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Discussion on Pulled Muscle in Neck Causing Lameness?
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 7:45 am:
Hello all,
Last night I worked Sparkles for about 1/2 hour and she was working really well and felt great. About 30 minutes into the ride, I was working on some simple lateral work (she knows it; I am learning) and we managed to get completely crooked and discombobulated, so I straightened her and moved forward into a trot before attempting again. As soon as she picked up the trot, it was apparent that she was now lame. I immediately jumped off and checked her legs as my first thought was that in the lateral work she clipped herself (and being in a hurry last night, I did not wrap her legs, just put bell boots on). However, her legs were fine - no heat, swelling, cuts or bumps anywhere.
I put her on a lunge line to see if I could figure out which leg. To my (almost always wrong) eye, it looked like left front. Cooled her out and untacked. The Barn Owner then came down and offered to take a look (much better eye than mine for distinguishing lameness). Put Sparkles back on the lunge and the BO agreed that it was the left front. It is the first time I've ever seen this horse head bobbing lame and it looked like she was not swinging freely from the shoulder. BO then ran her hands over Sparkles and we noticed an immediate reaction when pressing against the muscles of the neck, left side, near where they join the shoulder. This is not a twitchy horse, but when those muscles were poked, she flinched and whipped her head around - 3 times. When the process was repeated on the other side, she did not blink, nor did she react to being prodded anywhere else along her back. On visual inspection, there was no swelling in that spot and both shoulders/sides of neck appeared even.
After grooming, I gave 1 gr bute and turned her back out. It had started to rain so I figured she wouldn't be ramming around and thought she would be better off moving around then stiffen up in a stall.
OK...so after all that...does my theory of a pulled muscle in the neck due to my clumsy attempts at lateral work make sense in explaining this sudden onset of lameness? If Sparkles was noticably worse, I would have heard from the BO this morning. I will check her tonight. If indeed this is a stiff neck, other than bute, is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable/increase healing? I didn't cold hose only because I figured in such a large muscle mass, particularly with no swelling/heat it probably wouldn't do much, but maybe I should have?
Any thoughts would be appreciated (as usual I'm second guessing myself but every time I've called the vet out after hours it always ends up being a minor issue so I decided to play it conservative this time...and am giving myself ulcers with worry  )
Thanks in advance!
Fran
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 8:00 am:
Fran, sorry about Sparkles!
The only thing that pops out in your post to me anyway is, would a sore neck make her head bobbing lame??
If it was her neck I would think she would be carrying her head differently instead..lower ect.
I've never had a sore neck on horses other than from Vaccs. and they don't get lame...just don't want to move their necks as much.
Hope she is better today
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 8:20 am:
Hi, ((((Fran))))
When you say "got all discombobulated" was she being super resistant with work on that one side? I guess it's tough for me to think that your work with her "pulled" something in her neck that would make her lame that quickly.
Could be that she hurt herself earlier in the day or slept in the wrong position the night before  . . . or could be that she has an abscess going on in her left front and the neck isn't connected . . . ?
I know that I've seen lameness develop from poor saddle fit, putting pressure on withers, and then disappear after the saddle is switched . . . but not from a sore neck (or are you saying it's more like a sore shoulder?).
I bet the bute has helped if it's a muscle issue. If it's an abscess, the lameness may come and go a bit before it gets really severe and then the abscess drains.
You are a good mom. (Share one of your Diet Cokes with Sparkles when you see her tonight ;) . . . it will make her feel more special than she already does . . .)
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:05 am:
Hi Fran,
I just went through something with Cody being lame, and like with Sparkles could find nothing wrong with his leg. I critically examined his hoofs for levelness also, always 2nd guessing my trimming work.
What I had noticed with him, he had been rolling, and I watched him try to get up, and noticed he seemed to have a weird lameness after he got up. He had been racing around the pasture before the rolling.
He was like "goose stepping" slightly with the front left leg...so I massaged his shoulder, and kept boots on him while on pasture, gave Bute every evening. There was some head bob, not too much. He also seemed ouchy in the shoulder, which don't explain the slight throwing of the front leg, does it?
After about 3-4 days, he seems fine now....knock on wood.
I guess what I would suggest is keep giving light dose of Bute, and support both front legs with the boots. My theory was give the Bute at night when standing around, support legs during the day when moving on pasture. With no heat or swelling, a strained muscles seems reasonable, like if we wake up with a stiff neck.
