kickers - sad story

["Laura Hayes" <mark@madbbs.com>]

I have been away and am just catching up on my ridecamp lurking, and had to add this story about kicking.

 

Years ago I was at the start of a ride in Western PA and while horses were milling about at the start, a horse came out of nowhere and spun around and kicked my gelding in the hind leg.  I got off and checked it and trotted him out for the vet (Dr Larry Stefanick, for you old timers) and he seemed ok.  I went 26 miles at a fair pace, was out in the middle of nowhere, and my horse was three legged lame.  I got to civilization, and though the horse was three legged, he was alert, eating, and jumped right in the trailer to go home. 

 

The next day I took him to my regular vet (now my husband - very convenient!!) and xrays proved two slab fractures of the tibia, about 4 inches in length, just above the hock.  This horse was a childhood pet, and my first Arab, and I was willing to try anything, if it would not severely compromise his  quality of life - I took him to Dr. Genovese in Cleveland OH and he put 4 screws in the slabs.  This horse was so handy and smart, that he carried that leg for 8 or 10 months (pastured, because he wouldn't tolerate stall rest) and it healed to servicable as a lesson horse for a few years, and then was euthanized when arthritis caused pain in the hock.  Cost?  This was 1983, mind you - a grand total of $900!!!!

 

Incidentally, the kicker was sold agter the incident to Sandy Ding Smith who continued to race him and I rode with her several times and he never offered to even pin an ear, let alone kick.

 

Laura Hayes