pony, but I'm far too big for him. :) Sweetie has been with me through so much over the last 18 years - we've done so many things together - I know how she will react - she is nothing if not consistent in her behaviors.
I guess this concern comes from not riding as much as I had been. I felt this way when I started taking lessons again over a year ago. But I haven't had a lesson for about 6 months now. As cliche as it sounds, I just need to get "back on the horse."
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Return of the Barn Cat
I blogged about our new barn cat a few months ago, and shortly after he was "free" from the confines of the tack room (thanks to a skilled vet for neutering and shots), he disappeared during the day. He would return sometime at night, every night, to eat, but I never saw him... until last week. Suddenly, and completely, our barn cat has become, a BARN cat - he stays in there all day and sleeps on the hay or the area above the tack room. It's almost kinda funny to see him poking his head out under the eaves to watch me come to the barn every morning. (I need to take a photo!)
I don't know whether it is that we now have a huge stack of hay for him to sleep on, or if it has cooled off enough to make the barn bearable, or what. But he has been out there every morning and evening feed - and was even there this afternoon when I carried fresh grain in. He is very vocal and talks to me as I approach the barn, and I always pick him up and pet him for a few minutes which immediately quiets him down and starts him purring.
And the kids are so excited to have their kitty back! Sammie and Christopher have been asking, "When will we see the kitty again?" and now I can take them out there with me to pet him. He actually tolerates the kids really well, thank goodness, but you can tell he prefers the adults. :) And I'm so happy to have an affectionate cat around to keep the mice away!
I don't know whether it is that we now have a huge stack of hay for him to sleep on, or if it has cooled off enough to make the barn bearable, or what. But he has been out there every morning and evening feed - and was even there this afternoon when I carried fresh grain in. He is very vocal and talks to me as I approach the barn, and I always pick him up and pet him for a few minutes which immediately quiets him down and starts him purring.
And the kids are so excited to have their kitty back! Sammie and Christopher have been asking, "When will we see the kitty again?" and now I can take them out there with me to pet him. He actually tolerates the kids really well, thank goodness, but you can tell he prefers the adults. :) And I'm so happy to have an affectionate cat around to keep the mice away!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Cushings/Laminitis & Diet
As you can read from my last post, we were so excited to get in some fresh hay for the winter! It feels so good to know that my stash is about half full, and know that the other half will be here in a few weeks. But the new hay had some unexpected consequences for Arthur, our 25yo pony. A few days after we started feeding the hay to him (he is up in a dirt paddock because he tends to get owwie feet when the grass comes in after a drought), he started showing signs of laminitis again. I had not made any other changes, and it seemed surprising to me that the hay could cause his feet to be sore. It wasn't grain overload or a ton of green grass - just hay? A very smart lady said it sounded like cushings - and I spent some time researching it. My best source by far was this group: Equine Cushings Group
I quickly learned that the hay could very well be too high in sugar/starch for Arthur, especially since it was grown during a drought time in Texas (although it was well irrigated and fertilized). So the solution was to soak the hay for 30 min (hot water) - 1hr (cold water) before feeding it to him. I was also advised to discontinue any grain, and use soaked/rinsed beet pulp instead, supplemented with vitamin E, flax seed, salt, and magnesium.
Within one week, this change in diet took him from a very ouchy laminitic pony who had started laying down for a few hours in the afternoon to get off his feet, to one who looks completely comfortable again, and has even been trotting around! He also seems much brighter, and the gook in his eyes he has had for the last year has completely cleared up. Amazing what diet can do!
I feel silly for not thinking of Cushings earlier - I knew Arthur had foundered in his past, and that he tended to be laminitic sensitive, but always thought "old foundered pony" - not Cushings. And then I remembered how hairy he had been this winter, and how he continued to shed (blankets!) until almost June before his coat looked nice, short & shiny.
My next steps will be to get a baseline ACTH, insulin, and glucose. And to have my hay analyzed so I can do a more specific diet balancing. Right now, though, we are through the hardest part of getting him stabilized and knowing what to feed him to keep him healthy and happy! I am so glad I found the Equine Cushings group and I am learning as much as I can for Arthur's sake.
I quickly learned that the hay could very well be too high in sugar/starch for Arthur, especially since it was grown during a drought time in Texas (although it was well irrigated and fertilized). So the solution was to soak the hay for 30 min (hot water) - 1hr (cold water) before feeding it to him. I was also advised to discontinue any grain, and use soaked/rinsed beet pulp instead, supplemented with vitamin E, flax seed, salt, and magnesium.
Within one week, this change in diet took him from a very ouchy laminitic pony who had started laying down for a few hours in the afternoon to get off his feet, to one who looks completely comfortable again, and has even been trotting around! He also seems much brighter, and the gook in his eyes he has had for the last year has completely cleared up. Amazing what diet can do!
