City Ponies
Dec. 29, 2009, 04:45 PM
Vet and farrier have been spoken to and we are in 'wait and see' mode. But let's play Doctor-for-a-Day on COTH and give me some possible suggestions that we might have not thought about on this one.
Stats: 4 yr old AQHA gelding, in consistant work 4-5 days a week, mostly w/t/c with one day a week jumping 2' - 2'6". Showed on Dec 13, got hurt when he slipped in the trailer on the ride home and just had a minor soft tissue bruise on his left hock. Stall rest for 4 days, limited turnout and went back to full turnout last Sat (26th). Perfectly sound for a 25 minute hack Sun (27th). Had yesterday off, go to ride today, his significantly lame on right front. He has been on the same diet for 3 months, 3/4 lb Ultium 2x a day, 1 lb soaked Alfafa/Timothy cubes in the AM - hay is crappy at boarding barn.
Assessment thusfar: No heat anywhere, is definately sore in the heel, negative to hoof testers. He has great feet, barefoot all year round, and I'm extremely vigilant about thrush protection and since it's been super muddy as of late I apply a preventive dose of Thrush Buster once every 2 weeks - he had a few drops applied to his frogs Sun. His hoof angles are good, has great heel, and the worst that has ever happened was a stone bruise from doing a pony party for 2 hours on gravel a few months back.
Now I admit, this horse is a DIVA extreme. The slightest injury will end his world if you asked him. And yet, his most frequent accident prone injuries happen playing rough with the boys.
First thoughts were abcess in the heel, so I soaked the foot and piled up bedding and going to let him chill tonight in the stall where it's dry and comfortable, reaccess tomorrow. The "scaries" that I'm worried about are coffin bone injury or a deep seated abcess, ya know that kind that take 2 months and half the hoof wall before its clear.
Thoughts?
Stats: 4 yr old AQHA gelding, in consistant work 4-5 days a week, mostly w/t/c with one day a week jumping 2' - 2'6". Showed on Dec 13, got hurt when he slipped in the trailer on the ride home and just had a minor soft tissue bruise on his left hock. Stall rest for 4 days, limited turnout and went back to full turnout last Sat (26th). Perfectly sound for a 25 minute hack Sun (27th). Had yesterday off, go to ride today, his significantly lame on right front. He has been on the same diet for 3 months, 3/4 lb Ultium 2x a day, 1 lb soaked Alfafa/Timothy cubes in the AM - hay is crappy at boarding barn.
Assessment thusfar: No heat anywhere, is definately sore in the heel, negative to hoof testers. He has great feet, barefoot all year round, and I'm extremely vigilant about thrush protection and since it's been super muddy as of late I apply a preventive dose of Thrush Buster once every 2 weeks - he had a few drops applied to his frogs Sun. His hoof angles are good, has great heel, and the worst that has ever happened was a stone bruise from doing a pony party for 2 hours on gravel a few months back.
Now I admit, this horse is a DIVA extreme. The slightest injury will end his world if you asked him. And yet, his most frequent accident prone injuries happen playing rough with the boys.
First thoughts were abcess in the heel, so I soaked the foot and piled up bedding and going to let him chill tonight in the stall where it's dry and comfortable, reaccess tomorrow. The "scaries" that I'm worried about are coffin bone injury or a deep seated abcess, ya know that kind that take 2 months and half the hoof wall before its clear.
Thoughts?