Question:
If you wake up with a very stiff neck, trap muscle(?) swollen and tight, does it affect using the arm on that side of your body? Picture your arm as the front leg of a horse.
And how would you treat your muscle in that situation?
BTW, be sure and check HOOFS for stones, levelness, nails if shod.
I bet she'll be fine in a day or 2. Don't feel bad, 3 of our 4 have been slightly off since being on pasture, all that racing around with soft winter muscles! Tango's shoulder was bothering him, old injury...and Gem hit a post with her leg....sigh.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:23 am:
Hi Fran,
Hmmm. Seems to be a tough season for our Holsteiner mares. My best advice is to get a full lameness exam if the unsoundness persists. We all know that these things are usually in the feet, but when they aren't in the feet it can be tricky to isolate the problem w/o a systematic approach (and some time).
My very fit mare pulled up lame half-way through a clinic 2 weeks ago. We assumed (wrongly) it was one of her currently-known and managed lamenesses, and I gave her a few days off. Came out to feed a few mornings later, and found her with her nose in the dirt, barely able to walk, unwilling to eat. We then thought she had broken her neck. I won't hijack your thread, but the outcome at my place has turned out to be a severe soft tissue injury behind the right scapula. How/why/when unknown. That deadly combo. of hay, water, and air strikes again.
So they can injure the soft tissue in their necks, but they can also use their necks to protect other injured structures, and the only way to find a lameness is to look for it in a very systematic way. And sometimes it takes time for the horse to help indicate the actual source of pain.
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:32 am:
do you have pipe panels? could she have gotten her head thru and pulled back? i highly doubt your lateral work pulled anything out on your horse... betting if a signifacant limp you are seeing a lower leg issue..
Bute / rest / vet call..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 10:17 am:
Thanks, everyone for your responses!
To answer the questions that came up:
~Holly, she wasn't resistant in the lateral work, in fact, she was working well with it until I confused myself as I shifted between haunches in and shoulders in. The result was that she was overly bent and we did something like a haunches in and shoulders in at the same time...whatever it was, it wasn't correct and I stopped to get myself together, think it through and ride her straight before trying again. That's when she she suddenly came up lame.
~She was most definitely sound when I got on at the start of the ride, so hurting herself out in the pasture was ruled out. In fact, she worked beautifully until that moment half way through - round, forward, through.
~Forgot to mention in my original post that I did check her hooves. She is a bit long in the toe as the farrier is due next week, but nothing unusual at the end of the cycle. We were working indoors so unlikely to have stepped on anything to cause a bruise.
~Hmm...an abcess? She's not prone to them, has never had one since I've owned her, but I know they can pop up real quick. The ground has been hard until the rain yesterday, so perhaps that's a possibility...will have to look at her feet closer tonight.
~Still, a soft tissue injury somewhere around her should/neck fits the reaction she had. Yes Elizabeth, the air/water/hay combo strikes again!
Thanks again for your input, ladies. I'll go over her even closer tonight and will report back. If anyone has anymore ideas, I'm all ears (or eyes, as the case may be!)
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Member:
shogeboo
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:59 pm:
Hi Fran,
Sorry about Sparkles. These vague lameness issues are so hard to figure out! It makes sense to me that she could have pulled something or the saddle was pinching in in the position you were working in. How is she today- any better? If not, I would give her rest and bute for a few days and if no improvement, have the vet out...yi- I know how that adds up!! I am still working on my boy!
Best wishes to you & Sparkles
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 5:53 pm:
Give the beautiful Sparkles my luv and healing thoughts
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 7:37 am:
Thank you for your well wishes, Stephanie & Leslie - much appreciated!
Checked Sparkles last night and she seemed a little better. The head bob was less pronounced, she seemed to swing her shoulder just a tad bit more and there was zero reaction to poking her in that same spot that generated such a big reaction on Tuesday night.
Still no swelling or heat that I could find anywhere in her legs or shoulders and I pounded and pressed on the soles of her front hooves and got no reaction.
She had received 1 gram bute before 7am and I checked her about 7:30 pm so I am uncertain if she was a little better due to the residual effects of the bute (1 gram in 1300 lb horse still effective after 12+ hours?)or was she better because it, whatever "it" is, is minor and already healing. Who knows??
So, she received another gram of bute, a good brushing, a few treats and was turned back out. When I left, she and her favorite pasture mate were happily grooming each other and Sparkles was very intent on turning the freshly brushed mane of her pasture mate into one big snarl of hair.
