Rain, Rain Went Away

But Will it Come Back Sunday??

Absolutely torrential rains yesterday. Although it had stopped by the time I was home from school, I opted out of riding in the wet arena and instead turned Tucker out for an evening frolic.

Today, Saturday, we had a vet appointment for an acupuncture check to see what was up with Tucker.

I did some outside chores and right about 10, on time, Dr. Klayman arrived. He checked Tucker over for acupuncture points and found nothing in the hind end. However, there seemed to be a problem in the right front, according to the acupunture points.

So, out we went to the ring on the lunge line. Trotted Tuck around in a large circle, then a small circle on both reins and he looked absolutely sound on the front.

However, Dr. Klayman noticed he was dragging his right hind toe, so he suspected something in the rear after all.

We went to the flexion tests. Trouble with this was that I had to run with Tuck at the trot after the flexion and my knees, braced as they were don't allow me much maneuverablity with the little running steps I can do. That should not have mattered too much except that Tucker was being an absolute brat.

All the while the vet was examining him, he was trying to bite me. This continued during the flexion test and then even when was trying to run with him. Then to make it even worse, at one point, he decided to strike out with his front foot at me as he was trotting behind me. I felt his hoof glance off my hand and Dr. Klayman confirmed it. Then the brat struck out as I was holding him. I gave him a good slug and a reprimand for it which seemed to leave a minor impression on him, enought that we managed to finish the exam without my getting hurt.

Eech! I have no idea what tha nonsense with the biting and striking was all about. He has never behaved that badly before. Even Dr. Klayman was taken aback by his behavior.

Then, while we were in the ring, Chance snatched Tucker's sheet from off the railing where Dr. Klayman had hung it and proceeded to tear a nice chunk of the lining--very deliberately, mind you--to my poor vet's horror, since he'd put the sheet there. Ah well, it's not the first nor will it be the last sheet so savaged, I'm sure. I think I can repair it along with the three or four others in need of sewing surgery.

So, the upshot of the exam was that Tucker was sore in his right hock. Could be the cause of what first showed up as stifle too. Dr. Klayman said he didn't want to inject it at this point, but would rather have me treat it with Adequan injections and later Corteflex. He said both treatments have proven very successful with hocks. He said Tuck should be fine in two weeks or less, but he's going to call me to make sure.

Meanwhile, he and his wife have four horses between them and all of them are unsound. He has a lovely big warmblood mare with hind suspensory probelms. He hopes he's found a way to make her sound enough to ride, but it's been a long haul. His wife's horse, another big gorgeous warmblood that was up to the FEI levels of dressage and doing really well, has a hole in his tendon in a bad spot and they are really not too optimistic about his future at this point. His other horse has another ligament problem and I'm not sure what the other horse he mentioned is.

He did say the whole mess has given him a different perspective on how his clients feel and respond to his prognoses and treatments of their horses. He said he had gotten so frustrated he'd totally given up riding and he'd just lost so much of his enthusiasm. "When you're out there every day cleaning the stall and caring for the horse yourself and you can't do anything with him," he said, "it gives you a whole new viewpoint." He has always been compassionate and caring, but I guess now he has a new understanding of how the rest of us feel about our critters when they are ailing. I've always felt comfortable asking him--when there were several options of treatment--"What would you do if it were your horse?" Now, I feel even more confident asking that question.

Had to go for grain after he left. Unloaded it with VERY sore knees.

The tractor is out for repair and won't be back until perhaps Tuesday, so all the barn work is done by wheelbarrow pushed through once more nasty mud.

While the weather was great for riding, I was just too worn out and sore to work anybody.

I suppose if it snows/rains as predicted Sunday night, I will regret this.

Stay tuned as the saga continues.