Anticipation builds! I was so anxious to get back on my big SuperStar, see how he moved, see how he felt, and flat out just get back to bonding with Ransom!
I groomed, I wrapped legs, I felt hocks (cool and even), I cleaned feet (released a few small rocks, one from the middle of his frog, ouch!). I noticed during grooming, he was more willing to lift his back feet for cleaning. He didn’t lift them in protest with a fuss or swishing tail, he just lifted them agreeably. Nice improvement!
I lounged him, and I watched. He seemed pretty calm, relaxed, but moving somewhere. I won’t say forward & collected, but he wasn’t chasing running but certainly getting around the circle. His canters were really pretty, they looked very fluid.
After about 12 minutes, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get on & try. I started him right out at a walk, flexing his head & neck in from the rail, and out to the rail, both directions. I didn’t spend any time goofing off loose rein. He was very soft, and gave very little resistance to my requests.
The trot, was, well, felt spectacular. It felt, softer, easier to sit, and easier to post without EVER once having to add leg pressure. I got to use inside leg to bend him around me, but I never had to squeeze him up to keep him at trot. Not once.
Easy squeezes & a thought, and we were up in a gentle canter. This is probably the first ride *ever* on Ransom that I wasn’t out of the saddle, even once, at canter. Both directions, even when he lost collection and lost bend on the circle, I felt connected to my saddle.
I kept it around 45 minutes, not wanting to over-do his first work back on his new hocks. It did feel quite different, and I’m anxious to keep after it.
Showing posts with label Hock Injection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hock Injection. Show all posts
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
05/06/10 Vet Update & Mo’s Turn
I checked Ransom’s hocks straightaway when I got home, and found them warm on the inside – expected.
Grabbed Romeo, got him dressed Western saddle, French link bit. His rear pasterns looked a little swollen, but sometimes this eases when he works.
Walking out to the arena, Ransom followed along quietly. I turned my back to them to walk in the arena, grab the gate tape, and when I looked up, whoosh! Romeo was pinning his ears, Ransom had turned a 180, and lifted up to threaten-kick Mo. What the heck?! I don’t know who angered who, and that has NEVER happened before with these two. They’ve bickered over fence line with ears, but never kicked out at each other. Goodness Gracious!
I got Romeo in the arena, Ransom settled on the rail, walked up & down a little, then proceeded to graze calmly. Romeo and I enjoyed about 35 minutes, warmed up on all three gaits, argued a little about leads, and then settled down for some trot bending work. I bent him solidly one way or the other on a tight circle, and, when he gave & bent nicely, I’d let him travel straight a while. This went on for about ten minutes, with a few solid stops and backups.
We did a few rollbacks, some ugly, some nice. Side passing was beautiful, turns on forehand were nice, too.
I found Ransom’s inside hocks still a little toasty this morning. I’m avoiding giving him anything for pain, because I’d like to monitor symptoms to know how to best treat and deal with him. As long as he’s still out, walking around, and grazing, the pain must be minimal.
Grabbed Romeo, got him dressed Western saddle, French link bit. His rear pasterns looked a little swollen, but sometimes this eases when he works.
Walking out to the arena, Ransom followed along quietly. I turned my back to them to walk in the arena, grab the gate tape, and when I looked up, whoosh! Romeo was pinning his ears, Ransom had turned a 180, and lifted up to threaten-kick Mo. What the heck?! I don’t know who angered who, and that has NEVER happened before with these two. They’ve bickered over fence line with ears, but never kicked out at each other. Goodness Gracious!
I got Romeo in the arena, Ransom settled on the rail, walked up & down a little, then proceeded to graze calmly. Romeo and I enjoyed about 35 minutes, warmed up on all three gaits, argued a little about leads, and then settled down for some trot bending work. I bent him solidly one way or the other on a tight circle, and, when he gave & bent nicely, I’d let him travel straight a while. This went on for about ten minutes, with a few solid stops and backups.
