Ach! Ace is now sound in his front leg with the splint. And lame in the hind one diagonally opposite, with a large amount of heat right where he was kicked back in May. I was afraid that we would not get away without him getting arthritis in such a severe injury, and it looks as though the terrible cold wet weather and the rest from him being lame with the splint on the front leg have done him no favours at all.
The lameness is very slight, but I noticed a few days ago that he appeared to be nodding upwards instead of downwards on the right fore. That usually means that the problem is in the diagonally opposite hind. Today he was apparently a tiny bit lame in the near fore, nodding downwards, which also often means that the lameness is actually in the hind on the same side. So I felt for heat, and bingo, I found it. I cannot see it looking at his legs when he moves, only in the tiny head-nod.
If this is arthritic, from the injury, rest will do it no good at all. So I intend to work him until we go on holiday in just over a week's time, then rest him for the 6 days we are away, then see how he is then. If he is still lame, then I will take him for x-rays to see whether we can spot what is going on, though I strongly suspect that it will be a waste of both time and money to be told that he has arthritic changes in the lower hock joints where he was kicked.
Radar is fit but fretful. He missed his hunting today because the lorry was out of action with a back wheel off. Unfortunately SH took on a job that was too big for him on Thursday, in spite of me asking him point blank not to start anything that he could not be sure of finishing in time for me to go on the hunt ride today. Oh well, he's only human, and he saves us such a lot of money doing these jobs himself. It's finished now, a day too late. On the plus side, hunting was cancelled because of the ground conditions and it was only hound exercise on offer today which would not have been anywhere near as exciting. We are both hoping to get out next Saturday but we need the rain to stop or no farmer is going to let 50 horses gallop around on their fields!
All in all it isn't the best day I've ever had but it was far from the worst.
C
Oh dear. That is such a worry about Ace. He is such a nice horse and to have him lame like that is certainly discouraging. On the other hand, once again you do seem to be on top of things and the plan sounds like a good one. I will send positive vibes your way.
ReplyDeletePoor Radar. I'm sure he has in internal clock that tells him when it's hunt day. He must be disappointed.
SH is a gem even is he was a bit late with the wheel repair. He has done so many wonderful things to support your and your horses, so he certainly deserves your forgiveness and, ultimately, thanks. Hope things dry out for next weekend. A real hunt would be far more fun.