As long as there's no turn for the worse, I think I will continue to monitor, give her bute and if not better by Monday, have the vet out.
Elizabeth, I wanted to ask, how is your mare? How long did it take for the soft tissue injury to heal? I hope she's OK now and you're back in the saddle again!
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 8:05 am:
Hi Fran,
Thanks for asking. My mare is not healed, though she has improved to the point that she's eating and moving around. There's some question as to whether she will fully recover and go back to work, and on what timeframe. She's a remarkably resilient mare, so I'll never bet against her, but I cleared her calendar and am expecting it to be quite a while before I know what I have.
Given that we suspected a broken neck, I'm quite happy to have her cheerful-ish and hanging about the place.... It has forced me to put the necessary focus onto my green riding horses and sale horses. If I'm not riding, I'm not a good person to know!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 9:48 am:
A sore neck, even on one side, like we see with a injection reaction, generally causes a overall stiff gait and a unwillingness to lift or lower the neck, the article on Localizing explains more about this. With a head bob and shortened stride on one side I would first rule out lameness in the leg before I would go looking at the neck. Your findings of a neck reaction may be incidental and the lack of obvious visible problems in the leg common with a leg lameness.
DrO
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 9:29 am:
Well, she is still off. Looks like no or minimal improvement since Wednesday. The vet comes out for a lameness exam on Monday. I will post results when I get them.
Thanks, everyone.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 1:54 pm:
Poor Sparkles.. I hope you find the root of the problem Fran and it's nothing serious.
Hank acted a little like that when he was getting a hoof abscess, until it "blew out" his coronary band(4 weeks) we couldn't figure out what his problem was....hope it's that simple
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 4:03 pm:
Thanks, Diane! I'd be delighted if it was something as simple as an abscess...although 4 weeks off my horse might turn ME into a nutcase!
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2009 - 8:32 pm:
It looks like I'm off to the funny farm...unfortunately, it's not something as simple as an abcess.
Vet came out and did a fairly extensive lameness eval and diagnosed suspensory desmitis.
DrO, here's what they noted on the bill. Any thoughts would be appreciated:
~Patient 2/5 lame on lunge line, then 3/5 lame post flexion
~Palmar Digital Nerve Block PD; RF no improvement, but coffin joint effusion noted in both fronts
~Abaxial Nerve Block: RF no improvement
~Navicular Radiographic Series & Interpretation, RF
~Lateral Palmar Nerve Block (at level of accesory carpal bone?**my question mark as it is hand written in next to this comment**) - successfully improved
Recommendation: Alum shoes w/ pour in pads (vet will discuss w/ my farrier), alternating cold/hot Tx to help ease soreness in ligament and shock wave treatment 3x. 1 gr Bute 2x/day, stall rest w/ handwalking, limited small turn out IF she keeps quiet.
Unfortunately, the vet had a student with him so in explaining to her his thought process and rule outs, what ifs and theories, I got a bit confused, but I gathered that this is caused from occasionally waiting too long between shoeings (we never fail at six weeks and the farrier usually tightens this to 5 when her feet grow faster in the summer, although we hadn't started that yet this year) and the long toe put stress on the coffin bone capsule (I probably got this wrong) which then strained the suspensory. She also has somewhat under run heels; the farrier has improved this a lot since when I first bought her, but the vet thought she needs still more support.
Anyway - there goes my summer. I'll be digging into DrO's articles to better understand this. And will come back w/ more questions.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2009 - 9:02 pm:
UGHHH sorry about Sparkles Fran...wanna borrow Hank??
I hope Sparkles heals quickly and you have better luck with the stall time than I have had with the old mare!
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2009 - 9:16 pm:
BTW what is coffin joint effusion?
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2009 - 10:13 pm:
Oh, Fran . . .
Thankfully, it sounds like it can get better with rest and good hoof care??
Hope so. Maybe this will be opportunity to ride some other horses as well as bond with Sparkles in a different way.
You can share a Diet Coke with her . . . and she can share some nuzzles with you.
Makes me want to go cut all my horses' toes back to the white line 
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Monday, Jun 1, 2009 - 11:54 pm:
Oh, sorry Fran. Hope it's all fixable.
In the meantime, come ride Cleo. I'm still grounded from the ball incident.
