I got up early to ride Woody and I'm glad I did as it is now raining and very windy. It was misty, but I figured we wouldn't meet a lot of traffic at that time on a Sunday morning, so out we went, hi viz from head to foot. He was not quite sound on his near fore for a couple of minutes. Sound in walk, but not when I tested the trot. But it was so slight and it wore off so quickly that you begin to wonder if it was ever there, which is absolutely classic for a "navicular" horse.
I keep musing on why it is that soft tissue foot injuries in horses do not heal with rest. The failure rate for recovery on ligament and tendon injuries inside the foot treated with drugs, shoes and rest is about 80%. Woody has been rested several times, the latest for about a year, and yet every time he is brought back into work it is clear the injury has not resolved. I'm happy that the pattern is clearly soft tissue damage. Other foot issues do not usually wear off in a couple of minutes of work. And more work is what is required to finally resolve them. He needs all the structures inside his feet to beef up and share the workload, at which point we hope he will become totally sound and stay that way. That will only happen with work, so miles on the clock on solid supportive tarmac at walk are what is prescribed, and what is happening.
He was very sweet. Less nervous than he has been, and although he was not exactly bursting with enthusiasm to leave the others, he began to relax and stretch down and round on the way home in a way he has not done before. It's the first time I would describe him as completely releasing his tension. I am just about to build him his own saddle. He needs a shorter panel than the saddle I was sharing between him and Radar, and I think he is also probably a borderline one size higher in gullet plate width. The short panels I already have are the wrong ones, too deep, so I will have to shop for another pair on eBay. I can get away with them with as little air in as possible meanwhile.
I am going to try to spot a gap in the rain to ride Ace later, but it doesn't look hopeful.
C
I will be following Woody's progress to soundness with great interest. Keep explaining the theories as you go along. I've never really had to rehab a horse like that, so the educational journey is very enlightening.
ReplyDeleteRain and wind there...hurricane on the way here. Does not seem the weather is being kind to any of us lately. I nearly have everything battened down but a few minor chores remain before Sandy arrives.
Sandy has been all over the news over here Jean. I hope he doesn't give you too much trouble.
ReplyDeleteC