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We Are Flying Solo

April 8, 2015

When Bad News Is Good News

Yes, Batman Dr. Bob confirmed that Encore proved his talents yet again by pulling both stifles.  He’d just healed his pulled ass, so naturally he had to think of something new!  :/

What The…What?

I’d noticed a bit ago a new soreness/swelling in the muscle behind his right stifle (of course, he also let Solo bite him there) & had been applying Dr. Bob’s Majykal Butacort Creme (no, seriously, it IS majykal!).  However, since our dear vet was coming to pull Solo’s blood (red blood cell check due) & collect bags of poo for a worm update, I asked him to apply his wizard hands to Encore as well.

Resisting temptation, I won’t rhapsodize on repeat about why I love my Dr. Bob (but I’ll link it!), but after watching Encore take 3 steps & approximately 5 joint pokes, I had my answers.  Not the muscle knot I’d guessed.  A shot of Winstrol to help boost the oncoming soft tissue rehab/strengthening, an Rx of basically what my current work is anyway:  focusing on rebuilding that hind end after our time off.
 
Approximate SE distribution in US soils; horseuniversity.com
In addition, supplement his dinners with a Vit E/selenium compound:  the Southeast is a very selenium-poor region & it is an important part of muscle function.  SE itself is part of the Vit E molecule/complex & horses can store some amount (cows cannot & Dr. Bob reports many problems with cattle toxicity from lack of SE, including his own) in muscle cells, but they must have enough coming in first!

We’ll reassess in 3-4 weeks.  If progress is not “satisfactory,” (don’t ask me for a specification on that, I’m not sure), poor Encore will get internal stifle blisters.  I say “poor” because as Dr. Bob described how it works, my own buggered-up knee began to holler in sympathy pain!

So What’s An Internal Stifle Blister?

Stifle blisters are an old-school treatment that were traditionally externally applied (never did like the look of that), but we science’d & all that, so now we have a better option.  In essence, the stifle joint is injected with an irritating agent, such as a B12 mixture, so it creates scar tissue around the muscle/tendons on the outside of the stifle (same as our patella).

Immediately, I had to know why creating scar tissue was a good thing.  It’s all about tightening up those strained tissues, which have resulted in laxity around the stifle.  Solo had extremely loose, poppy stifles when I bought him due to complete lack of condition, so the concept was a familiar one.  His resolved quickly in regular work, but Encore’s motto is generally “go big or go home.”

Ze Stifle. Thanks to Project Gutenberg.
I do hope we won’t have to go the blister route, although neighbour Vanessa offered heaps of excellent tips, as she’s used it several times with great success.  Still, all digits crossed that he continues his current gradual improvement trend on his own.

This Is Good News?

Indeed – because I finally had the courage to ask the question I’d been afraid to ask.  I’d had a long-nagging background worry about the possibility of neurological issues due to Encore’s “what, I don’t have hind legs!” attitude.  And no one wants that confirmed.

At the same time, he’s done a Training HT with no issues (other than needing more fitness).  But I still needed a proclamation.

He just prefers to be airborne... Pic by High Time Photos.
And The Verdict

Dr. Bob agreed that he saw no neurological indicators whatsoever.  *pause for relief*

Why is the beast so addicted to his vet then?  It is as simple as “it is who he is.”  As a TB, centuries’-worth of moving, running, energy, is in his blood.  As any horse who has energy to burn & is a forward-thinking creature, if you don’t use that energy, he’ll come up with his own methods.  Which in his case, are Pasture X-Games.

Where this backfires:  Encore also has the mindset of human X-Games participants, despite being not nearly as fit due to our horrific winter & my own limitations.  The fact that practicing airs above the ground & racing oneself in one’s paddock when it has rained for a zillion months (approximately) will probably result in multiple wipeouts?  Not a deterrent; just hop back up & try again!  Playing is MOST IMPORTANT THING!  *facepalm*

Solo, on the other hand, has always been very careful about his footing & general balance.  You could ask him to gallop through a mud bog & he would pointedly ignore you & proceed at the pace he felt was safe.  Wipeouts are in his “unacceptable” column.

It's what they do.
You’re Still Happy About This?

Absolutely.  Doing dumb things in the pasture…well, they’re all horses.  One way or another, they just will.  And his professional work ethic under saddle means he is attentive to the job at hand; his X-Games penchant does not extend beyond the pasture fence.  This is definitely a good thing, as if it did, well, that is NOT a ride you’d want under you!  0.0

So it means my horse…is a normal horse.  While it would be nice if he would follow Solo’s more cautious approach, that might just make him perfect & we all know there is no such thing as a perfect horse!!  And I don’t have a saddle that fits “imaginary.” 

14 comments:

  1. I'm so glad to hear it's NOT neurological! YAY!!

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    1. Me too! Not that horse owners are paranoid or anything & convince ourselves our horses are doomed every time they stumble. *shifty eyes&

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  2. It's good to have answers! I have a Red Head who dreams of ways to injure himself. sigh. I also have a Dr.Rob who is brilliant....

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    1. Dr. Rob, I love it! I'm glad to know I'm not alone - bugger pulled a shoe last night, although to be fair we did have an apocalyptic hailstorm where I actually wondered if I was going to die via golf balls punching through my windows...

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  3. I can so empathize with this. My TB goes out with his best friend another TB and together they get into all kinds of trouble. I try to just not watch and hope for the best!

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    1. OMG, two mischief makers might kill me! Although, even though Solo doesn't make much trouble, he DOES jealousy bite Encore...on the back like a mtn lion. Yet adores him. Encore's fly sheet is really a "don't bite me, Solo" sheet...

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  4. Fascinating - I haven't heard of the b12 therapy before! (Needing out here). Glad to hear encore is normal! Also, I want that sign.

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    1. Do you need some or are you nerding? Hee! I'm not sure anything on the farm is normal (certainly not the owner!), but at least he is not off the bell curve. I do also have a bone scan & rads of his stifles & hocks, which are pristine, so I do have peace of mind it's not skeletal either.

      The last farm we boarded at had that sign right by the entrance, if I hadn't loved the BO, I totally would have stolen it, LOL!

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  5. Very glad it isn't neurological. Although it would be nice if Encore could develop a tad bit of self preservation for you. Maybe one day?

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    1. Thank you, definitely me too! I glare at him & ask if he could please be a bit more careful, but at the same time feel a bit hypocritical, given that I am possibly one of the clumsiest people ever. However, I manage to trip just walking around, so at least I don't make an extra effort to hurl myself about, heh.

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  6. I swear next time I'm in the market, I'm going to get a less talented horse. This pasture crap is making me bonkers!

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    1. Ah, but can your horse pull both front shoes in one day?? Yes, Encore did yesterday, but unlucky for his plot, I caught farrier going down neighbour's drive!

      I think they ALL have secret plots!

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  7. what a relief that it's not worse!! Encore sounds like a serious character lol... my mare falls pretty solidly in the 'self preservation' category (for which i'm grateful)

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    1. Character he definitely has! Self preservation is good...too bad she's a mare, sigh. ;P

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