I feel silly for not thinking of Cushings earlier - I knew Arthur had foundered in his past, and that he tended to be laminitic sensitive, but always thought "old foundered pony" - not Cushings. And then I remembered how hairy he had been this winter, and how he continued to shed (blankets!) until almost June before his coat looked nice, short & shiny.
My next steps will be to get a baseline ACTH, insulin, and glucose. And to have my hay analyzed so I can do a more specific diet balancing. Right now, though, we are through the hardest part of getting him stabilized and knowing what to feed him to keep him healthy and happy! I am so glad I found the Equine Cushings group and I am learning as much as I can for Arthur's sake.
Monday, August 10, 2009
120 bales happier...
Saturday we loaded up 120 bales of beautiful coastal hay into my 24' stock trailer to start filling my winter stash. I've bought hay from the same guy the past two years - clean, fertilized, irrigated - and I am lucky he had as much for me as he did this year. He had 2 other customers to fill before me, but he ended up with more than he expected, thank goodness! The drought in my area of Texas is "exceptional" - it has been 100+ most of the last 2 months, and we have had hardly any rain.
And yes, it was over 100 while we were loading. No way around that. But we got 'er done, and Sunday night we stacked it all in the barn. Arthur will be in heaven as he can reach it through the panels that make up his stall. Best news - I saved $360. Hay is selling for $9/bale at the feed store, and I got this for $6 out of the field. (Isn't that what the feed store was selling it for a few years ago??! ) The price of hay came down briefly to $8.50 for a few weeks in June then went back up to $9. If that's where it is right now - I can't imagine where it will be in winter! I hope to get another 100-150 bales from the same guy mid-September, if the grass recovers well. It has been so dang hot!
Praying for rain...
And yes, it was over 100 while we were loading. No way around that. But we got 'er done, and Sunday night we stacked it all in the barn. Arthur will be in heaven as he can reach it through the panels that make up his stall. Best news - I saved $360. Hay is selling for $9/bale at the feed store, and I got this for $6 out of the field. (Isn't that what the feed store was selling it for a few years ago??! ) The price of hay came down briefly to $8.50 for a few weeks in June then went back up to $9. If that's where it is right now - I can't imagine where it will be in winter! I hope to get another 100-150 bales from the same guy mid-September, if the grass recovers well. It has been so dang hot!
Praying for rain...
Friday, August 7, 2009
Another Colic Episode...
Everything was normal when I let the horses in this morning, and thankfully I puttered around a bit in the barn before running back inside to get out of the heat. Within a few moments, I heard Sweetie pawing and knew immediately she was beginning to colic. I put a halter on her and walked her into the yard - she was not interested in grass, and laid down and rolled up on her side. I watched her for a few minutes, and things did not seem to subside, so went in for some banamine. When I got back out to her (laying down), I heard the strangest noise - it sounded like she was trying to burp - a very fluidy burp - from her chest up in to her neck. I watched a few minutes more as she got uncomfortable, and stood up - the burp sound continued rhythmically, and she looked more stressed and stretched her neck out. Some green slobber dripped from her mouth and a tiny bit from her nose - which seemed like a choke, but she wasn't coughing or attempting to. I called the vet and let them know I would be on my way - and asked if it was okay to give her the banamine, which they said so long as it was IV it would be okay. I gave her the shot and then ran to get the trailer hooked up. I pulled the trailer around to the barn, and by then Sweetie was standing calmly by the fenceline - I went over to check her out, and if she looked completely normal, I would not have taken her to the vet. But I heard that weird burp/fluidy sound again and was not taking any chances - I have had Sweetie 19 years, we've been through a handful of colics that have all been very similar, and I had never heard this noise. I prayed it wasn't reflux.
Sweetie did not want to get on the trailer - I couldn't really blame her. I pulled out the lead with the chain which always did the trick when she was younger and more energetic - and that did it first try. Just knowing it was across her nose was enough to coerce her to get in.
By the time we got to the vet's (15 min later) she seemed pretty normal to me and was no longer making any weird throat noises. They drew blood which had a normal PCV (37 I think?), and did a protein test that was slightly high at 6.8, but not horrible. She tubed her, there was not any obstruction at that point (if there had been), everything seemed normal. She got a gallon of mineral oil and some water. The rectal palpation was also normal, everything was soft, no large amounts of gas or fluid anywhere, all seemed pretty dang normal.
What I was worried most about was some kind of obstruction, either in her neck, or something that would cause a reflux (fluid to come up from her stomach into her mouth, that would only happen in the most serious of colics where there was an obstruction). So my worries were calmed, and I decided to go ahead and take her home and watch her. My instructions were to not let her eat until tomorrow morning, and then start her on a half ration of her grain. Well, that, and I could hand walk her once this evening and let her graze on grass.
