Good news

Dr. Liz was by yesterday to see Blu. She was immediately pleased with the way he looks. She felt that his topline along his back was much improved and not as dropped in appearance. She lunged him and while he still struggles to the right she found him to be much better. She did shock wave therapy on his back after he adjusted him. He will need today off. I will also start him on a course of Polyglycan - 5cc IM every 4th day for a total of 7 injections. Then while in rehab he will get a shot twice a month and then drop to once per month once he is back to full work. Overall she is quite pleased by his progress and feels he will make a full recovery. Whew. I took some pics of Blu's new home. He is quite settled and enjoying the posh facilities!

Great Sunday

What a wonderful day to go to the barn. It was not all together quiet but it had a nice pace. It must be my clock that sometimes make things seem so hectic. Still there was plenty of buzz around the barn. The barn owners were having a wedding shower so there were lots of people coming through the barn and they all stopped to ogle Blu. He of course showed him just how cute he can be with those pretty eyes and beautiful begging face.

He worked for a good 35 minutes today and he felt quite good in all gates. While he does not mis-step in the short sides you can tell he needs more strength to balance himself. His canter was very good. I would say it was good in both directions. His trot in both directions was very good but especially good to the right. While it does not feel lame to the left he feels more stiff. I gave him yesterday off so this was a good first day back to work.

He then had a vetrolin bath and he looked quite tired. He had a full day in the sun, a work out and then a rub down... what a life.

Dr. Liz comes on Tuesday so I hope I get a good report. I took some pictures and will post soon.

The good life.

It was a tough three days not seeing Blu but he was in good hands with my friend Mary. Tonight we worked for 40 min at all three gaits. He was pretty tired toward the end but all gaits felt very good.

The 2nd blacksmith evaluated him and thought his last shoeing was a good start. He will need several more before his feet are where they are suppose to be. Maybe we will get this straightened out sooner rather than later.

Blu had a liniment bath this evening and the dirt poured off of him. Then he went out for a little grass before bed. What a good life we both have!

Happy day

With a 3 day meeting in Buffalo coming up, I had to get out and see Blu for a little let stretching. He felt very good at his walk and trot that I tried a bit of canter in both directions. I chose to go to the right first and he let me know that he did not want to step off in the right hind. He kick out and pinned his ears. Something was definitely bothering him so I kept in light -- rode his canter in a half seat and called it a day. His trot work was very good today -- rhythmic and forward.

I rubbed his back and stifles down with the arnica gel. During his rub down I noticed him react to the right side of his back being kneaded. I got no reaction before the ride. He loved the rub down. Then we went off to his paddock where all his friends greeted him. What a good life!

I will certainly miss him the next 3 days!

another day of rehab

Sounds ominous doesn't it? Rehab is hard... 5 steps forward 2 steps back... Blu as always was the best of boys but on his 4th day straight of riding I felt like he was a little sore. After walking, we went to trot going to the left and he just felt stuck. His poll came up, he put his ears back... did not pin them ... and hollowed his back. I did some transitions and eventually he came around. His gaits going to the right felt better than the left. I do not think it is in his feet as much as it is in his back now.We got the canter in and it did help to loosen him up though he did feel a bit sticky in his upward transition. I think I will give him tomorrow off and then work him Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Liz will be out in a week or two and she will begin to address his back at that time. In the meantime, I will take it a ride at a time.

Tonight when I was picking his left front hoof he reached around while I was bent over and gave me a shove... LOL. He wanted a snack and I was taking too long. This horse is just packed with personality. I then pulled his mane and he kept telling me it was not his favorite activity but he stood still ... just shook his head up and down. Despite his mild protest, it came out very nice. I will have to take a picture next time I am at the barn. He is the most handsome!

Back on track

My vet checked in with me today and was thrilled with Blu's response to his new shoes. I reported on his status and she said she felt he was ready to progress to canter. My heart soared with that news. Even better, she said she was very confident that with his favorable response to the initial shoeing we should expect an excellent recovery! Finally, my dreams do come true. She will be out to see him in several weeks and at that time she will probably start addressing his back issues with shock wave treatment. In the meantime.... should I even start dreaming of horse shows?

I introduced the canter this evening. He was just great. I can not even begin to express what a wonderful horse he is. He took it all in stride with very obedient departs and clean transitions back to trot and walk. After his canter he did some of the best trot work I have ever had on him. We worked for about 40 minutes and he was just as happy as I was.

When we finished, I groomed him and put him back in his stall. He was pretty funny about a mouse who found his way into his stall. The mouse decided to lodge himself under Blu's pile of hay and all Blu could do was snort at the hay pile. It was too cute for words.

I talked with the barn owner this evening and he suggested I connect with his wife on trail riding once Blu was rehabbed. They are very nice people and have made me feel at home. I know Blu has settled in like he never left.

I am just so grateful for this wonderful horse and the home I have for him. Seeing him as much as I do makes me so very happy!

Improvements already

So I saddled him up last night and he was better from the moment he turn to me in his stall. He no longer has a problem turning around in his stall or in the aisle. The twisting behind is gone and he did not pin his ears when I put the saddle on him.

I did alot of walking at first on a loose rein ... he happily walked along and it was not lateral. When I picked up the rein we added in some trot on the long sides at first... all went well. He is still slightly short up in the right front but not too bad and no real pony steps. He was really enjoying himself and his trot was easy to post to. I gradually added in some short sides and then called it a day.

I think Blu was smiling... he feels better and he loves to work. What a wonderful horse. I love him even more for being the kind and patient soul that he is -- most horses would not have been so kind due to the pain he was feeling. How lucky am I?

No news is not good news

I have not posted in awhile because the mild lameness Blu has been gradually showing for quite awhile blew up last weekend. I was doing his warm up routine on the lunge and he was looking pretty good when all of a sudden the front wheels fell of the bus! He was so lame so fast tears sprang to my eyes. I walked him for a bit and he did improve some but it did not go entirely away. I had a vet look at him last week and low and behold he has a problem in his front feet especially his right front and in his back (probably a result of his foot problem). I will have him shod tomorrow by a new farrier recommended by the vet. This is all very nerve wracking but I am hanging on the vet's good feelings about fixing this problem.

Changing my vet and farrier was not an easy decision but after my previous vet told me that I was being "too picky" about his soundness, I knew I would need to make a change. It is interesting that the new vet wanted to block his feet to help diagnose his problem and my old vet never even thought about doing it. As soon as he was blocked he improved. She also x-rayed his back which my previous vet never thought of doing. He has two areas on his spine that are "kissing" but she feels these will improve with the shoeing and some rehab.

So long story short, it will probably take a couple of shoeings to correct the problem. This being the case Blu and I will not be competing anytime too soon. This is all very frustrating and it really has been difficult to accept that this man made problem has been festering for some time under my watch. I am grateful I am on the right track now and remain hopeful the damage can be rectified. Otherwise, I will have the most beautiful pasture pet. One lesson I have learned is that I need to trust what I know and feel is right and stop listening to others even when they are vets and farriers.