Vet Time $$$

So, a second opinion was in order, as the 2 minute check-up to confirm that my horse is sore (duh) did not satisfy. I employed a top vet who was recommended by our local polo club. I figured that this vet would be an expert on leg issues. Was I right?

They did a flexion test, which involves tweaking a horse's leg back for 30 seconds, then moving them out quickly to see if they limp. She did. Mostly on one side, the side that she tripped on, which made sense. As they went along to locate the problem area on Fashoin's leg, they did a nerve block. They numbed her hoof, and she still limped after flexion, so they moved the numbing up all the way to her pastern. As I moved her forward after the flexion test, BAM, she fell again! I pulled her up, so she didn't contact the ground with her face as before, but she repeated the same fall on the same foot. Now the vet could see what I was talking about.

For the next several hours they conducted blood tests, poked her everywhere and took X-rays to see if they could learn more about poor Fashie's tripping problem. Good news was that she didn't have any broken bones, and that her blood was pretty normal. So now what?

Before I agreed to continue the ongoing series of tests they suggested, we decided to pull Fashion's shoes and see where her angles want to be. At the same time we came up with that plan, I had an "Aha" moment!

I realized that I had tried Fashion barefoot for a year, and it didn't really go well because her white hooves got pretty chipped on trail. After I put the shoes back on last October, however, I noticed that she was sweating more than usual when I rode her, which is an indication of pain. Could it be that the new shoe regimen was not right? Maybe she got used to a natural angle, and then once she had her shoes back on, it tweaked her. Without much else to go on other than my gut, I will be having her shoes pulled this week and we will see what happens from there. I will be back in the saddle in a few weeks and will hopefully have my horse underneath me.

And I thought this blog was going to be about my trail riding adventures... hopefully soon!

Too Old To Bounce

You might be asking, "So why is a picture of Tigger on a horse blog?" Well, that's who I am reminded of these days after ANOTHER bout of Fashion rolling to the ground while I'm on board. Tigger bounced for a living, but I am no Tigger! It was just like a replay of the previous fall we had on Dec 8th, only this time she kicked it up a notch and came to the ground during one of her fabulous gaits. We rolled like a couple of stunt riders in an old time Western movie. I'd like to think I'm getting good at this, but I really don't want to make it a habit, let me tell you.

So, here are the similarities of the two falls. I am so curious as to what is going on. After a vet came out with the farrier to give his diagnosis, I am still not convinced that he has targeted the problem.

Both times she fell right after getting new shoes (the most recent fall was within minutes of her shoeing)
Both falls happened when she tripped on her right hoof.
Both times, instead of bringing her left leg forward to catch her fall, she rolled over on her side.
She hit the same spot over her right eye (the second time her old wound just opened slightly).

This time, however, instead of catching a craggy ridge under her hoof, she tripped in a patch of deep sand at the ranch. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have taken her through it at a gait with new shoes, but the old Fashion wouldn't have had a problem with that. Fortunately, the deep sand made for a relatively "elegant" and pain-free dismount. The trainer at the barn saw the whole thing. Too bad she wasn't taking a video, ir it would've been a blockbuster Utube for sure.

I immediately called the vet and the farrier (note: I used a new farrier this time) to come over and see what the deal was. The vet pulled her hoof up, gave it a whack with a metal vice, then pinched her splint bone all the way down to her pastern. She flinched (wouldn't you?) and he said that she shouldn't have. Immediately after that palpitation, I was to walk her forward quickly. No doubt she limped for a few steps. Diagnosis: suspensory ligament problems - and I need to stay off her for a month. WHAT? That's like asking me not to breathe! It all leaves me curious and confused. I mean, she really is not a trippy horse, nor does she exhibit any signs of pain (sweating or grunting) when I'm riding her. It's just those two little incidents when she forgot to catch her fall. Well, twice is twice too much if I am to feel confident and safe out there on trail. But, letting her stand doesn't sound like a good idea either. So.... I am searching for a magic cure. Any suggestions?
I'm holding my breath.