Everything started about 9am, and we were already home by 11am. But by 3pm, Sweetie had not drank a single sip of water while in her stall. She normally doesn't, the water was fresh... she prefers other water sources. So we grazed for 15 minutes at 3pm and then I took her to the trough where she sipped 3-4 gallons of water. But still not as much as I'd hoped for. I put her back in her stall, hoping to see at least one bowel movement. By 4:30, she still had not drank any water from her bucket, and still no poop. But the water issue was more concerning than the poop at that point - the vet had pulled out a fair amount during the palpation. If she wasn't going to drink water in her stall, we'd have a lot more serious issues to deal with soon - talk about impaction! So, I made the decision to let her out in the field with everyone - and pray that there was not anything seriously wrong with her. Sweetie went straight down to the pond and drank for 2-3 minutes before moving on. I also have a trough that I keep fresh water in, but I guess the pond water was cooler. (It is 104 here today). She looked completely normal as she grazed on the grass, and wandered off with our little herd.
I just went out to check on her - about 9:30pm - in the beautiful moonlight! And she was just fine, munching on some grass with her pals, not a worry at all. I am so thankful that she is doing well, and I know that I made the right decision for my horse. Every time in the past when she has had a mild colic that she has worked through, I have always let her back out in the pasture with grass, skipped a meal and then started back with 1/2 or less the next meal. She has always done fine that way, and I hope that she always will!
But if she does start colicing more frequently - weekly/monthly, then we may need to scope her to look for ulcers. But they want to keep them without food/water for a while before that - and that just doesn't make any sense in this heat (or at all for that matter- horses are supposed to eat all the time, I don't want to interfere with nature). So, it would have to wait until a cooler season at least, if I ever were to go that way. If I do get concerned about ulcers, I'll buy some Stomach Soother (half the cost of scoping) and go from there. I've already seen that work great on a rescue horse.
I also got a call tonight that my hay guy will be baling tomorrow, so we will be loading up 100-150 bales tomorrow in 100 degree heat. And drinking LOTS of water! But I will save 1.50-3.00/bale by doing it this way - that works out to $300-450 in savings! Gotta do it while the price is right - and this may be my last chance to get any hay this year out of the field. The drought down here has been horrible on crops of all kinds. Here's hoping for rain soon!
Sweetie did not want to get on the trailer - I couldn't really blame her. I pulled out the lead with the chain which always did the trick when she was younger and more energetic - and that did it first try. Just knowing it was across her nose was enough to coerce her to get in.
By the time we got to the vet's (15 min later) she seemed pretty normal to me and was no longer making any weird throat noises. They drew blood which had a normal PCV (37 I think?), and did a protein test that was slightly high at 6.8, but not horrible. She tubed her, there was not any obstruction at that point (if there had been), everything seemed normal. She got a gallon of mineral oil and some water. The rectal palpation was also normal, everything was soft, no large amounts of gas or fluid anywhere, all seemed pretty dang normal.
What I was worried most about was some kind of obstruction, either in her neck, or something that would cause a reflux (fluid to come up from her stomach into her mouth, that would only happen in the most serious of colics where there was an obstruction). So my worries were calmed, and I decided to go ahead and take her home and watch her. My instructions were to not let her eat until tomorrow morning, and then start her on a half ration of her grain. Well, that, and I could hand walk her once this evening and let her graze on grass.
Everything started about 9am, and we were already home by 11am. But by 3pm, Sweetie had not drank a single sip of water while in her stall. She normally doesn't, the water was fresh... she prefers other water sources. So we grazed for 15 minutes at 3pm and then I took her to the trough where she sipped 3-4 gallons of water. But still not as much as I'd hoped for. I put her back in her stall, hoping to see at least one bowel movement. By 4:30, she still had not drank any water from her bucket, and still no poop. But the water issue was more concerning than the poop at that point - the vet had pulled out a fair amount during the palpation. If she wasn't going to drink water in her stall, we'd have a lot more serious issues to deal with soon - talk about impaction! So, I made the decision to let her out in the field with everyone - and pray that there was not anything seriously wrong with her. Sweetie went straight down to the pond and drank for 2-3 minutes before moving on. I also have a trough that I keep fresh water in, but I guess the pond water was cooler. (It is 104 here today). She looked completely normal as she grazed on the grass, and wandered off with our little herd.
I just went out to check on her - about 9:30pm - in the beautiful moonlight! And she was just fine, munching on some grass with her pals, not a worry at all. I am so thankful that she is doing well, and I know that I made the right decision for my horse. Every time in the past when she has had a mild colic that she has worked through, I have always let her back out in the pasture with grass, skipped a meal and then started back with 1/2 or less the next meal. She has always done fine that way, and I hope that she always will!
