No ride.. no work.. but shockwaved

 Poor Danimal. He didn't get to have any fun today. Well, not true... he had a tiny bit of fun. I rode both girls but didn't have time to do anything with him. He hung out in his stall while Lexi worked on the girls and he was quite relaxed and content. We opted to wait til next time for him. 

After they ate, Mike and I ate, and then I walked back out to get him. In the pasture by the round pen I did a little bit of having him move around me like in the TRT method, where he talks about teaching them how to carry themselves. I have no idea if I was doing it right because I didn't pay for his course, but.. ha ha... it seemed right. Of course Dan was silly and kept grabbing the lead line. And he did take off once but came right back. I made him work for it though and had him come close, then back up, then one step at a time forward, and then he got his cookie. Then we did a tiny bit more of the turning in the circle around me but crossing the hind end and staying square in his shoulders. Then we went inside and I shockwaved his suspensories. 

But... I noticed today that he's missing a side clip on his hind shoe. Except, I don't think he's missing it so much as he twisted it a hair and stepped on the clip. Dammit Dan! Seriously... you're really going to get us fired. Like... Russel was JUST here two days ago!!! I'll text Patrick tomorrow but I may just end up pulling his hind shoes for a bit. I mean... at this point... why not?! I'm also going to call Barrow and get foot films again and talk to her about renovo in his suspensories. Sigh... although in my reading.... neurectomy and/or fasciotomy is the treatment of choice. UGH. But... I'm also not sure that that is only a salvage type thing... or... a "buy you time but then they break down thing but at least you can show in the meantime" thing... and I'm not sure I willing to do that. Plus... I'm not sure I'm willing to do stall rest again. So... we'll try the renovo and see what happens with his scapula. 

Do no harm

 Ugh... I'm sorry Daniel... I'm sorry!

I guess I overdid the electroacupuncture Tuesday because Wednesday morning he was draging that right front dramatically. Sigh... I'm sorry buddy... I'm so sorry! Luckily by Wednesday evening he was much improved. And this morning, almost back to normal. Of course I had panicked and asked some other vets on facebook. The answers I got were not as helpful as I was hoping but many recommended pneumo again. 

 

Today I took him to Ashland and we met Kelli and Marvin for another short hack. She had time constraints because I had wanted to ride the girls in the morning and she had to clip a horse, so we didn't get to stay out as long as we wanted. But it worked out okay. We still had a nice ride. Dan felt almost normal, maybe a hair short. And he was a bit slower than usual, which made it easier for Marvin to keep up. We did do some hills and he splashed a tiny bit in the lake. I did make him walk and trot one circle each way in the treadmill. Good boy!

 

When we got home I decided to do a hair more electro but I kept it way dialed back. Like.. if he was bouncing the needles I backed it down a teeny bit. Then I did pneumo. He stood quietly and did some licking and chewing, so... I suspect that it's helping. But then... he walked off pretty sore and dragging again. sigh... I'm sorry buddy. When will I learn?! Arghhh... Is this God telling me that I need to back off and let Him do His work? Or... telling me that I just need to give up. Because now, not only am I maybe not making any progress, but I seem to be making it worse. Sigh.. or am I? I don't even know. I don't know if it's a good thing and I just accept that he's gonna be sore the next day? Or is it a bad thing? Arghhhhh.

 

Poor guy. He's such a good sport about it too. I know he's unhappy when his leg doesn't cooperate. He neighed for his friends and then slowly made his way out to pasture. Oh I feel so awful. I'm so sorry buddy. 

 

All Heart, All Try

 Ugh Daniel... I love you so much. Thanks for making it better. 

  

 

This morning was sad... both girls are still not right. Funny might as well be unbacked again for as feral as she was. And... I'm just sad still. Stupid hormones. After I rode them, I had lunch and then met Kelli and Marvin at Ashland for a hack. I rode bareback again. 

   

Dan was super. We hacked out and hit the trails. He was in a good mood and a happy camper. We splashed in the lake and he pawed a good bit but didn't swim. Kelli mentioned maybe I should teach him a cue for pawing so that I could encourage it more for his rehab. Or even teach him to spanish walk. I may use a tap on the shoulder or a forward leg toward the shoulder as his cue, along with praise and the word "Paw". 

