Post by Allyson on Sept 28, 2008 10:31:25 GMT -5
Ahhh, Faithy. A spunky, rambunctious, bossy 8 year old off the track tb. I love her, I really do. But some days she makes me want to pull my hair out!
She's had it easy the past few years with recurrent lameness. I won't get into the details of the roller coaster ride, but in short- if she spends more than 2 months in a row sound, its a miracle. Her 2 bad legs: right front, left hind.
These last 8 months have been particularly interesting. Last winter, she began to go down hill quite quickly- to the point where I really considered euthanasia. She'd be turned out with her buddies- but standing away from them, shifting her weight from leg to leg, looking like an empty house. It broke my heart.
I started her on joint injections, as well as surpass on the really bad days and she did get a bit better. She spent all Summer at pasture- and though she's not picture perfect sound, she is looking much stronger. In fact, yesterday she was able to stand for the trimmer with only a few breaks. Normally, when we get to trimming the right hind, she has a really hard time standing on that left hind. So its usually a chore. But yesterday she did pretty well- as if it wasn't bothering her at all.
What will winter bring? I can only wonder.
In all of this, she's never really lost her spunky "gotta run" attitude. I doubt she'll ever- she IS a race horse. But that is what seems to be the worst part. She LOVES to run. She is at her core, very athletic. Its like telling a Swimmer they are allergic to water and can no longer do what the love. What kind of life is that? Do you just find something else to love?
Even though she's in retirement, I'm thinking about putting her back in light work. Ground stuff for now- I don't think she should carry me. She's bored, and I think she'd do well with some constructive time. I'm just afraid of further hurting her. At the same time, if I dont put her back in some light work, there is a chance that she'll hurt herself by being an idiot out in the field.
Its never an easy decision with horses, huh?
She's had it easy the past few years with recurrent lameness. I won't get into the details of the roller coaster ride, but in short- if she spends more than 2 months in a row sound, its a miracle. Her 2 bad legs: right front, left hind.
These last 8 months have been particularly interesting. Last winter, she began to go down hill quite quickly- to the point where I really considered euthanasia. She'd be turned out with her buddies- but standing away from them, shifting her weight from leg to leg, looking like an empty house. It broke my heart.
I started her on joint injections, as well as surpass on the really bad days and she did get a bit better. She spent all Summer at pasture- and though she's not picture perfect sound, she is looking much stronger. In fact, yesterday she was able to stand for the trimmer with only a few breaks. Normally, when we get to trimming the right hind, she has a really hard time standing on that left hind. So its usually a chore. But yesterday she did pretty well- as if it wasn't bothering her at all.
What will winter bring? I can only wonder.
In all of this, she's never really lost her spunky "gotta run" attitude. I doubt she'll ever- she IS a race horse. But that is what seems to be the worst part. She LOVES to run. She is at her core, very athletic. Its like telling a Swimmer they are allergic to water and can no longer do what the love. What kind of life is that? Do you just find something else to love?
Even though she's in retirement, I'm thinking about putting her back in light work. Ground stuff for now- I don't think she should carry me. She's bored, and I think she'd do well with some constructive time. I'm just afraid of further hurting her. At the same time, if I dont put her back in some light work, there is a chance that she'll hurt herself by being an idiot out in the field.
Its never an easy decision with horses, huh?