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[RC] Update on Taz - long - Kathy Garner
Dear Ride Camp:
Well, it's been awhile since I emailed Ride Camp about my horse, Taz. When he fell and injured his collateral ligament on his right front leg, things didn't look too good for endurance. His ligament was torn, shredded & enlarged. His left ultrasound showed the size of his uninjured ligament was 5.4 (I'm assuming cm.). His injured ligament was 8.5 cm. & you could see holes all in it.
On Thursday we had another ultrasound. The ligament is down to 6.5 cm. The ligament itself looks normal, without any holes. He trots out totally sound. Both sides were a little sore, but I attribute that to being confined to a small area for 9 months & then running around when we trailered our other 2 horses to the vet for WNV shots, floating, etc. He has been a great patient, no pacing or vices have appeared, and I've kept his weight down. I've also followed the vet's instructions to a T. I think that Taz being such a good boy has really been the main ingredient to his rapid recovery. That and the fact that endurance horses have good muscle tone & blood flow to their muscles and tissues.
I have been given the go ahead to turn him out to pasture with my husband's gelding AND to start riding slowly around our pasture at a walk. As long as he stays sound & there is no swelling or heat on his injured side we can start trail riding. By July, I should be able to start endurance conditioning. If all goes well, we will try a 25 or 30 in October and a 50 in November. That's a big if.
If there is any swelling or lameness AT ALL, we will stop & he will get more time off!
In addition, my mare that wouldn't shoe is now being shod & is wearing big girl tack (crupper & breast collar). She will be out on the trail in the next couple of weeks!
There's only a few weeks of school left, I will soon have 2 horses to keep in shape & things are looking up!
Oh, BTW, one interesting thing happened at the vet. I had noticed what I thought might be a small cancer tumor on my mare's back leg halfway between the leg & tail. Well, I had it taken off & biopsied. It turned out to be a fungal infection caused by a puncture or maybe even an insect bite. It was a good thing I had it done while it was small, because it can grow & cause problems. As it is, it came off very easily & no further treatment will be needed.
Kathy Garner
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
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