I can't describe just how relieved I am to be able to report that Ace is almost certainly going to be completely back to his lovely quiet self within another couple of days.
As I got on he flinched just like he did yesterday, but realised there was no pain, relaxed, and walked straight off. He took almost no notice of the blue barrels. On the first trot transition he again anticipated pain and hunched up, realised it hadn't happened and trotted off nicely. The canter was no issue at all. We did some lengthening and shortening in trot and stopped.
It was clear that he had no real pain, just anticipation of it, and that is already wearing off extremely quickly. I think now that he does have full scale ulcers, and he will be getting the full omeprazole treatment. Thank goodness it is now an over-the-counter drug in this country.
I was having considerable difficulty keeping the grin off my face to ride Radar, and I just enjoyed working him in the sunshine. He was his 'usual' self, but he did finish on some pretty decent walk/trot/walk. For one moment I thought he was going to have to go competing instead of Ace, but that looks a lot less likely now.
I'm off now to catch up on some lost sleep.
C
Fab news, glad to hear it xx
ReplyDeleteI've just slept for two hours I'm so de-stressed
DeleteC
What good news! I was hoping that would be the case...not the ulcers, but the success in treating his tummy.
ReplyDeleteThe statistics of horses with ulcers is amazing. Estimates are as high as 80% of all horses in competition. Most of them are stoic sufferers, I think. You and I just happen to have two sensitive fellows who have rather obvious ways of expressing their discomfort.
Wonder how much of Radar's cooperation is a reaction to your mood after riding Ace?
Radar's cooperation was sadly lacking Jean, I just didn't care!!
ReplyDeleteC