getting started

["Anna Larson" <hobo14@earthlink.net>]

I work away from home and am gone for about 11 hours daily. When I get home
I have chores and things to do besides riding (and usually do not have much
extra time). I have been riding only about an hour a day those days (but not
every day) and then riding longer rides on my days off. Last year we did
complete a couple CTR's with this background of riding. My horse did well at
all the vet checks.  Now I have two questions.
1. Last year in the fall (August) the mare had an unexplained seizure. The
vet felt it was due to an inflamation of the spinal cord due to some injury.
The incident occured exactly 7 days from the time she received her annual
vaccinations.  I feel that it was some type of vaccine reaction as the
effects and symptoms only lasted one week and then went away totally.  I did
not ride her for several months though just to be sure.  I ahve been baqck
to riding her again this spring and shee seems totally fine. We rode 12
Miles last week with no ill effects of any kind. How long should I expect it
to take to get her back into condition for another ride? (25 miles).  I am
leary of having her receive her vaccinations this year because of what
happened last year. Any suggestions on that?

2. Also last year after training rides, the mare did not have any type of
edema or stocking up after a ride (she was returned to the pasture for extra
movement) but on the rides, when tied to the trailer for a while (like for
dinner break etc) she would get filling in her legs that would go away with
a short walk.  There was never any soreness of stiffness just the filling.
Any ideas on what would cause this? what should I look for and what should I
do as it has not occured at home only on the rides.