We did a few rollbacks, some ugly, some nice. Side passing was beautiful, turns on forehand were nice, too.
I found Ransom’s inside hocks still a little toasty this morning. I’m avoiding giving him anything for pain, because I’d like to monitor symptoms to know how to best treat and deal with him. As long as he’s still out, walking around, and grazing, the pain must be minimal.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
05/06/10 Patient Update
UPDATED INFORMATION!!
Dr.Sam got busy with an emergency colic call in the afternoon and got started on Ransom late. Deanna called around 6:30, “Your Little boy is ready to pick up.” “Little?! You mean my big monster?” I arrived about fifteen minutes later, and found him standing in the tie stocks, hocks wrapped neatly. Dr. Sam rattled off the drugs & quantities, and I tried to pay attention. Ended up having to call the vet this morning for the details again.
He received
40mg Hyaluronate Sodium (HA)
6mg Triamcinalone (Corticosteroid)
125mg Amikacin Sulfate (Antibiotic)
Ransom cheerfully loaded in the trailer, I stopped off for some quick groceries, and headed on our way home. That was the slowest drive down the dirt road to my house, EVER. I snailed along down the road, paranoid I’d injure his freshly injected joints.
When we got home, I clipped on the lead rope, and left the trailer, holding the lead rope, encouraging Ransom to exit the trailer. He bent his head back towards me, with a worried face. “You can come out any way you want to, today, Mister Man. I leave it entirely up to you.” He moved his front end just a little, still staring at me with a worried face. “It’s okay, Buddy. If you’re too sore to back out, back legs first stepping down, come out head-first. I’m okay with it. Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want out of there?” I tugged ever so gently on the lead rope. He came out, head first, and very delicately stepped down off the trailer on his back legs.
We carefully walked to the paddock, and I let him stay there for his supper. Remembering what Dr. Sam said, “You can take those wraps off in a little while, and he can have turnout for his rest”, I opened the paddock and took the bandages off. Ransom walked very slowly out of his paddock, drank water from the big tank, and began grazing.
I found him this morning cheerfully walking his fence line towards the barn, looking for breakfast. I didn’t feel any heat in his hocks, and when I applied a little pressure, he looked back at me, but didn’t pin ears, and didn’t stomp, swish tail, or fuss. I will be watching with great intent for the days to come. Dr. Sam told me I may see some swelling, but that’s a normal part of healing and adjusting to the meds. If it lasts more than 4 days, give him a call.
Dr.Sam got busy with an emergency colic call in the afternoon and got started on Ransom late. Deanna called around 6:30, “Your Little boy is ready to pick up.” “Little?! You mean my big monster?” I arrived about fifteen minutes later, and found him standing in the tie stocks, hocks wrapped neatly. Dr. Sam rattled off the drugs & quantities, and I tried to pay attention. Ended up having to call the vet this morning for the details again.
He received
40mg Hyaluronate Sodium (HA)
6mg Triamcinalone (Corticosteroid)
125mg Amikacin Sulfate (Antibiotic)
Ransom cheerfully loaded in the trailer, I stopped off for some quick groceries, and headed on our way home. That was the slowest drive down the dirt road to my house, EVER. I snailed along down the road, paranoid I’d injure his freshly injected joints.
When we got home, I clipped on the lead rope, and left the trailer, holding the lead rope, encouraging Ransom to exit the trailer. He bent his head back towards me, with a worried face. “You can come out any way you want to, today, Mister Man. I leave it entirely up to you.” He moved his front end just a little, still staring at me with a worried face. “It’s okay, Buddy. If you’re too sore to back out, back legs first stepping down, come out head-first. I’m okay with it. Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want out of there?” I tugged ever so gently on the lead rope. He came out, head first, and very delicately stepped down off the trailer on his back legs.
We carefully walked to the paddock, and I let him stay there for his supper. Remembering what Dr. Sam said, “You can take those wraps off in a little while, and he can have turnout for his rest”, I opened the paddock and took the bandages off. Ransom walked very slowly out of his paddock, drank water from the big tank, and began grazing.
