Friday, March 08, 2013

So as I was pestering my boss yet again about Bella's lameness the other day, one of the ladies I work with (who I respect hugely) asked, "Is she painful or is it just mechanical?"  Wow, I never thought of it that way.  Which is funny because I've had two other mares with a mechanical hind limb problem. 

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Does it get worse when you work her hard?"

Well, that's the thing, she's never worked hard because she's lame.  But I did trot her under saddle that day, and it got much worse.  So yes, it's pain.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share.

Yesterday I got home and it was still light out!  Wow!  I was so happy to be outside and in the sun that I went and grabbed Scout and we trotted around the field together.  He's a good boy.  I will be working with him now that I should be leaving Bella alone.  He's just not my horse.

We're still talking about making the trip to Burns to look at horses.  I don't know for sure that it's going to work out though.  John's work is causing a few bumps in the road.  And we definitely won't be taking the trailer this trip.  :(


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1 comment:

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

So why go to look at horses without a trailer? That would drive me bonkers. lol! That's like shopping with no money. What if you do find THE HORSE? And then you've wasted a bunch of fuel and time.

That's interesting regarding mechanical or pain-related lameness.

With my mare it sounds like pain-related lameness, because she has arthritis in her left shoulder. If I don't work her consistently, then she gets sore and stiff.
Last Spring I thought I was going to have to retire her, but I started her on joint supplements and small dosages of bute before we did trail rides. I did that until she built up muscle and strength, and then only gave her bute before rides I knew were 7+ miles and in the rugged mountains going up and downhill.
What I have learned is that sometimes she will be gimpy when we first start out on a trail ride...but the worst thing I can do is stop riding and turn around and put her away.
I have learned that she requires a good walk-trot warm-up to loosen everything up, and then after a short while, she is in fine form and there is no evidence of lameness or limping.
And I know this is the best thing for my mare because after a ride, my mare isn't sore at all. And actually seems to move better.

Now, if only I could schedule in more frequent, shorter rides during the week. That would be the best thing for her(and me)!

~Lisa

11:54 AM

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