   

We headed to the XC field to finish our ride and I made him walk a circle each way and then I had him trot one circle each way. I know... I know.. I'm not supposed to be trotting. But... I needed it. I felt like Dan is the only horse of mine that's actually trying today. He's trying to get better. He's trying to be a good boy. He's trying to do what I want. And I know it's not true. But... he hurts too and he's still trying. Sigh... I only did one circle each way and he actually felt pretty good. 

 

 

We walked back up to the trailers and he got a good rinse. He was extra snuggly again today. I swear he knows. I love you too bubs!

 

When we got home I did electroacupuncture. He's so brave. He was not a fan but he stood his ground and was super! And we got lots of twitching so... maybe??? I'm going to keep on hoping because... I can't not.

 

  

Grateful despite struggling

 Ugh.... this has been a really rough week. But Danimal knows how to make things better. 

We went for a hack today and met Kelli and Marvin. She used my saddle so I rode bareback. Which, is totally fine because I would have anyways as it's still a gabillion degrees outside and we're restricted to walking only for 6 weeks. Sigh. It was actually slightly cool enough that I was able to curry him without just currying sweat around. Although by the time I finished and got his bareback pad on, he was sweating. That discolored patch was soaking already. So odd. But anyways... we got on and headed for some shade.

 

It was actually fairly pleasant in the shade and the bugs really weren't too bad today. I think they're worse early in the morning and later in the day. We walked down through the cross country field, to the new "down under" trail and then up through the woods to the hay fields. They had just mowed and baled the round bales. I wonder if they have army worms too or it was just good timing with theh lack of rain? Then we headed along the edge of the creek to the waterfall. And then we opted to cross the creek since Kelli had gotten off to get rid of a pesky horse fly, so Marvin walked/jumped the creek in hand. Then we headed up the hoot and holla hill. I meant to do sideways so it wasn't quite as steep but miscalculated so... hoot and holla it was. Then we headed to the water complex. There were a ton of geese there but Dan casually moved them off a bit so Marvin could be brave and join us in the water. We just walked a few circles to do his therapy. No trotting. :( 

 

Then we headed to the lake and Dan had two good swims. Unfortunately Kelli missed them both on video, but he did legit swim a few feet. Then he went deep but didn't swim a third time. And we splashed. It was great. It felt good too. Then we headed back in. 

 

I felt better already. But then I got a migraine while grocery shopping and legit thought I was going to puke. I had to take a pill and lay down with an ice pack on my head. After it went away I went out to feed. Flecky's got a fat leg and knee on top of his fat jaw... and he's mega lame. I'm guessing another abscess but it's so dry that his foot is like concrete so... I have no idea how he's going to blow an abscess. It's not going to rain for a bit too. Poor dude. And Lyric is super sore on her bare foot despite me putting the scoot boot on. Sigh. And I was feeling bad about murdering all my bugs to kill the army worms. So while I was filling the little trough I noticed all the dragonflies are still flying around so I was taking a video and suddenly.... I'm was getting sprayed! Ha ha.. DANIEL!! He had grabbed the hose and was twirling it. Ahhh... thanks for the smile dude. And the cool down. :) After that we snuggled briefly and then I went to feed the dogs and he meandered over to the dog pen and checked on me. We hung out a tiny bit and then he went on his way. Man I love this horse. And I'm so grateful to God for putting him in my life. I know our story isn't where I wanted it to be... or think I want it to be... but I know he has taught me so much and I'm certain that later, I'll look back and thank God for the path I'm on. And when Dan does stuff today... I know he loves me and it makes me smile and brightens my day. I was thinking today about how much I love this ridiculous horse... and how much stress and anguish he causes me and how he seems to make such bad life choices, but I just... love him so much. And I think... perhaps... that's how God loves me. I'm a ridiculous creature to... hard to love.... not snuggly.... makes poor life choices... but by golly God is not giving up on me either, just like I'm not giving up on Dan. And probably... God seems me the way I see Dan. Dan is beautiful and hilarious and amazing and talented and .... just awesome. And I realize that I'm seeing him through my eyes... a mothers eyes... and not everyone appreciates him the way I do. Probably most are slightly horrified by him. ;) But... I adore him. And despite the fact that I don't think I'm worthy or deserving... of happiness, success, all the things, including Gods love and blessings... and I'm rude, snarky, easily frustrated, easy to anger, quick tempered, petty, impatient, etc, etc... yet God still loves my ridiculous self, with all my brokeness and imperfections. And even better, He doesn't see me like I see myself. He sees me like I see Dan. Through rose colored glasses. At least that's what I think I heard today. And.. that makes me smile. And as silly as it is... it's both confirming and gives me hope... one, that I won't give up on Dan... regardless of what that means... and that God won't give up on me. For which I'm incredibly grateful. Both me and Dan are disasters... only a mother (or Father) could love us. But we are loved. And today... both God and Dan showed me that I'm loved and that made me feel sooooooo much better. 

