So, Radar has an abscess that has popped out of his frog, with a big hole about an inch back from the point. If it wasn't for the fact that he hasn't really been lame (but is now) I would suspect he trod on something sharp and be going for xrays to make sure that the pedal bone is OK. But his frog was definitely in one piece yesterday, because I checked very thoroughly yesterday morning. So as long as he is a bit less unsound tomorrow, then I'll be happy to leave him because it's draining well and antibiotics are not only not recommended, they are contra-indicated for an open draining abscess.
I brought him in yesterday morning to inspect the foot. So at one point I had Radar and Buttie in the barn, with a door open to the field. And Jazz and Ace in the field with their chests at the gate to the yard. All they had to do to get back together again was to walk out into the field, all of them. What did Ace do?
He jumped the gate. Well over four feet of galvanised steel. From a foot away. My heart was in my mouth as he slipped on the concrete yard on landing and scraped a knee. He's pulled off a circle of hair about two inches across, and given himself a tiny graze and a very small amount of filling on the knee. But apart from that, we got away with it. Why on EARTH did he do that? He wasn't alone. He knows full well how to get around the back of the stables to the open field door of the barn. WHY?
I can only breathe a sigh of relief and make a mental note never to trust him. Whew!
C
....and you're SURE he's a dressage horse...
ReplyDelete;-)
Have to admit that I did say to Allan that it's a shame I don't still event, because he is very lightweight and with a jump like that he would be a superb eventer! As it is, I'm not prepared to risk him jumping when Radar is such a fab hedgehopper. I've definitely given up big fixed timber fences, I haven't miss eventing at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm back :-)
ReplyDeleteNever say never to the eventing, you may get tempted again at this rate. Cheers
Oh wow, scarey. Silly horse. Have you told him how much he is worth?
ReplyDeleteSo great to read your blog again, Caroline. Thank you so much for starting it up again.
I can't wait to hear about your lessons with Stephen Clarke.
Ohmigosh!!! Well, we never said a good horse had to have a brain...at least not common sense...*sigh* Hope he is truly OK.
ReplyDeleteI suppose there are some people who'd figure that price was nothing to pay for a good event horse, but I'm with you. It's too risky. You can get your jumping fixes from Radar and your intellectual fixes from Ace and Jazz.
Curious about Radar's abscess. You'd think he would have been lame. As long as he's on the mend, that's good.
Hey, maybe Ace needs a GPS! *G**
Hi Tracey!
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, I've lost my nerve for the really big fixed timber and I really believe the only way to jump them safely is to attack them. I'm not safe any more. The smaller heights aren't worth the entry fees - £70 this year affiliated! Hope the skiing was fun.
Hi Judith, just waiting for Stephen to answer an email I sent him and I plan to go to him sometime in April. I had a message from a German dressage rider (Grand Prix level) yesterday saying that she doesn't understand how I got Ace, being a Riccione offspring, so cheap! CHEAP!! Good grief it's an arm and a leg :-) But how nice to know what the Germans think he's worth, eh???
Radar's MUCH better this morning with a perfectly circular hole in his frog, going right into the inside. He'll be sound on the road in a couple of days.
Off to pick up an electric recliner for Allan now - I'll explain later why he needs it - now this is a private blog I can share a bit more.
C.
"Cheap" to one person is expensive to another. Actually, Ace was cheap if the prices here in the US are a basis of comparison. $15,000-$16,000 USD will not likely get you a Grand Prix contender. It would buy a "nice" horse, if you could find one. Most of the horses with true potential are at least twice that.
ReplyDeleteNow, to me, a third of that is an expensive horse, so I'm in a totally different world. *lol*
The father stands in America now Jean, did I tell you?
ReplyDeleteC
Hiya, I agree that £70 is just too much for an unaffiliated hobby, but I secretly think you'll be tempted again one day ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope Super Hubby likes his recliner, I know another hubby who's got one of those on his wish list.
I had a breakthrough today, I left my yearling in her stable, top door shut, and rode out for the first time with both other horses, ride and lead, leaving her alone. I was nearly an hour and on my return she was really quite chilled and hadn't sweated up or got silly at all. Brilliant, I've been putting it off for ages, and the time just seemed right today.
Where are the Ace photos by the way......la la la
Fantastic news Tracey, what a good girl, and at her age too.
ReplyDeleteHubby already had a recliner (we have a double - sweet!!) but we need the motor, you'll read why in a minute, we cross posted.
C
Sounds like Radar is heading in the right direction, I reckon Ace was just showing you he was well worth his money and is an all rounder really :) Some dressage riders do jump their horses .......
ReplyDeleteTracey S