RE: Lameness(long)

["Budler,Cindy" <natcon@afrox.boc.com>]

Hi Connie,

Your gelding sounds exactly like my mare - extremely strong, well
balanced and Crabbett!! We have been working on the control and it is
80% better on the trail when we are out alone and with my son on my
other mare Shaliekah. Shanelle has to be in front , but if Shaliekah is
following she doesn't see her as a threat and really settles and goes
long and low. Unfortunately in other horses company she also does "airs
above ground" and throws that head all over the place. The the dressage
and schooling works but unfortunately they also have to learn manners on
the trail. She never spooks- is totally self confident and independant
and is a great horse to ride alone. I guess it will just take time to
sort out the stupidity, but I think she will be worth it if we can just
channel the energy wasted going up to going forward!!  She has the most
amazing power trot that can go on for ever(I am too scared to canter her
as she has bolted once before!!- the only cantering we do now is in the
school until that one is sorted out!!)
Thanks for the suggestions -I am a total neurotic when it comes to
lameness and always need some kind words and reassurance.
Thanks,
Cindy

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Connie DeJong [SMTP:cdejong@cisco.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, January 21, 1999 12:57 AM
> To:	Budler,Cindy
> Cc:	ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject:	Re: Lameness(long)
> 
> Chiropractor or Acupuncturist could probably help you get the injury
> to heal faster, but that is treating the symptom.
> 
> I Suggest - work with a natural horse trainer to control the mare's
> behavior.  If she is very athletic she probably can do amazing things
> when she is excited.  I had a gelding like this, once I got him
> through his front leg bowed tendon from bolting up a hill not
> listening to me, he had rear leg lameness.    He had exceptional
> conformation, lineage was Crabbet. Beautiful gelding, extremely
> athletic and he could do amazing things in the air when he was
> excited, which ultimately led to a another lameness. It was such a
> shame, finally he ended up with alternating lameness on both rear
> legs, which I had first attributed to slipping (not falling)  on a
> metal drain grate in our arena.  But after several 6 month lay ups he
> never got better, no vet (x rays showed nothing) , chiropractor or
> acupuncturist could do anything for him.  He'd be grade 3 lame on one
> hind leg, I'd confine him for 2 weeks on Bute and wraps and another
> week without. He'd go sound, I'd start walking him on a lead working
> up to a lunge, and finally after a month of soundness start riding or
> let him into pasture. About 2 weeks later he was dead lame on the
> other hind leg.  
> 
> I can attribute his injuries to not being well trained  It was my lack
> of experience to not recognize that a horse under saddle shouldn't be
> allowed to behave the way he did, fighting with me about being in
> front, or jumping sideways when spooked.  I only came off him once
> when a deer jumped in front of us, he was incredibly balanced through
> all his misbehavior he stayed right on top his feet.
> 
> So, do yourself a favor, don't stop by dealing with the symptom,
> really get someone to help you with the behavior so you can at least
> limit the potential injury when you are  under saddle.  
> 
> Good luck.
> Connie
> 
> 
> 
> At 07:44 AM 1/20/99 +0200, you wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Need some input on my new mares lameness. On Sat evening we went on a
> >training ride with friends. This horse is very,very hot and when in
> >company is a real idiot pulling and dancing. She is 11 years old and
> I
> >have had her only 4 months. We have been working dressage and
> distance
> >and mainly alone because of her stupidity out with others. Anyway 4
> kms
> >into the ride she was suddenly lame. No heat in legs, no swelling
> >-thought maybe bruised foot. Rested Sunday- even more lame-looked
> like
> >left fore but still no swelling or heat anywhere. Asked farrier to
> come
> >in yesterday and pulled front shoes and used hoof testers- no bruise
> >/pressure etc. Both of us very confused as on right circle she is
> lame
> >on right leg- on left circle lame on left!!!  Farrier thought back or
> >neck. Eventually found reaction when palpitate muscle- and this is
> where
> >I need some input... This muscle runs from the inside of the point of
> >the shoulder. When I lift her front leg out this muscle can clearly
> be
> >seen running from inside chest up neck(next to the groove where the
> >artery runs) Do you know which one i mean?? When I massage this
> muscle
> >in the chest area it is obviously sore and she leans into it,dropping
> >her head and mouthing. I am giving her bute, icing the muscle and
> >massaging it as well. What could have caused this and how do I
> prevent
> >it happening agian? Could she have done worse damage than just a
> sprain?
> >It seems to be worse on the left side , but the whole neck seems to
> be
> >sore when massaged as well... I suppose due to her favouring the sore
> >muscle.Some ideas on how too handle this??
> >Thanks again ..
> >
> >Regards,
> >Cindy Budler
> >  Natcon
> >  Fabrication Division
> >  Afrox
> >  Germiston
> >  Gauteng
> >  South Africa
> >  Tel: Direct Line :(011) 871-1006
> >         Cellphone : 082 464 1809	
> >  Fax:(011) 873-4623
> >  E-Mail : natcon@afrox.boc.com
> > 
> Connie DeJong
> Villa Montagne Equestrian B&B
> 28495 Big Basin Way
> Boulder Creek, CA 95006
> (831) 338-2174 (voice & fax)
> 
> The best kept secret located in the Redwood Forest of the Santa Cruz
> Mountains
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