A good friend of mine has been a great support through the last few years, especially through the last few months while Jimmy has been hurting and recovering, and hurting some more. She said that we need to rename him something "tougher" so he holds up better....because right now he's living up to his name - FANCY, EXPENSIVE, AND IMPRACTICAL!!!! So right now, his name is LL Bean. He'll be so tough and rugged, he won't even know what hit him ;-)
Last night he was worse. Sore all the way up through his shoulder, head-bobbing, really, really really gimping lame. It was so hot I didn't even make him work it out, in fear of overheating him...so trotting once around each direction (on the line) I told him to come back in and called it quits.
I packed his left front with poultice, Lucy was my assistant (and a great one, at that) and taped him up and sent him back on his way outside. I remembered while he was walking down the hill giving his "Hi, how are ya"s to the herd that he should definitely have a gram of bute for this level of lameness, so I ran back in & grabbed the tube. He couldn't decide when he saw me coming if maybe I had goodies, or maybe I would make him work more...so he half walked fast enough I couldn't catch him, then half stopped to look at me. He was so undecided he just stopped and stared the other direction - evasive action....just like his mom. HAHA. So I chucked the halter over his head and pulled the bute out of my pocket. At sight of the bute he started flying backwards, but I know him better than that so I didn't let it phase me. Soon as you put the plunger into his mouth, it's like "game over" for him. Most horses don't associate the tube with "YUCK" so they panic once it's IN their mouth... Jimmy sees the tube, has a little baby meltdown, and then once it's on there he has an "Awe crap" moment and just puts his head down, swallows, and saunters away.
...Speaking of "Baby" if my calculations are correct, Jimmy...I mean...LL Bean... will be 6 next month. Oh. My. GOD. My "Baby" isn't a baby any longer!!!
(he was found abandoned in May of 2005 & the vet who did his initial exam estimated he was 9ish months old then)
Hopefully tonight I pick up this new product to pack his feet with and it works magic!! Hopefully the poultice last night made him feel oh-so-much better already!!!!
3 comments:
Should the vet take another look-see? I love it when they look away - "I can't see you . . ."
Haha yeah, that look is priceless.
Vet is in Alaska for two weeks - he let me know to wait it out while he was gone and don't be too concerned, since it was a little fetlock, and a lot hoof. So, I'm trying not to be concerned, he said a few weeks to heal is normal for hooves.
Yes, I wouldn't worry too much yet. The farrier gave him a lot of heel support, and the change in the way he carries himself will be enough to make him sore for a while as his musculature adjusts to carrying himself differently. Plus, the added weight and strange feeling probably aren't helping either! All my horses are a little 'off-beat' when they first get shoes. I wouldn't stress too much yet!
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