It's a Shoe On!

But Let's Keep It Under Control

Tucker has two new shoes in front.  Both of them have well rolled toes and the shoes themselves are beveled.  The right one--the problem foot--has a special pad on the frog area to give some extra support and protection.

The right front has a  large part of the wall carved out in the toe area--I'll try to get some pictures later--where Scott tried to clean out the old areas of infection.  He's been working on this toe thing for years, and he thinks it's the cause of the current hoof issue.  The downside of that is that I have to keep the hole there packed and Tucker still needs to wear a wrap to protect it.  I need to get some Elasticon, which is much stronger then mere Vetrap to do the job right.  Once I do that, Tucker can have a little more turnout.

Which brings me to the fact that he is allowed limited turnout now.  We don't want him running about too much.  This is not an easy task. This morning, I have turned him out on the lawn and locked the other two Boys in their stalls.  Tuck does not tend to run around a lot unless something stirs him up, so if the other two are not around he should stay pretty quiet. 

Later, after I do my chores and, if all goes as planned, give my lesson, I will put Tuck out in the riding area so he can stretch his legs a little more in the afternoon.  Again I will put the other Boys in their stalls.  Fair trade, I should think.  While he's been locked in, they've been out. 

It's going to still be a bit complicated for a while, I guess. Tucker still has a pulse in the affected foot, so we are not at all sure everything is healed up.  Scott had another vet look at the X-rays and there was a bit of a question about whether or not his coffin bone might be a little affected.  Curiously enough, this was almost the same conclusion my vet came to some five years ago before they found an abscess.  (May 19, 2005--when the xrays were taken!)  Tuck looked fine out there today.When I put him in the arena later this afternoon, I'll watch a bit more.

The lesson was great.  What I love about teaching someone basic dressage on Toby is that he responds to every move his rider makes.  So, a leg too far back will push his haunches in.  Sitting crooked will make him go crooked.  Too much inside rein will create shoulder out or a host of other unexpected inbalances, etc.  He can be like a fine-tuned car where the slightest pressure creates a reaction. 

We didn't work him too hard, because he certainly is not fit, but I will do some riding on him during the week to build him up a bit and we can go for another lesson on Friday if the weather is OK. 

So, slight changes in status here at Follywoods, the best being that Tucker can get out for a little.