If it's not us, it's the horse, it seems, huh? Best of luck to you both during the convalescence.
Erika
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 7:27 am:
Thanks everyone. As you can imagine, I am completely bummed out about this. She should recover in time with good care, but from what I gather, it will be a while - probably will lose the summer and certainly will lose my rides through the open fields and show season is out of the question. She was badly injured 5 years ago and we had to deal with 4 months of stall rest - I think that was more stressful to us both than anything. Barn owner already called this morning to tell me she's getting bonkers in the stall (it's been less than 48 hrs!). After about a week, my nice quiet, perfectly behaved horse will turn in to an idiot. Uck!
Diane, I believe the coffin joint effusion refers to a mild swelling just above the top of the hoof - it was just the slightest bit puffy. I hadn't noticed it when I was checking over her legs each night so it took an expert eye to see it.
I was too tired last night to do any research so need to dig into it now. Not sure if it will reassure me or depress me more...
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 7:28 am:
DrO, now that I have a diagnosis, do you want this discussion moved to the appropriate place? I was obviously completely wrong in my theory as to the cause of her lameness.!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 8:02 am:
Hello Fran,
If you have found Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Suspensory Desmitis, Strain, & Sprain then you have my thoughts on the condition. If you have specific questions about this case not answered in the article you could either continue here or start a new discussion under suspensory desmitis. By continuing here we do have a already created history.
DrO
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 9:23 am:
Fran,
Just curious, were you using SMB's on her when it happened? Or any kind of support boot?
I have several pairs so each horse can wear them during work. But I forget many times to put them on. After Gem banged her leg on the round pen fence, I decided from now on I WILL make it a point to use them, that would have protected her leg.
I ask because I've read that some wonder if they don't make the leg weaker, or if they do any good at all. So if Sparkles had them on, and still got hurt...?
I've got lots of horses that need riding, come on up over the bridge and visit!
Wishing her a speedy recovery, and you...peace through out this.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 11:12 am:
Hi Angie,
I typically polo wrap her legs for work, although I had not that particular day. I was a bit lazy and kept her bell boots on instead.
I can't speak to the SMBs, but I doubt that well wrapped legs become weaker - look at all the top level dressage horses still in the show ring at 17, 18, 19...although they don't show with them on (illegal), it's very common practice to wrap for training.
Although I thought it was an acute injury at the time, the vet made it sound like this is chronic wear & tear brought on by well shod, but not shod frequently enough feet. I have to blame myself a bit for that - farrier came like clock work every 6 weeks (5 in the summer) and at the end of the cycle, she's always a bit long. I wondered if she wasn't getting too long, but hey! The feet are going to change from the first day of a trim 'til 5 or 6 weeks later, right? You wouldn't expect them to look exactly the same after 6 weeks or there's another problem going on. So, I let it go...I should have questioned it, but didn't. Now Sparkles is paying for that ignorance.
I've heard it here on HA many times...trust your instincts. I should have listened to mine.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 12:22 pm:
Fran, I'm just catching up here. I'm so sorry about Sparkles. I know how much you like her. I'm glad her prognosis is good at least. Wish I was closer; I have horses that need working, too!
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 2, 2009 - 10:15 pm:
Hi Fran,
Catching up. I'm sorry this looks like a long layup for Sparkles. Holsteiner mares make poor couch potatoes, as I know well.
Hindsight is better than foresight, but there's no way we can always forestall problems, especially when our management is well up to standard. The counter-balance to trusting your instincts is to rely on evidence, and your horse was sound in work for a long time on your established regimen. So we live and we learn, and with horses we seem to learn at their expense and our own loss of use of the horse. At times, I think Hummel figurines look like a better obsession, but they're kind of creepy and nowhere near as interesting as a horse.
Let us know what more you learn, and how Sparkles does in layup. I'll bet you're already having fun.... I have another super-cranky Holsteiner mare here on layup, if you'd like a buddy for her!
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 3, 2009 - 7:33 am:
Elizabeth, thanks for your common sense! I was beating myself up a bit over this, but you're right- I have done my best to take excellent care of her and have her in a boarding situation where all the horses are monitored as if they are priceless. No one can know everything.
Hummels! Ha! Ha! They ARE creepy. As kids, we used to buy them for my Mom as gifts. She, of course, still has them and has offered them to me and my sister. No thanks!
