Ace is now a staple free zone and is moving better than ever. I forced myself to take him out for his walk after getting home from hunting. He didn't miss a beat with his feet and is swinging along and up and down the hills easily.
I was out with a very experienced GP friend of mine today and I described the operation and asked him if he could see any reason to keep him on restricted movement. Sitting on his own long-lived hunter at the time, he expressed the opinion that it was probably to prevent the vets from being sued if it did not work. And that in his opinion it would be counter productive. Which is just what I wanted him to say, of course!
Yesterday, the strip of Ace's back an inch or so wide immediately beside his backbone was rock hard on the left hand side. I massaged it in a way I picked up from a book from The Works for 50p the other day. Today it is noticeably more free than yesterday, so I checked the other side - it was rock hard. So I've massaged that side today, and if that frees up tomorrow then I will continue to massage both sides to break down the fibrous tissue that the surgeon told me he broke up as much as he could, and hopefully get it to go away.
Radar and I got to our first meet today. I wasn't feeling sure whether we should go or not, but I made myself. We've had a lovely time The hounds were out but no scent was laid, we just went for a sort of glorified three hour hack with a hundred people and a lot of small fences to jump. It was just what Radar and I needed to start off the season.
The weather was lovely, the company was very friendly, and I did get one good hedge in. There was another but it was big and it had a massive drop on it, so I gave it a miss. Time enough for risks like that when Ace is further along and Radar and I have agreed who is going to set the speed we go at :-) He was very cheeky today, as he always is at the start of the season.
I desperately need a rest now after hunting and then doing Ace without a break. I knew if I did more than come inside to change my boots that I would never go out again, so I haven't sat down since nine this morning.
Zzzzzzz
C.
Your hunt sounds a bit like the pace we are going on tomorrow. It will be about a 6 mile course laid out and, as far as I know, every jump along it has a way around. We just try to match a secret time set up by riders taking the course before the competition. However, we won't be going for time as we are taking a young horse on his very first outing. Definitely NOT a Radar, so we will probably walk a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe hunt you rode is one I'd enjoy. I'm not into the mad gallops and challenging hedges any more. "Fun" to me is much more sedate. *lol*
Glad another horseman agreed with your assessment of Ace's situation. I would think exercise would be good for him...but I'm not a vet either so take it for what it's worth.
I'd wager your massages feel good to him now, and if so, that's even more indication that the surgery was a success!!
Have a really fun time Jean
DeleteC
wondering if one of those equilibrium massage pads might be a plan?
ReplyDeleteI did try one Claire but the lights worked better. I haven't cooked him yet because I wanted to know what the worst case was before I turn him out.
DeleteC
mmm - the lights were for just heating though? the massage pad actually does massage, so thinking about what you are doing to loosen up those hard patches (might save you an extra job after a days hunting and all that hill walking LOL)
ReplyDeleteNo peace for the wicked, Claire. They aren't as good as they look, they only have six small vibrating units in them and none of them are anywhere near where I'm massaging. Nice try :-)
ReplyDeleteC