What's Up Wednesday

 

This weather is nuts isn't it? It SNOWED in FLORIDA. That ain't right. Glad I'm not there. Not that's it any better here. We saw single digits the last couple of mornings with feels likes below zero. Gross. The horses are all snuggled up in layers and hoods. It's nice to be at a barn where I can choose how to dress my horses on days and nights like these! They were able to go out yesterday afternoon when it got up to the mid teens and there wasn't any wind. But today was colder and breezier so we opted for hand walks instead. We did get plenty of riding in up until yesterday though, and everyone is just plugging along, doing the flat work things. Once the weather breaks a little I'm hoping to get back to jumping a couple of times a week. But until then, we'll do what we feel like. Because it's January in New England.

Since I don't have anything exciting to write about as far as riding goes, let's talk about our vet visit on Friday!

Al went first. I told Doc I was concerned about the right stifle and described to him about how it had been locking up again. But all of his flexions were perfect. He was still cantering a bit like a bunny though. I said to doc that I was thinking EPM again and he agreed that's likely what we're seeing since the flexions were all perfect. He didn't have the meds on the truck though, so I'm just waiting for those to arrive. If the meds don't fix the bunny canter we may investigate his hips a bit more. Doc was happy with how he looks though overall, so it was a good appointment for Al.

Shiny went second.  I've had some concerns about how she's breathing and she's really dragging her hind end. As for the breathing, she's not flaring her nostrils or anything super scary like that. But I have noticed her breathing from her belly which is not the norm for her. And also, she is sometimes holding her breath in canter, which explains why I can't get her moving. Doc listened to her lungs and didn't hear anything which is great news. But put her on some Ventipulmin for a couple weeks to see if that resolves the abdominal breathing. Her flexions were all good also, so that didn't explain the hind leg dragging. Last winter we treated her for EPM as well and it improved her performance in more ways than I expected. So she is also getting another round of meds to see if that helps the hind end problem. Doc and I both suspect that it will. Fingers crossed.

Eros was the last to go and he was kind of the worst off of the bunch. But that's not really surprising. He has that chronically unsound right front which showed itself when Doc was out. But as is the norm for Eros, it did get better and better the longer we rode. I know it frustrates Doc that we can't just fix that, but it is what it is. He's 16 this year, and that leg has a tendon that's attached backwards. It's not a shocker that it bothers him some when it's so cold out. Eros also presented rather back sore which I already was aware of and am blaming on the fact that we're still using Al's saddle. His is supposed to be on the way here next week... but I haven't heard anything in awhile so who really knows. Doc put him on some Robaxin to try and loosen up the back. He feels that if I can really get Eros to work correctly with his hind end under him and his back lifted, then the ill fitting saddle shouldn't be such an issue. Which... yes I agree. But Eros is REALLY persistent that he couldn't possibly. So I'm letting him take it a little easy while the Robaxin kicks in, and once this arctic weather passes he'll be spending a few rides per week in the equiband. Poor Eros. He's also going to need his hocks done again in the spring, but we want to address the back first. His hocks weren't done all that long ago, so I'd like to not do them just yet if we don't really have to. 

Overall it was a good visit. I wasn't surprised by any of it which is always nice! And if not for the Ventipulmin, it would have been a pretty inexpensive visit! Oh and the EPM meds which I haven't gotten the bill for yet... Also that. Lol. Horses. Keeping humans poor since forever. 

We're supposed to be warming up here starting tomorrow... But it remains to be seen what that really means. I'm hoping to ride tomorrow, but I'm not sure if it will get above 20 before late afternoon. So we'll have to see. Rumor has it that we'll be in the mid to upper 30's by the weekend though! And it's pretty depressing that I'm excited for that. But I AM! 

How's the weather by you? Frozen tundra? We got some snow last week, but just a few inches. And it's been so frigid none of it has melted yet. The horses seem to like it though, so yay for them I guess. Anyway, that's it from here. Maybe we'll have some more exciting things to talk about next week!