Yes, Holsteiners do make terrible patients and Sparkles is already on a rampage. (thanks for offering your cranky mare, but 1 is all I can handle!) I think she remembers the last layup and is determined to make us as miserable as possible for this one. We've chosen to turn her out in a small arena with her favorite pasturemate. There, she will have a little grass and be with a friend and yesterday was a lot quieter than rearing and pawing in her stall. She behaved well for the cold hosings and hand walking - thankfully.
The good news is the vet called yesterday to report that the xrays he took to rule out any other problem looked excellent. He was pleased with them, particularly for a 19 year old horse.
So, next steps are farrier (tomorrow) and I need to make an appointment for the shockwave treatments after she is re-shod.
Again, everyone's kind wishes are really appreciated!
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Member:
shogeboo
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 3, 2009 - 8:59 pm:
Fran,
I know nothing about suspensory desmitis (though I am going to read the article...) but I do know how you feel and how stressful it is to have your horse on stall rest, esp when they are not good patients Anyway, we are all here to support you and help you through. Rambo & I are sending out good wishes to Sparkles to heal quickly.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 7:30 am:
Thank you, Stephanie.
The beast got away from me last night and rammed around for a few minutes until a peppermint brought her to some sense. Lovely energetic, extended trot...argh!, with some sliding stops into the wall that would make a pro reiner proud.
A small animal vet that boards with us is going to order me some Ace. Hopefully that helps.
DrO, question for you: if I can only get the IM Ace, can that be given orally? (I ask because of Diane Es recent discussion of giving injectible banamine orally - thanks for the idea, Diane!)
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 10:45 am:
I used Ace orally for my rehab filly in the beginning .. it took about 45 mins to take effect and lasted over an hour on good quiet days!<smirk> .. you have to play with the dosage as well , my understanding if you were to give 1 cc of ace IM... then 2 cc orally would be the dose to give .. In the beginning , now remember Danni is 17'2'' hhs , I gave her 3-6 cc's orally of ace , after we got used to the routine, she got by with .5 cc's of oral ace.. daily I DrOpped the dosage down ...
Have fun. NOT! REHABSUCKS.. 
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 6:15 pm:
Yes it can be used orally for more on this see the dosage section of Treatments and Medications for Horses » Sedatives & Anesthetics » Acepromazine.
DrO
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Friday, Jun 5, 2009 - 7:20 am:
Thanks, DrO.
BTW, she got her new pads/shoes put on yesterday and appears to be completely sound. Still playing things conservatively, however, and not making any changes to the vet recos until he sees her again. Makes me wonder, though....
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Jun 5, 2009 - 7:35 am:
Fran, the horses job is to Make us wonder . Glad Sparkles is feeling better, even though that will make stall rest all the more interesting!
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Member:
hollyw
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Posted on Friday, Jun 5, 2009 - 8:00 am:
When is the vet's next visit, Fran?
Does Sparkles come when she sees the peppermint or when she hears the cellophane crinkle? Such huge animals . . . controlled by a tiny bit of sugar . . . lol (Maybe if you decorate her stall with: red and white striped walls; Peppermint print curtains; a big, stuffed Peppermint-shaped pillow; and some splashes of Peppermint oil (and, of course, peppermints in her daily rations) she will view her stall as a haven rather than as a prison.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 5, 2009 - 8:13 am:
Unsound with the shoes off, sound with them on would make me wonder too. What was the basis of the diagnosis of suspensory desmitis.
DrO
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Friday, Jun 5, 2009 - 10:33 am:
DrO, she was unsound with her original shoes on -still had them on for most of the exam until the vet pulled 1 for xrays.
The basis for the diagnosis (as I understand it) was the blocking of the joints he did (she trotted off sound with the Lateral Palmer Nerve block after no success with the Palmer Digital & Abaxial Nerve blocks), that on exam her toes were too long and the angles off (we were due for the farrier that day - she would have been at 6 weeks), that there was no other signs of anything - no swelling, heat bruises or cuts other than coffin joint effusion. Basically, I think he ruled out as much as possible and came up with the diagnosis. Verified somewhat with the xrays he took as well (all good, so apparently no issues within the joints/bones themselves)
He felt that the strain on the suspensory was likely due to the overgrown feet.
When she got away from me the previous night, before the new shoes, she also appeared sound (1 front shoe on, 1 front shoe off) but I know a horse all hyped up may ignore the pain.
The vet was going to come out again after the new shoes were in place and after the first shockwave treatment...which I haven't set up yet.
