Re: Flashback Down horse--- now UP horse!

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Barbara
Here is the recap on Bunny Face and I decided to cc ridecamp as I have
had many inquiries from people who have joined the story late and wanted
to know how it all started. Here is the Reader's Digest version:
Scimitar (AKA Bunny Face, after cutting a piece out of his lip during
one of his falls, which gave him the appearance of a bunny) had arrived
around 4 1/2 months ago, from a client who bred his mare to Halynov and
now wanted to sell the two year old colt--- he was his retirement
investment. The colt was brought up in a large paddock so he was
overjoyed when he was let out in a 7 acre pasture to run with his sister
and a few of my own. Apparently at night two weeks after his arrival, he
ran into a tree branch (probably just not paying attention) and we found
him lying down the next morning when feeding. At first we didn't think
anything of it as it was warm and a few other mares were basking in the
sun.
When we noticed him still down a couple hours later, we checked him
closer--- couldn't see anything. Tried to encourage him to get up and he
wouldn't. We checked further and under his forelock between his ears but
just on the inside of his right ear (I believe--- been so long and the
wound healed so fast) we found a little hole. We called the vet who gave
him a tranq and went probing and pulled out a three inch stick, around a
half inch diameter, which went in about 6 inches. We cleared out the
debris, gave him steroids to reduce the swelling along with
Dexamethazone, IV DMSO, 5 liters of fluids, banamine and a heavy duty
antibiotic, daquill (?)..... and in a few days the wound was
healing. Although he could get up, he was like a drunken sailor and fell
really hitting his head hard. We had the lead line and attempted to
assist his head, and did most of the time, but it was not always
possible (especially when a 900 pound horse is about to fall on you). We
tried to hoist him with our neighbors tow truck, but without the proper
sling, he thrashed around so much it could do more harm than good (of
course, that same tow truck is holding up the sling now but outside the
barn with the cable going throw a pulley like contraption). Mark slept
with him in pasture for the first month (in our van) and then we tranq'd
him and moved him into the stock trailer and took him to a large paddock
next to our barn. We devised a circus like tent for a while to keep out
sun and light rain--- couldn't figure out how to get him into a stall as
they are all step ups and concrete at the bottom--- tooo dangerous. Then
the heavy wind and rain came and we moved him in the pouring rain onto a
board and drug him into the entry way of our barn. He was unsure at
first but as soon as he figured that it meant getting out of the rain,
he was all for it. It was shelter but no place for an unstable horse to
stand, as there are stairs, sink, hooks for tack.... but there were no
alternatives. We could observe he had vertigo and through communicators,
kinesiologists, chiropractors, Ttouch people and energy workers,
diagnosed the problem as most likely a fractured cochlea--- like an
inner ear problem in people. Takes a long time to heal and he had the
will to survive.
Four months later the vertigo is gone but now we have atrophy of the
back legs. Sooo he has been down and we have not encouraged him to stand
all the way (just enough to clean under him) until we were sure we could
stabilize him and the vertigo was gone. As soon as we were sure that the
dizziness was gone, we set about to obtain a sling. Of course in the
meantime, he has had all sorts of practitioners working with him to keep
the nerve paths clear.
Now we have to be patient--- rehab is the next step and could take a
little time. Imagine being in bed for four months--- no one is going to
leap out and go jogging when first helped out of bed.
Thanks for all your well wishes. I'll keep you posted; it may take
awhile to report anything significant. The communicator said he is just
exhausted and recovering from the heavy sedation that was necessary to
get the VERY complicated contraption on. She's working with him today
encouraging him to put weight on his legs. He has a few times-- but more
exploratory. He has the strength--- he can really kick out when he
wants. Just confused and unsure of himself--- getting used to his
horizon changing, too.
Hug your horses!
Bette

Barbara McCrary wrote:
> 
> Betty, I'm curious about your colt in the sling.  I think I've long since
> forgotten what happened to him in the first place.  I'm interested....
> 
> Barbara
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bette Lamore" <woa@stormnet.com>
> To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 8:28 PM
> Subject: [RC] Down horse--- now UP horse!
> 
> > Hal's son was hoisted via the Anderson lift around 2:00 and came out of
> > sedation around 4--- still in and out as we had to give him quite a bit.
> > Took us hours to piece the thing together (didn't feel so bad when our
> > vet told us that Dr. Rick at Alamo Pintado told him it took 5 vets 45
> > minutes to figure it out). We made lots of adjustments as it seemed to
> > be made for a much bigger horse.
> > He is now pissed off over being in the contraption and using his front
> > legs--- can't go anywhere because of the corner ties. Handling it
> > remarkably well considering he is a 2 year old-- going three. Still
> > having trouble putting weight on his hind end-- but then he has not used
> > it for 4 months so we expected a delay. He is voraciously eating out of
> > a hay bag and drinking. He kicks his hind legs out--- like he is getting
> > used to them again. Puts some weight on his left one and kicks with his
> > right one--- he was laying predominantly in his right side so it must
> > feel weird to have it completely free now.
> > We are taking it slow. He has a good attitude--- begged for carrots as
> > soon as he came to. Just teed off he can't get out of this contraption
> > and if you saw it, it looks like a cross between something from the
> > middle ages and Mad Max.
> > I video'd most of the progress today so I will put photos up on my web
> > site when I get a minute. Right now keeping close tabs on the boy--- not
> > afraid of the sling at all. It is very balanced--- a real Godsend.
> > We didn't have the head support (lost at the vets) and no time to order
> > so his head is free--- he likes to look at his rear end and try to
> > figure out what is going on. He even was watching the video with us on
> > TV as to how to hook the thing up--- wait till you see the pics---
> > priceless.
> > Thanks to all. We still have much rehab to do but we have a good start.
> > Thanks so much to Pat Super who donated the corner ties---- he would
> > have taken us out without the supports to keep the contraption in one
> > place. WONDERFUL invention this sling.
> > I'll keep you posted on his progress. He sure has heart!
> > Bette
> > --
> > Bette Lamore
> > Whispering Oaks Arabians
> > Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov
> > who lives on through his legacy
> > Hal's Riverdance!
> >
> >
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> >

-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy
Hal's Riverdance!