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We Are Flying Solo

September 18, 2013

Rested, Restored, And Ready To Run?

Yes please.
Dr. Bob knows how hard I work for my horses.  He knows the hours I spend toiling, studying, watching, searching, and fine-tuning every aspect of their existence to give them the best I can.  So it made me feel a little less paranoid when, as he stepped out of his truck Tuesday morning, he said, "I'm hoping I can give you some good news for a change today so you can finally catch a break!"

You and me both, buddy, you and me both.  At least it wasn't just me who felt like the dice kept rolling against us just enough to keep us from, you know, actually doing anything.  I could only keep chanting my life mantra:  nothing lasts forever, nothing lasts forever...

Stuff blew out everywhere.
I had spent the last six weeks dutifully feeding bute, painting on Durasole (thanks for the reminder of its much-loved magic, Yvonne!) and strapping and re-strapping fly boots (thanks, Allie!) and examining every surface and crevice on Encore's four bruised-up feet for any signs of emerging abscess or other "nasties" (hey, that's the term my vet uses, so it's real now!).

As directed, I'd kept him in very light work on grass; even though we knew his hips were out of whack and he was sore, he still needed to do some gentle walking and trotting to keep the blood pumping in his feet, speeding healing and exorcising all evils.  He was all kinds of cattywompus, but after three to four weeks, I felt the footiness subside until all that remained was his out-of-whack hind end and poll.

Check out where that back meridian on top goes!
The latter two were a result of his compensation for his foot soreness.  Interestingly, because of the way the muscles and nerves work, many times a hind end lameness can manifest through a jammed or resistant feeling in the horse's poll on the opposite side.  Even the ancient rules of acupuncture acknowledge this connection, which is pretty remarkable if you consider acupuncture itself dates back to the Stone Age and the use of metal needles dates to at least 113 BC!!

I told Dr. Bob that I believed that he had finally worked out that last significant bruise in his left front foot and, miracle of miracles, had not developed abscesses in any of them.  At times, I am hesitant to make any assertions, as it can be difficult to detect small things in all the colours and dirt layers of a hoof.  But the hoof testers backed me up and I had to let out a giggle of excitement.

Next we had Encore's long-awaited chiropractic adjustment to put all that cattywompus back where it belonged.  Dr. Bob had informed me that yes, he could have adjusted him two weeks ago when we were at the clinic, but it would all get thrown right back out again since Encore was still compensating a bit, so instead of wasting time and money, it was better to hold tight until his feet felt good (this is a vet you keep!).

Not Encore, but that is his favourite stretch!
My big brown beast leaned into the stretches with relish, licking his lips as joints popped and settled from his poll to his tailbone.  Happily, his mid-back was solid so his spring vertebral injections were still doing their trick and his withers and hips quickly fell into line.  I was glad we had decided to inject his hocks six weeks ago; even though they do not have arthritic changes, they were sore from compensatory motion and were now swinging freely and their range of motion was as good or better than ever!  It was with great satisfaction that I watched him trot off across the pasture already looking pretty darn normal again.

Dr. Bob went merrily along his way (significantly more financially merry) after a hearty congratulations and Encore was free to rest and meander around his pasture.  The latter will get today off in case of any soreness from the adjustments and then, I will swing a leg back over to....dare I hope?...bring him back into work.

Don't leave us behind, fall season, we're trying to catch up!!

13 comments:

  1. Congrats! Say goodbye to throwing good money after bad. (If that is a real quote.)

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  2. LOL, to do that, I think I would have to sell my horses!

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  3. This has been a rough year! Hopefully the fall can make up for it a bit, although I'm hesitant to make that hope so as not to jinx you!

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  4. Oh yay!! I do hope he feels so much better. I had my boy acupunctured back in May, and it worked wonders. And yes- his back soreness manifested itself in tightness in his poll! But the acupuncture really helped loosen him up. But of course, a few weeks later he got diagnosed with EPM- which we luckily caught early and I'm hoping cured with some magical new meds?- and now he came up with a terrible case of mud fever/cellulitis a week and a half before our next show- cool. But the moral of the story- acupuncture/chiro work is amazing and I need it again but can't afford it because of all the other vet bills...

    I hope you get out and catch up soon!!

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  5. Amanda, it sure has! But I keep reminding myself it happens to everyone at some point and try not to get too lost in it all.

    Alchemy, sorry to hear about the EPM, but hopefully it is all cured!!! Will do lucky dance, as soon as I find it. The acupuncture really fascinates me -- physiologically and scientifically, it makes no sense to me and should not do anything. Yet I've had needles put in my knee and it DOES do something that is not psychosomatic. I don't know why or how, but it is intriguing!

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  6. Finger and toes crossed that things start looking up!! :)

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  7. I think Archie appreciates any stretch that results in a bit of carrot in his face afterwards.

    Here's to healthy horses and sick wallets!

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  8. Here's to some grand fall adventures of the riding sound horses kind!

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  9. Fingers crossed that you're able to get out and about during the fall show season!

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  10. I know it's really strange- I really think there is a lot more to the chi and energy flows and what not than we give credit too, because scientifically we haven't been able to prove it yet or what not. Very interesting... but it DEFINITELY worked for him. A whole new horse!

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  11. Fingers crossed all the aches & niggles are now sorted and ye can get down to the business end of the season. :)

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  12. Thanks!!!

    And Alchemy, I know there is more out there than we understand, as long as it works, I'm good with that!!

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