My horse is broken... vent

[SuperSTB]

Ugh! Since we weren't up to riding today, decided to light lunge everyone to get their kinks out. Grey gelding's turn... lunge to the left for a couple minutes (walk/trot), stop turn him to the right start lunging (walk/trot) maybe about 3-4 times round trotting after some walking and *womp* gelding is on-the-ground.

Anyway- his leg starts swelling, heat, he's of course lame on it. SWEAR SWEAR SWEAR!!! We cold hose, wrap, and tuck him in the stall for the night. I gave him some bute just so he could be comfortable (I'm very picky about giving bute- just felt this time it was suitable to bute). In the morning I will call the vet for some x-rays but in the meantime I'll just keep swearing in my head. He's 4, OTTB, he had basically a year of just vegging out and last month we started him in work and of course he was doing so well.

It's always the stupid stuff.

[Huntin'Fool]

Dammit! I hate that for you! But reflect really you were doing the right, good thing-staying in light work in bad weather and sometimes funky stuff just happens. I am a real weenie about calling the vet-I do so at a moment's notice but I'd wait a day or two before the xray. He may walk out ok tomorrow. If, and this is an impossible if, you could just get him to walk gently on it for a day-grazing and nothing else it would probably really help BUT to get a 4 yo TB to do that-no way! And in the rain you'd risk worsening the injury. I say, see what happens tomorrow, hand graze a bit and if he seems really better/ok skip the vet. Whatever I hope it works out. Sorry for your bad luck!
Huntin'Fool

[Noctis]

I feel you....my 3yr old did the same thing. She was dx with sesamoiditis/detachment of the suspensory. So we've a winter of stall rest and praying. Just after starting her under saddle so well! (she did it in the field. EVIL mud and rain making pastures slick). Jingles for your guy that its nothing!

[findeight]

Bummer, it happens.

Be sure to take him off the bute at least a day before the vet comes, it's alot easier to diagnose when they really hurt.

And NEVER feel bad about offering pain relief. Bute has been around forever and is well tolerated by most plus it relieves the pain. Cannot see letting one just sit there and hurt because you are afraid of side effects based on what you have read on the net or heard thru the grapevine. If it is not jammed down their throats in massive quantities daily for years, it does not do anything to 99.999% of them other then pain relief and reduction of inflammation. It's a good product.

If you need to go long term, like several months for recovery, you can investigate alternatives like Prevocox or the topical Surpass...or just use the Bute. Have never seen an herbal or "natural" supplement that can relieve the pain and help reduce swelling form inflammation as well as the pharmaceutical quality pure NSAIDS.

[Noctis]

Thanks for reminding me Findeight. I have to find a longish term pain solution for Shiver for her leg as she doesn't tolerate bute well.

[SuperSTB]

Well- broken gelding shows no improvement this morning so vet will be out later today (pending no emergency calls otherwise tomorrow morning) to Xray.

*sigh*

[Mimi La Rue]

So sorry to hear that. :( Sending well wishes and jingles your way!

[SuperSTB]

Well- xrays reveal no fractures but soft tissue damage. I will be heading over to the vets office to view the slides and discuss more in depth later this afternoon.

For now- icing, wrapping, and stall rest.

[ksetrider]

Jingles for your guy. I clicked on your thread because I feel your pain everyday. My 12yr old hunter is now retired (going on 8 months) *sigh* do to chronic hock/SI problems. We've tried it all and just decided, since he is such a trooper, that retirement (to just light trail riding) would be the best long-term plan for him.

I promised him a lifelong home with me and will keep that promise. Unfortunetely, where I live two horses at the moment is out of the question financially. And sending him to a retirement farm would be no different than giving him away in his eyes (he really looks forward to seeing me everyday).

So I ho-hum it to the barn everyday to groom and occasionally climb into the saddle. I do get to occasionally ride other horses for people but its just not the same.

Some days I do get so depressed. Other days I'm just so blessed he's still in my life.

Hang in there and don't let emotion get in the way of doing whats best for your horse! He will thank you.

[SuperSTB]

He's doing really well. Vet doesn't expect anything short of a complete recovery. Darn TB's though and their knack for sending their mom's into a panic!

[Gry2Yng]

Good for you! Noctis - previcox is great. In the two I have used it on, took a little longer to get in their system than bute, but worked well. Both short term issues.