Some GOOD News

When I got to the barn this morning, there was a note that a vet (different than the two Ruby has seen previously) was coming out to do some shots for two of the horses.  Given recent developments, I called the vet to see if she could squeeze Ruby in. 

Wouldn't you know it, Ruby suddenly found her balance while the vet was there???  Damn mare...No matter how many times the vet picked up her foot, Ruby was rock solid.  I swear I'm not crazy...

Since she was there and doing a lameness exam anyway, I told her about Ruby's injury, when it happened, and all the other details I could think of.  She started manipulating Ruby's legs and joints, checking for soreness and range of motion, then thoroughly palpated Ruby's weird fetlock knot.  She couldn't find anything that seemed to bother Ruby, so she asked me to trot her out.  She finally said that she could see a tiny hitch in her gait but only when Ruby was trotting directly away - her right hip was dropping just a smidge lower than her left.  She manipulated Ruby's fetlock again and didn't get any negative reaction, so she determined that it wasn't the joint itself that was causing the difference.  We did a nerve block to determine if the hitch was caused by a problem higher up in the leg or back, but her hips moved evenly after the block so it is likely that the hitch and the knot are related.

So, what next?  Because Ruby not only moved out willingly, but also happily (outrunning whoever was trotting her out, sometimes me, sometimes the helper so I could see what the vet was seeing), she suggested that I start riding again, but slowly.  We can trot(!!!) for up to five minutes at a time, but I'll wait a few weeks for that.  I'm to keep Ruby out of deep footing, and no cantering for a while yet.  If she is sore after a ride, give her bute but ride regularly as the vet believes that as Ruby gets back into shape and starts moving more that she will continue to improve.  The vet did recommend fetlock boots, but more so that her fetlock will be protected against her other hoof than for support.  

The vet didn't have the ultrasound machine on her truck or I would have done that as well - I know it probably wouldn't change anything but damn it, I want to know what's causing that knot on her fetlock.  For now I'll see how Ruby does with light riding and if she doesn't do well, I'll have the ultrasound done and go from there.

Why do I feel so much better after this exam?  Because this was an actual, hands-on exam.  It's much easier to trust someone's opinion when they look at your horse for longer than a few minutes - Ruby's exam took around 1.5 hours.  This vet is taking chiropractic classes and is planning to start her own practice sometime in the future - I think I've found our new vet. 

As for a chiro, I had an appointment set up for next week but something (drama) has come up so I'm going to have to reschedule.  Still, I plan to have her seen in the next couple of weeks. 

The Great Hunt...

Have you ever noticed that equestrians always seem to be searching for something?  The hunt for their perfect horse, the Great Saddle/Pad/Girth Combination Hunt, the perfect boarding barn, a new trailer, a fantastic farrier and vet and chiro, best boots/shoes?  We never seem to get a break, do we?  Because as soon as one search ends, another begins. 

Recently Ruby has been doing something a little scary involving her right front.  That's right, not her injured leg.  It all seemed to start after a race against Chancey through the pasture a few weeks ago.  Ruby was gaining (Chancey had a head start and didn't even know they were racing), but was doing something weird with her hind end.  Cross-firing maybe, but I only realized this towards the end of the 'race'.  They were quickly approaching a corner of the pasture, where Ruby decided to make a big circle to the right.  I bet you can guess what happened next.  Not only did her butt slide out from underneath her (to her left), but actually swung around until she was sliding butt-first across the grass for 25 feet or so.  I stood with bated breath while I waited for her to get up. She did so without struggling and trotted off like the fall was all a part of her plan.  When she came in that night, she was still sound, and hasn't taken a bad step that I've noticed with no heat or swelling anywhere that I've been able to find.

And yet, now when I pick up her right front in order to pick out her foot, she sometimes nearly falls on me.  And it seems to be getting worse with time, not better, meaning that she seems more likely to actually fall on me with each passing day.  So, I'm looking for a chiropractor.  I'm asking local endurance riders, local dressage club members, etc. I hope to get her an appointment within the week.

And so it begins...

Ruby love

Remember when I said that I was going to bring back Ruby very slowly?  I wasn't kidding.  My plan is to build tendon strength as well as bone.  In that vein, we will be working in deep sand and on the road. 

Deep sand is easy enough to find in our round pen.  Last week we started off by walking two minutes to the left, then two minutes to the right, at Ruby's pace.  We walked three laps in each direction so I'll be increasing the laps by one in each direction each week.  Eventually the plan will include her carrying me at a walk in the sand, but that is a few weeks off.  Last week, we did this on three alternating days.

Road walking - Ruby gets so excited that she has nearly been dragging me to the gate in order to go explore off property.  Again, we've been alternating days for this and have only been going maybe a quarter of a mile total.  For now, road walks and sand days are alternating - next week, she will start doing both on the same day with rest days between.  I will be keeping a very close eye on her legs during this time.  

There are several macho geldings on Heather's farm that would love to flirt with Ruby when she's in heat, but she's not interested.  She only has eyes for Storm...a friend's KMH mare, lol.  Surprisingly, Storm usually enjoys the attention.

And a bombshell, well for me it was.  Remember back when I first met Ruby, and she was supposed to be six years old?  Several months later I was given some of her old paperwork that hinted she was actually much, much older and already into her early or mid-teens.  Last year when Ruby had her teeth floated I asked the vet to tell me how old she was and told the vet my suspicions.  The vet looked very quickly and said yeah, she's 14 or 15.  This year I had another vet float (due to scheduling) and asked him her age...turns out Ruby is probably 12, as evidenced by the fact that she still has the 11-year-hook and her Galvayne's groove has just started to show itself.  It must be really nice to have registration papers and know exactly how old a horse is, lol.  It's only three years difference, and yet it feels like a lot to me - it's that many more years that I will hopefully have with my funny, smart mare.

Where has the time gone?

Wow, get a little distracted and before you know it, you've lost an entire month! 

One week ago

The day after my last post, Ruby made it very clear to me that she was past due for an attitude check, so I have lunged her a few times since.  It has helped me judge her soundness, or lack thereof.  If she is off, it is nearly unnoticeable, and may be the slight unevenness of the ground in the arena or it could actually be all in my head...sometimes I wonder if I'm developing a complex.  Today the vet came out for shots, etc. and I wanted him to check Ruby out for me.  Instead, he said, 'If she's sound, ride her. I don't suggest an ultrasound, just take it easy for a while. She will let you know what she can handle.'  I have to admit that I was a little frustrated - I wanted concrete answers.  Actually, more than that, I guess what I really wanted was a crystal ball.  One that would tell me if this endurance dream will ever become a reality for Ruby and me.  Anyway, Ruby is well enough to race the other horses around the pasture (apparently little black and white Paint mare Chancey is her favorite rival), so I suppose she is ready to start getting back under saddle.  I'll probably be drawing up some kind of very slow training plan that involves a lot of walking for both of us.  Stay tuned if you're into that kind of thing.

One quick anecdote before I sign off.  Last week, Heather hopped on the tractor in order to tidy up around the manure pile.  Ruby was grazing behind the tractor, so I sat down to watch her reaction.  Heather cranked the tractor - Ruby barely flicked an ear.  Heather pulled the tractor out, no reaction from Ruby.  Heather started moving manure, Ruby did not care.  When Heather was done, she actually had to yell at Ruby to get to move so she could park the tractor, lol.  Brave, goofy mare.  Must have been some really good grass.

Notice the ear - this was the first time the bucket raised up.  Still, the grass is more important.