I had just had a discussion with Mag about not trying to squeeze past me as I clean up the path, it's not quite wide enough for polite passing unless I step aside. He had started to pass me and I threw up an arm and said, "TOO CLOSE!" and when he stopped I spoke to him a long time about how rude it is to squeeze by, even if he doesn't touch me.
Then he went to the pasture, galloped around like crazy for a while, and came rushing back, out of breath. As I taped this (taped!), I didn't realize how badly he wanted to pass by me. As soon as I stopped taping, I stepped aside and said OK and he went trotting, tail over his back, past the donkey and up to the gate where he looked at something going on. The important thing to me is that he waited for me to move despite urgently wanting to pass. Enjoy the ...tape: )
The day Autumn arrived.
This was the lesson where he was lame as soon as he stepped into a trot; I got one photo so you can see the arena we work in. It's completely enclosed except for the doorway. Eventually I hope we can use the outdoor roundpen so we can be in the real world of distractions. Note the fleece-lined lunging cavesson. I'm a believer now, it really gets the horse working with you and bending. She gives little signals down the line that encourage him to drop his head and eventually he figured it out, no restraints necessary. She keeps the whip behind the stirrup to get bend and impulsion. Can't wait to continue this work when he's better.
Everything in Germany is smaller (except the horses). This is the wishbone from a chicken I baked. I asked J to make a wish with me and he did but he had no idea why I was holding this bone out to him. I explained that he has to break it with me - hm, I guess it's an American thing.
This is Mag's "Whatcha doin?" face. Every day when I clean up, he approaches me to say hi like this.
Ribby Mag. I don't like to see his ribs and hips but I'm not going to try to put weight on him when he's having hoof issues. He gets freechoice hay and pasture and vitamins. I love his mane in this photo, it's not really this luxurious in real life.
In fact, I may know why. Yesterday, for the very first time, I saw Mag and Bellis mutual grooming. And Bellis was going at his mane with her teeth. Oh well, it makes me happy to see that, because I think it proves their friendship. And people tell me donkeys are not adequate companions....
Below are two nasty hoof photos showing how the back of his hoof exploded.
Leave now if you can't handle photos of infection, it's pretty nasty....
The black stuff is icththammol.
It's very difficult to treat this because it's painful and he's not compliant about it when I touch it. *sigh*
Even with this perspective - his hind end closer to the camera - he has tiny butt. I wonder if people who love Quarter Horses are appalled by this. "Where's the engine!?!?" Remember that King of the Hill episode about Diminished Gluteal Syndrome? Poor Mag.
.JPG)
8 comments:
He's very cute in your video. That was a big abscess- im glad it's come out. Things should heal up quickly now
He's so pretty. Major blew a big abscess in the same place last year. As it grew down it took a hoof chunk with it, though he was never lame after it blew.
And Mag has a nice Arab butt. And it will improve with time. At 6 Major looked like Mag. At 13 he has a good size butt from hills and work, though quarterhorses would still laugh. You'll get there.
Teresa, I hope so, hope so...you think it was an abscess, the trimmer said it was an infection spreading from the thrush in the frog. Either way, nasty infection. As the Germans say, Einerseits andererseits.
Irish, in the same place!??! I've never seen anything like this. And yet he's not three legged lame. I hope you can tell I'm not too worried about his diminished behind. *lol* He has such a pathetic topline and butt right now but what can I do - -- nothing. Horse must be healthy before fit: ) Oh, and trained, that too. Yah, the QH people will say the wind will knock him over. I say no horse is perfect, but like you said, his greatest weakness will improve in time. And a horse made from the wind cannot fall from the wind, huh? : ) : ) Now you need to blog about Major at Mag's age! (With photos)
Nasty sub-solar abscess. Now that it has ruptured it should heal fine. It will take a chunk of heel with it when it grows out in about three months, but should not cause too much trouble as long as you don't try to trim off the dead material too soon. It can be devastating to a foot like this if your trimmer tries to remove dead material or open the area for drainage - don't do it. Let the foot heal from the inside out. It may get ugly for a bit but don't try to make it pretty.
I think you will find that the wall in the quarter on the right of the photo has some white line defects, that will be the most likely course of infection. The abscess is undermining healthy frog growth, not the other way around. You should see improvement now that it has ruptured.
Can you get Magic Cushion in Germany?
Kris, is that so?
Magic Cushion is what the trimmer used to pack that hoof as soon as the lameness showed up last Friday. She packed it with MC, wrapped in hemp fiber, tape, and covered it with an Easyboot Trail for 2 days. After, I cut off the bandage and it became worse, which I know can forecast becoming better. I think it's funny how she says, with her accent, "magic caution".
I just noticed that you recommended Copper Sulfate, what my trimmer also did (Cavallo's Dry Feet product). Isn't that a little too intense? It's very expensive here, but if it doesn't kill live cells...
My instinct seems to agree with what you said, to leave it free from bandage, boots, or invasion. It just looks like it needs to be left alone for now, and kept as clean as possible. I used a water pick and then Pete's Goo. It's not like I can keep it dry here, we're now in wet times like you have on the East Coast. My instinct also warns against anything intense, not even vinegar, that would be painful. The trimmer recommended I get some hydrogen peroxide but I think that's too caustic, it kills live cells. (Even though that is what my mom used on me when I was a kid, and what less wealthy nations still use!)
I agree with you and take your advice to not try to fix anything with a knife, and happily my horse is not lame, just tender.
I appreciate your help in this.
Cant help but to think OUCH looking at that blown abscess. Loved the video and that while he wants to, he's politely not pushing past you.
the video cracked me up! the hoof, gahhh. and wet season is just getting started!
Yikes!! Poor guy!!! I hope that's the end of his hood drama and that he heals quickly.
I love that video!! He must have been having some fun to be blowing that hard hehe. Silly boy. I'm glad he's polite and waited on you.
Post a Comment