I turned up today to find all his stuff in his room - but not him. A momentary lurch of the heart and then he came wombling in accompanied by a petite blond blue-eyed physio. Oh sure, you've only been for a walk up the corridor, I believe you :-)
He is doing amazingly. He is only on Vicodin tablets (paracetamol and an opiate) on a minimum dose and he is pain free, even when he coughs. He's completely mobile, WAY ahead of where he should be in recovery terms, and they are going to get him walking up and down stairs tomorrow. He's chatty, making phone calls, getting up and down and walking about - it's amazing. The staff are very impressed!
I did get to ride the two boys who are in work before I went to the hospital. Ace was a bit stiff and unco-operative, but I put that down to me, tired and stressed. I did have him in the Neue Schule Verbindend bit but I was pretty sure that he didn't really like it, so when he got mouthy with it I took it off and put a bog standard French link on, which he was immediately softer in and took a gentle hold of, instead of setting or backing off.
We did a lesson on walk - straight and forwards - into a square halt, and true to baby form, he found that a very difficult exercise and swobbled about all over the place. I have often found that the lightweights find that exercise a challenge, I wonder why it goes with that body shape?
I took Jazz out for a hack. He was also stiff and on his forehand, so I'm guessing that there are also some issues with the recent rain overnight. I have been leaving them out without rugs on because they are all gaining a little weight, but I think Jazz and Ace were stiff in the back partly because they have had cold muscles overnight.
A "bit" (haha!!) of advice please chaps. I want to get Ace out of the long-cheek snaffle and buy two bits, one for his bling bridle and one for his day to day. Shall I
- stick with a plain French link or go for a lozenge which seems kinder on the tongue?
- use an eggbut or put him in a loose link. Will an eggbut make him set on the bit? Or will a loose ring make him play with it too much??
Answers on a postcard please.
C
ps SH saw the surgeon yesterday evening, who told him that one leaf of his two-leaf heart valve (it should have three) was completely non-functional and the other wasn't a lot better. He could have died at any time!
What great news about Allan...and scary news at the end at the same time. I am so grateful to hear good news on all of this. (Hey, Allan...behave yourself with those nurses!!*G*)
ReplyDeleteBits....I honestly prefer the eggbutt lozenge bits myself. Both Toby and Tucker are in them as was PJ. First, I think the lozenge is kinder. Yes, Ace may take a little more contact, but that could be a real plus as you will have something to push that squiggly body into. Eggbutt for two reasons: One--it will not pinch, two--I think it gives a steadier contact which I and my horses seem to like (less wiggle so less fuss from me or the horse.)
Lighter build horses have much more natural lateral flexibility so it's far easier for body parts to go every which way. That's another reason for the steadier bit as it kind of creates the "place" for the horse to find stability.
Goodness, your ps at the end is slightly terrifying. Glad to her that SH is up and about and flirting with the nurses ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs that a bit like carrot training where they dangle a young pretty nurse in front of them and then they have to walk and try and catch them? Amazing the advancements in physiotherapy these days ;) Really pleased he is doing so well, will it make any difference if you tried to slow him down a bit? Sounds like he really, really wants to get out of there. He was super-hubby now he is super-bionic-hubby.
ReplyDeleteI like a lozenge bit as well but do prefer a fine sized one, this is mainly because my horse has a very thick tongue and fleshy mouth, for this reason I also prefer an eggbutt otherwise I have to go up a size for the loose ring and then I never think it sits correctly inside the mouth.
I also like a JP french link which is a cheap as chips bit but mine seem to like it.
Tracey I really needed to have been to the loo before I read your first line. I'm going to print it off and take it in to him later.
ReplyDeleteThey flirt with him Sarahh, he's never noticed how may women flirt with him, he prefers a good steam engine any day :-) I went to a Spinal Research evening with him once and one of the two girls I worked with there nearly fainted and blurted out "your husband is gorgeous", before she could stop herself. She was mortified and never came to another meeting with me! He looks like a slightly older version of that guy from Dragon's Den - Peter Jones, in fact this is almost the spitting image of him:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/dragons/
Fixed cheek bit it is Jean!
C
So pleased Alan is doing well both mentally and physically lol.
ReplyDeleteMy bit of choice is a french link, I think that snaffles can sometime give a horse something to hold on to avoid the nut cracker action on the bars of their mouth. I dont think they can do that with a french link :0)
A
Caroline - you make me laugh. You must be sooo happy and so relieved. It will take a while for the full impact to settle in. Ha, a steam engine - a real man has a tape measure (Dave) or a wrench (spanner for you guys) in his hand. Hugs for both you and Allan.
ReplyDeleteAs for bits I am clueless. Want anything from the US?
I haven't used a single joint bit since Scooby left six years ago, Anne. Like you I find a French link, Myler type mouthpiece or a straight bar are much better accepted by most horses.
ReplyDeleteVery relieved ML, even if he does tick now :-) I'm spoilt for bit chioce in the UK thanks!
C
Wow for Allan! living up to his SH reputation!
ReplyDeleteSo glad he got done when he did...scandalous that you had to pay for it though....if you'd had to go NHS, the out come could have been a lot different...doesn't bare thinking about :-0