But if she does start colicing more frequently - weekly/monthly, then we may need to scope her to look for ulcers. But they want to keep them without food/water for a while before that - and that just doesn't make any sense in this heat (or at all for that matter- horses are supposed to eat all the time, I don't want to interfere with nature). So, it would have to wait until a cooler season at least, if I ever were to go that way. If I do get concerned about ulcers, I'll buy some Stomach Soother (half the cost of scoping) and go from there. I've already seen that work great on a rescue horse.
I also got a call tonight that my hay guy will be baling tomorrow, so we will be loading up 100-150 bales tomorrow in 100 degree heat. And drinking LOTS of water! But I will save 1.50-3.00/bale by doing it this way - that works out to $300-450 in savings! Gotta do it while the price is right - and this may be my last chance to get any hay this year out of the field. The drought down here has been horrible on crops of all kinds. Here's hoping for rain soon!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Spontaneous Healing
Wow - it has been far too long since I last wrote on here! Vacations, busy schedules, have kept me away.
I rode Sweetie briefly last weekend - she was very good - we just walked around in the field a bit. And I rode Rocky this morning - lots of trot circles/figure 8's. He was also very good. Sammie has ridden Arthur a handful of times - our new favorite thing is to walk him down to the pond/"tank" and back up to the barn.
The good news is that Penny has been on her treatment, "Marquis", for EPM for about 2 weeks and I can already see the difference in her demeanor! She is much perkier and happier in general. Her hind end seems to be moving more naturally - not such a hesitation when we go in/out of her stall. I played with her a bit this morning. Only about 10 minutes of "work" if you can call it that - I played some Parelli games with her, and then asked her to go both ways on a circle, first at the walk and then at the trot. To the left seemed a bit harder on her. (Her "lame" leg is her LH). You could also tell when moving her hindquarters around that she would not cross over her back legs to move that way like she would to the right - a clear sign of lameness. But she finally did cross just barely one time and we quit there.
I also need to get Penny ready for Sammie to ride, and so I practiced mounting/dismounting a few times with Penny. She was so good, let me lean over her on my belly and scratch her everywhere before swinging my leg over.
And then the good news about Arthur's facial paralysis - over the last two weeks, I have started to see some improvement! His ear is now moving with the other ear at about 85% capacity it seems, and his nostrils are now about even instead of the right one drooping down lower, and his lower lip on the right is only drooping the smallest amount now in comparison. I'm so glad I didn't attempt to put him through an expensive treatment/surgery to correct this and that things are improving so well! It really is amazing to see. I was so worried about him for a while.
The other thing that has happened is that about a week ago, we finally got some rain here in TX. So the drought grass full of sugar has started to come up, and I have had to keep Arthur & Penny up in a dirt paddock so that their laminitis issues don't flare up. Thank goodness they keep each other company so well! They are enjoying all the hay and their feet are not aching, so I know I'm doing the right thing. In a week or two, I will start letting them out for a few hours in the morning, and work up to being out at night again. All for now!
I rode Sweetie briefly last weekend - she was very good - we just walked around in the field a bit. And I rode Rocky this morning - lots of trot circles/figure 8's. He was also very good. Sammie has ridden Arthur a handful of times - our new favorite thing is to walk him down to the pond/"tank" and back up to the barn.
The good news is that Penny has been on her treatment, "Marquis", for EPM for about 2 weeks and I can already see the difference in her demeanor! She is much perkier and happier in general. Her hind end seems to be moving more naturally - not such a hesitation when we go in/out of her stall. I played with her a bit this morning. Only about 10 minutes of "work" if you can call it that - I played some Parelli games with her, and then asked her to go both ways on a circle, first at the walk and then at the trot. To the left seemed a bit harder on her. (Her "lame" leg is her LH). You could also tell when moving her hindquarters around that she would not cross over her back legs to move that way like she would to the right - a clear sign of lameness. But she finally did cross just barely one time and we quit there.
I also need to get Penny ready for Sammie to ride, and so I practiced mounting/dismounting a few times with Penny. She was so good, let me lean over her on my belly and scratch her everywhere before swinging my leg over.
And then the good news about Arthur's facial paralysis - over the last two weeks, I have started to see some improvement! His ear is now moving with the other ear at about 85% capacity it seems, and his nostrils are now about even instead of the right one drooping down lower, and his lower lip on the right is only drooping the smallest amount now in comparison. I'm so glad I didn't attempt to put him through an expensive treatment/surgery to correct this and that things are improving so well! It really is amazing to see. I was so worried about him for a while.
The other thing that has happened is that about a week ago, we finally got some rain here in TX. So the drought grass full of sugar has started to come up, and I have had to keep Arthur & Penny up in a dirt paddock so that their laminitis issues don't flare up. Thank goodness they keep each other company so well! They are enjoying all the hay and their feet are not aching, so I know I'm doing the right thing. In a week or two, I will start letting them out for a few hours in the morning, and work up to being out at night again. All for now!
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