RE: [RC] Redhaven's Ezekial (Zeke) - Jerry & Susan Milam
Good
for you Sam,
What a
great option for your guy. I too had that kind of decision with my very first
horse, Sabian. He competed in 3 LDs before he had a suspensory tear and later
found he has DSLD and has been on Pasture play now since he was 7, now 14 yo.
He's moving much slower these days but he enjoys his life for the most past
eating grass and playing as he is able. One day will be faced with when to put
him down to end his pain....but for now he's doing what horses were created to
do, eat grass and look powerfull.
In His Hands, Susan, Fly Bye & Dandy
"All you have
to decide is what to do with the time you are given." Gandalf the Grey of
Lord of the Rings
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Steven
Proe Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:52 AM To:
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; samanthasandler@xxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC]
Redhaven's Ezekial (Zeke)
Hi Sam: He still is a good endurance horse and I think that you made a
excellent decision for both of you and the rest of us as well. I have a
similar situation with a older mare that has been unrideable for the last ten
years and still run's the pasture she is a excellent teacher and babysitter.
Yes I still love her ever though she can't be ridden.
For those of you who know Redhaven's Ezekial (Zeke) I just want to let
you know that his endurance career has come to an unfortunate end.
Instead of having to tell everyone I see individually, I am writing a long
message to fill in all the details at once.
Zeke had a month off after obtaining his COC at Fairhill in october
(coming in tied with Patti Pizzo in 11th and 12th place on a very rainy,
muddy day) Zeke had reached his 1,000 mile marker and he was third in
the nation in 100 mile points last year behind Valerie and Steve.
After six years of building him up for international competition, he seemed
to be in his best shape ever. He was getting ready for spring
competition and we nominated for the North American Challenge and were
getting ready for the Sandhills and the Pinetree. I had been taking
him to the Middleburg, Va track for weekly workouts in the sand and riding
dressage (one of Zeke's many talents) in the indoor arena during the
winter. I stopped fox-hunting him (another talent as well as four foot
jumping-although I had stopped jumping him a couple years ago to save him
for endurance) as my vet thought the stop and go and mud at a gallop
was not good for his career. (He had shown some early signs of
ringbone, but th e vet thought he had another three years of
competition.).
About one month ago, I rode him on sunday, monday, and tuesday in
the indoor arena practicing our dressage. He felt awesome and powerful
and completely sound. On tuesday night he went into his stall and
nothing eventful happened. However, wednesday morning he was off and
by thursday he was three legged lame. The vet came immediately and we
thought he may have had an abcess, so we took off his shoe and wrapped
him. His pastern was swollen, but we were hoping that the hopping was
from the abcess. In two days he was still three legged and his pastern
area was more swollen. My vet told me to take him to have an
ultrasound and I went to SpurlocK's in Virginia and had an ultrsound and a
bone density test completed. Zeke had lost the cartiledge in his
pastern joint and his bone was scrapping bone. The vets said it was
highly unuasual for this to develop overnight (fine one night and then three
legged lame), but th at's how it happened. Zeke came home for stall
rest and bute and actually started walking fine within a week, but then went
downhill again the next week and was once again three legged.
I then took Zeke for an MRI to make sure I knew what we were dealing
with. The MRI confirmed the other results and I was told I had three
options: (1) euthenasia, (2) stall rest to see what happens (but he could
founder and have to be put down as soon as a couple weeks if he stayed three
legged, (3) or fusion surgery which would stabilize his leg with screws and
he would wear a cast for months, but then should be pasture sound and
possibly able to do light trail riding down the road. I took the news
of Zeke not competing ever again very well, but when the doctor said he
would have to be put down in the first two options, I lost it and I knew
Zeke deserved a life of enjoying the sun while grazing and playing in the
field (which he loves to do). The choice was easy for me and
Zeke is now recovering with his cast on in a stall and he is walking well
and happy for now (knock on wood). He is actually being very quiet and
more friendly then in the past as well as eating well for the first time in
years (I am being careful not to feed him to much).
For those of you who knew Zeke is is an amazing animal. I bought
him as a one year old for $650.00 and I never found anything that he
couldn't do. I enjoyed riding him no matter what type of ride it was
because he gave it his all and never complained. When he was
only four years old, someone told me he was my "once in a lifetime"
horse and they were right. I still can hug him, talk to him, and give
him treats everyday and for that I am Grateful. Thanks for
everybody who helped us through rides when I had no crew and thanks for
reading this long message. Please remember Zeke as a great endurance
horse, because he was. Sam
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