[RC] [Guest] Update: on Arab/Pinto who can't go down hills - Ridecamp Moderator
louisa pierce Louisa_Pierce@xxxxxxxx
I took Shadow to see my two vets (1 vet and 1 vet/licensed
Chiropractor). We started
off riding him in the ring to the left (his so called good direction) and
to the
right (his so called bad direction). Both directions he was what I would
say was
normal for him, uncomfortable, wiggley, almost inverted, the right/bad
direction
he is even more uncomfortable.
Now that no one is looking at him as a late blooming baby, they were able
to see
that their was something very wrong with him, but what was the question,
it looked
like both back and hock.
So we blocked both hocks and waited the 20ish minuets, then saddled him up
again. We went to the left/good direction and he was so unbelievable, he was
smooth, and straight and just such a pleasure to ride/watch, there was an 100%
change in his left direction.
Then we went to the right/bad direction, and was worse! The worse he has ever
been, you could see he was in discomfort/pain to the right. Both vets agreed
the right side of his body was a back/hip issue.
So we took him back into the barn, and vet/chiropractor took Xrays of both
hocks.
The right hock is fine/perfect, and the left hock has some "minor"
points. There is
a "nub" on the bone (very-very small) and some spacing issues with a little
arthritis. Both vets agreed that this finding is very minor, and used the
analogy if
I was buying this horse today, would they tell me to buy him with the
minor hock
issue and the answers was a very collective "YES".
Then we worked/chiropractor his back. I had asked Liz the Chiro' to
please focus
on his "Inter-transverse process" this is the External Angle of
the ileum, along the lumbar
spine. Note: I want to Thank Fancynight from this board, who wrote to
me, I truly believe
this is most of Shadows problem, every symptom fit this diagnosis.
Liz did focus on the Inter-transverese process, and she did find it
jammed, along with the
SI #7 joint out of sorts.
Then we talked about the Chicken and the Egg senior: What came first, the
Hock or the
back/hips? They think we will never know, but I 100% believe it's is hips
and the hip
trouble is causing the hock issue.
Unfortunately I need to play the insurance game right now. We will inject
both hocks on
Oct 10th, and see what the back does. We will have to wait to see if
taking this
minor hock issue out of the pitcher makes the back better, or no
difference. If there is
no change for the better, then we will send Shadow for a bone scan. If I
had about 2K
sitting around I would send him today for his bone scan. I truly believe
that he has
some kind of hip / lower back problem.
I will have to start from square one, with my training. Longlining with
cones to build
up the back, long and low work over ground poles etc. We will have to
deal with
Muscle memory and try to teach him that it's okay to use his body and for
him not
to protect the areas he has been protecting for the past 5 years.
I just wish I could have my bone scan right now, so I can see that what I
am about to
do with his training will have an effect, if he has some kind of
degenerative disk, or
birth defect in his lower back, I don't want to be hurting him, when I am
trying to help him.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws
Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|
