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We normally go up the the BSF a few days before the ride to get they 
used to the trails - to actually get out of the FL heat would be more 
like it. There is a nice stable there and a nice campground within  1/2 
mile of the stable. We arrived Monday got the horses squared away, got 
ourselves squared away.  We went out for a 15 mile ride on Tuesday. Then 
Tuesday night the skies opened up. Wednesday when it broke we went over 
to ride and when my wife got her horse out and his right front knee was 
the size of a football. His two lower front legs were also a little 
puffy.  By that afternoon the knee and the lower legs were oozing a 
clear fluid. I am sure the lower legs were from the famed BSF chigger, 
but the knee is still a mystery.

But he was not lame. I suspect he had gotten bitten by a spider or 
scorpion in the tall grass he was insisting in standing in and eating on 
the trail on Tuesday. We let them graze and I went for a ride.  We put a 
poultice on Ego's injuries and that seemed to help a little. On Thursday 
we saddled up and rode over to the ridecamp (about 1/2 mile away) and he 
was perfectly sound.  We weren't going to ride Friday but wanted to get 
a vet's opinion on it. He was sound. The vet could not find anything. 
wrong but didn't know if the insect theory was right or not. He said 
ride him but stay close to camp. We did a 6 mile loop up and down hill 
and Ego was a perfect ass, kept wanting to go faster than Kathy wanted, 
kept challenging his buddy the Jbird. We came back and had the two vets 
that were now there look at him again and he was fine. The exercise had 
brought the swelling down some but it was still a lot bigger than the 
other.

On Friday she brought him back to have the vet check again saying she 
didn't intend to ride him. The vet said, why not, he's perfectly fine to 
go. So on Saturday morning - big knee and all we went out the BSF 30 
took it slow. She figured she could pull at the check. He looked 
wonderful at the check and was absolutely full of himself. The horses 
both finished in time, but unfortunately the riders finished about 40 
minutes later and over time but that's a different story. Ego's knee 
didn't bother him in the least and has been fine since we got home. It's 
almost back to normal now.

I would have never thought that a horse's knee could be that big and him 
still be sound. So I see no problem with riding with some sort or wound, 
cut, etc. if by riding he doesn't make it worse or it is not bothering 
him at the time of the ride. But I would let the vet help in making that 
assessment.

Truman

Cindy Collins wrote:

> I'm sure you'll get many different answers.  I've taken my little mare to
> many rides with cuts and scrapes and even stitches.  It's become sort of a
> joke in my local area.  She has this amazing talent for getting into a
> kicking match w/other horses the week before a ride.  My philosophy is if
> she's sound, she goes.   Or, if she were a ranch horse, would I still use
> her.  Never had a problem as long as I went straight to the vets and
> showed them everything and made sure it was marked on my pre-vet card.  Of
> course, if she needs drugs, she can't go.  Good luck.  Cindy
>
>
>  



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