Anyway, if she is still sound today, it gives me hope that this may be less of a layup than previously thought. But again, will not make changes to the current regimen until the vet has a chance to look at her again.
Holly, she loves peppermints and normally will do a back flip for one, but in the case of the other night when she got away, I rattled the whole bag, stood quietly unwrapping and eating a few and it still took her a few minutes to notice...her brain had completely fizzled out for those few minutes!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 6, 2009 - 9:26 am:
Fran that all makes good sense to me with the improvement due to the easier breakover created by trimming back overly long feet.
DrO
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 6, 2009 - 10:35 am:
Thanks, DrO. I'm just a bit surprised at the improvement 2 days after he saw her - he made it sound like this was a long, long term layup, with weeks of an unsound horse as she heals. So, I'm hopeful that I will have a chance of riding some time this summer, when the vet gives me the official OK.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Friday, Jun 19, 2009 - 2:09 pm:
The vet came out today and YEAH! It was not just wishful thinking...she's 100% sound and the vet gave me the thumbs up to get her back in to work.
I will be pulling on a pair of breeches and saddling up tonight!
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Jun 19, 2009 - 4:21 pm:
Congratulations Fran!!! Enjoy your ride!
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Friday, Jun 19, 2009 - 5:14 pm:
YAY Fran and Sparkles!
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Member:
jowidner
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Posted on Friday, Jun 19, 2009 - 5:41 pm:
So glad to hear. Have a good ride!
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 - 6:14 am:
Great to hear such good news! You must be sooo relieved
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Jun 22, 2009 - 7:35 am:
Thanks everyone. However, I may have been celebrating too soon.
Got on Sparkles Friday night. Did a few minutes of walking, mostly letting her stretch out over her back and getting her muscles long and loose - she felt good to me. Unfortunately, I mistimed a fast moving storm blowing in over Lake Michigan and suddenly it was cracking directly over our heads. I had to get off, throw her in a stall, whip off saddle & bridle, and run out in to the storm to bring the other horses in. (Anyone ever notice how even a small horse becomes HUGE when it's tap dancing around your head because a bolt of lightning strikes less than 1/4 mile away??). Got everyone in and settled. At that point, I wasn't going to tack Sparkles up again to see how she went in a trot, so I just brushed her down and tucked her in for the night.
Lost power, flooded out roads, big mess in the area due to the storm so didn't get back out to ride until Sunday morning. She didn't feel good in the trot to me at all. Unfortunately, no one else was there to watch (it wouldn't be the first time that I was paranoid and thought I felt something that wasn't there), so I got off immedietely and walked her out.
The Barn Owner should hopefully be around tonight, so I will ask her to observe. She knows Sparkles well enough to determine laziness from resistance to lameness...and, is much more objective than I am. So, we will see what happens tonight. I'm hoping I was imagining things yesterday...
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Monday, Jun 22, 2009 - 8:59 am:
Do you think she may have injured herself because of the storm, or is it just that you didn't get the chance to check her out at trot?
In any case, best of luck tonight. I agree, it's very hard to determine what is laziness and what is reluctance due to pain. IME trainers tend to feel it's laziness and concerned owners feel it's pain.
Let us know!
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canter
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Posted on Monday, Jun 22, 2009 - 10:11 am:
I'm not sure, LL. I only got in a few trot steps Friday before the storm - not enough to get a true feel of anything, but nothing happened to make me feel like there was a problem. I doubt that she reinjured herself because of the storm. We were in the indoor arena when it hit & she remained calm as I was bringing in the other horses...who were considerably less calm. But, then again, no one was watching them all night long and this storm was long in duration and very severe. It may have rattled everyone's nerves even when they were safely tucked away in their stalls.
I suspect that maybe she is sound w/out my weight but my weight may be enough to cause her discomfort (for the record, this is a 1350 lb horse and I weight somewhere between 120-130 lbs)...but after a month off riding, I'm probably not real balanced in the saddle either.
She also may have been reluctant to work, not because she was painful but because she is Sparkles and that can be her personality. It goes something like this: "I don't feel like working tonight so will be as lazy as possible and throw my head in the air and hollow my back...". Normally, I would push her through that and within a few minutes, she will snort, relax and start working beautifully. Because of the recent history here, I was not willing to push her through it without a set of objective eyes on the ground.
So, we will see what happens tonight. If she needs more time off, then that's what she will get.
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