I found him this morning cheerfully walking his fence line towards the barn, looking for breakfast. I didn’t feel any heat in his hocks, and when I applied a little pressure, he looked back at me, but didn’t pin ears, and didn’t stomp, swish tail, or fuss. I will be watching with great intent for the days to come. Dr. Sam told me I may see some swelling, but that’s a normal part of healing and adjusting to the meds. If it lasts more than 4 days, give him a call.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
05-05-10 Vet Call
Ransom and I arrived at the vet’s office promptly, and the work began.
Dr Sam watched him trot down & back, then performed flexion tests on all four legs. Here’s what he found:
Slight head bobble when flexed on the pasterns up front – both legs. It is only visible for the first 3-4 strides away.
Stiff and uncomfortable when flexed on the hocks – both legs.
So I agreed to a bunch of xrays.
Front pasterns
Front left knee (there’s a “bump” on the inside of his knee, either from whacking something, or otherwise)
Back hocks
And here’s what he found…
Front pasterns look good for his age – a little wear & tear, but nothing dramatic. Some “rough edges” on the bones, but away from the joints enough to not be causing a problem.
Front left knee – has one spot on it, just on the outside front of the joint. It’s either calcification or a bone chip buried in soft tissue, or a floater. He’s thinking buried in soft tissue, as Ransom didn’t fight flexion or the trot-offs enough for it to be a floater.
Back hocks – Congenitive Bone Disease in the joints. Left moreso than right. There’s very little space in the joint on the left, and a little more space on the right, but still not pretty. “Much better than Dr Sam expected, for his age and use.”
The treatment? Inject the hocks with medicines (cortico steriods and HA). We could inject from top & bottom, but Dr Sam suggested we inject from top only, and pray it seeps down into the joint. After the injection, he asks that Ransom have three full days off work, and “then he can go back to full work.” I may go easy to start. “Full Work”, also includes he’s allowed to go back to jumping. *whew* Glad to hear that!
He’s getting done this afternoon, and I can pick him up later today. He was a good patient for all the exam work, stood steady, and generally cooperated with Dr Sam and Deanna. I’m grateful they did such a thorough job, and explained everything to me so I understood.
Dr Sam watched him trot down & back, then performed flexion tests on all four legs. Here’s what he found:
Slight head bobble when flexed on the pasterns up front – both legs. It is only visible for the first 3-4 strides away.
Stiff and uncomfortable when flexed on the hocks – both legs.
So I agreed to a bunch of xrays.
Front pasterns
Front left knee (there’s a “bump” on the inside of his knee, either from whacking something, or otherwise)
Back hocks
And here’s what he found…
Front pasterns look good for his age – a little wear & tear, but nothing dramatic. Some “rough edges” on the bones, but away from the joints enough to not be causing a problem.
Front left knee – has one spot on it, just on the outside front of the joint. It’s either calcification or a bone chip buried in soft tissue, or a floater. He’s thinking buried in soft tissue, as Ransom didn’t fight flexion or the trot-offs enough for it to be a floater.
Back hocks – Congenitive Bone Disease in the joints. Left moreso than right. There’s very little space in the joint on the left, and a little more space on the right, but still not pretty. “Much better than Dr Sam expected, for his age and use.”
The treatment? Inject the hocks with medicines (cortico steriods and HA). We could inject from top & bottom, but Dr Sam suggested we inject from top only, and pray it seeps down into the joint. After the injection, he asks that Ransom have three full days off work, and “then he can go back to full work.” I may go easy to start. “Full Work”, also includes he’s allowed to go back to jumping. *whew* Glad to hear that!
He’s getting done this afternoon, and I can pick him up later today. He was a good patient for all the exam work, stood steady, and generally cooperated with Dr Sam and Deanna. I’m grateful they did such a thorough job, and explained everything to me so I understood.
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