Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Hard luck horse

I've been delaying this update. Riley has been lame for a little over a week, 1/5. Not head-bobbing, exactly, but definitely NQR. I didn't tell anyone, and kept riding him lightly -- figured he'd either improve on his own or get worse, and I could see what was bothering him. Sunday a friend watched me ride. I could feel he was slightly worse, and she said that clearly there was something wrong. She rode, I watched, and vice versa. We could not pinpoint any one thing.

So I called the vet.

The vet came. He watched. He flexed. He had me ride. He blocked. I rode again. He gave an initial diagnosis.

His diagnosis makes sense, it follows logically from the procedures we followed. But I'm not 100% sure. I'm having some follow up work done, and when I'm sure what it is, I'll let you all know.

I told another boarder about the situation -- she has what you might call a "hard luck horse," but he's older and she's been through a long series of ups and downs with him. Her advice, given with a laugh, was "Oh, you never go with the first diagnosis."

I'll let y'all know.


17 comments:

  1. Oh, geeze! Loads of jingles and "get-better" vibes headed your way.

    Here's hoping it's something easily and quickly fixable!

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  2. Sending good thoughts Riley's way!

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  3. Do you think, perhaps, he could have done something during the "careening" experience on Thursday in the field across from the church?

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  4. That is sooo frustrating!!My horse has been lame for almost 2 months now... I know part of the issue is some cracks in the toes from some white line that I have been treating but still not 100% sure that is the problem.... pretty much ruined our first show season:( sure is a bummer but it's always something when horses are involved isn't it! Sure do hope that everything turns out ok with Riley:)Keep us updated!!!

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  5. i hope it's not too serious!

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  6. Phooey....why is it that just when things are going really well, you have to hit a bump in the road. Hope it's nothing serious and very treatable.

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  7. Oh wow that sucks. I hope it's not serious. I'll send good thoughts/prayers yours/Riley's way.

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  8. :-( It's been a joy to follow you doing so well with him lately. Best of luck that it's just a minor obstacle.

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  9. Sure hope it doesn't turn out to be as serious as that sounded!

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  10. B/c so few people read comments:

    Ah Jen, I don't mean to be so ominous, or too mysterious - I'm just not sure I buy the initial diagnosis which is upper suspensory. I was there, I saw what the vet did, I agree with what he saw, I just don't know. An ultrasound will convince me. Even the vet was surprised when the first few blocks showed no change, but I still think there might be something down there, maybe something that changed the way he moved enuf to strain the upper leg. I don't know. I don't know.

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  11. Gosh, it's been a tough journey for you and Riley. I hope things get better.

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  12. Sending jingles to you and Riley!

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  13. > You never go with the first diagnosis

    It's Dr House, equine edition! Seriously though, I do exactly what you did when my horse is NQR: keep going until it resolves or becomes something we can actually test for.

    Because here's what's worse than riding your NQR horse: being the owner who cries wolf at everything, never riding or enjoying the horse because there might be something wrong.

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  14. You do so well by your guys- me and my much adored hard luck horse send all of our most positive, sound vibes.

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  15. Good luck... and I like your thinking about something that was blocked causing a strain further up the pipe. It happens all the time to us humans, why not with our equines?!

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  16. Sorry to hear of this misfortunate injury. I too have a youngster that has been suspect of dsld hind limbs he is very large which adds to the scare! I spoke with a vet/massage therapist who reccomended a chinese herb for tendon and ligaments! It worked wonders on my dog who was 3 legged lame with torn acl. After 3 months of many chinese herbs and holistic meds she is 95%! Knowing this I immediantly put my big guy on the herbs. Crossing my fingers for a miracle! Sending crossed fingered miracles your way!

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  17. Oh Riley. I wish you some good luck.

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