 

 

 

 

Vet visit: ugh

 So... Dan looked quite short and icky in the pasture the other day. Like... lame at the walk icky. Ugh... No.. daniel no!! Sigh... So I checked him out at dinner and.. the magic stick was screaming right stifle. But... I don't know. We had already had a vet visit with Keelin scheduled for Thursday so I just... let him be all week. No riding. No lunging. And honestly, it was too damn hot to bother with pillar walking. I was cranky and tired of being hot and sweaty. So... he got to just chill Sunday and Tuesday. Well, we did his bemer therapy. 

 

So Thursday morning I lunged Lyric and the grabbed Dan and Funny. Kelli and Marvin were supposed to come with us but she had covid and felt awful, so I went without her. Since I had the open trailer spot, I tossed Funny on too. They were happy campers and hopped on. We got to Aiken and evaluated Funny first. (See her post). Then it was Dan's turn. 

I explained where we were and all that had happened since we saw her last and then we watched him go. We flexed his left hind, full limb and he was incredibly lame. Like... she cussed he was so lame. So then we did the right hind and he was super fussy and wouldn't stand very long. He jogged off lame for that too but not nearly as bad, but he also didn't hold it as long. So then we went back inside and she palpated him. He really felt pretty good in his left stifle and not so great in his right, but his right stifle always feels not so great. She checked his suspensories and he was UNHAPPY! Bilaterally. So she said that based on all the things... physical exam, flexion, palpation, ap scan, history...  she thought it was his suspensories again. We also x-rayed his big fat knee and luckily that was clean. He had a tiny bit of arthritic changes on the lower joint but given that it is low motion, she said to ignore it. We didn't ultrasound his suspensories... I'm not sure if it's because she was like "this girl is crazy and let's not keep pouring money down the drain for her when he's toast", or... didn't feel like it was necessary... or figured it wouldn't change anything anyways... or he wasn't lame enough to justify it... or what, but we didn't ultrasound. The plan is to shockwave him, walk only rides for 6 weeks or so, and to change his hind shoes to the denoix shoes. And continue with all the other things. I did ask "WHYYYYYYY?????". And she said "all the compensating from all the things???". I guess. Sigh... 

Oh, and... she agreed that his shouder was definitely sweeney but he had very little lateral instability so she told me to keep at it.. maybe try shockwave (did that already) but mentioned that she gave up on her personal horse with sweeney after a year of getting no where. Sigh. I remember that now. UGH.....

So yeah... We headed home and I shockwaved him and then went ahead and did electro on his shoulder. Poor Dan had to stay in overnight to keep Funny company. I told him I know I had promised him no more stall rest but it was only one night and I gave him the patio and the grass area and told him he owed Sissy for staying with him those many weeks. And he obliged happily enough. Except he woke me up at 6:30 the next morning banging on his stall. I got out of bed and let them both out and then went back and laid down til 7 am. Then when I got out there to feed he was lame again. Dude!! Oh... how on earth he is managing this but he half ripped off his left hind shoe again. Seriously dude?! I pulled it out and texted Patrick, telling him that the vet wanted the denoix's anyways, so Dan was just helping out. I swear though... I'm not sure why he can't keep his hind shoes from twisting lately. 

So... yeah. Guess we'll be doing lots of walk work and water treadmill at the walk work. Sigh... at least we can do that and hit the trails. And at least Keelin didn't really see a front end lameness.