My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Last summer and into the fall, Freedom had an abscess that lasted and lasted. He was slightly off for some time and then terribly lame. Eventually the vet drained it at his toe, and then it also traveled up through the hoof and out through his coronary band. The remains of that abscess are still […]
Read MoreYesterday Freedom could barely walk. By this morning, he was standing on all four legs, eagerly looking for his breakfast. Gone was the woe-begone look. What a relief! I had some time this afternoon so I went back over to check how the abscess was draining (it still is) and he looks so perky that […]
Read MoreThis morning Freedom looked even worse than he had before. I could not get him to move more than a few steps and he did not want to put any weight on that foot. Time for the vet to visit. What was interesting was how concerned Willow was about Freedom. She stayed very close by […]
Read MoreFreedom’s mysterious hind end lameness took an accelerated curve to the left when I arrived to find him literally standing on three legs. He will put weight on that hoof/leg when asked to walk, but it’s pretty obvious that it’s painful. It’s pretty horrific to find your horse standing like that. He wasn’t favoring it […]
Read MoreSix weeks ago, Freedom blew an abscess out the heel bulb on his right front. Last Thursday, it came back with a vengeance. I had been thrilled that the horses and the barn came through Hurricane Sandy in good shape and when I rode him on Wednesday he felt great. On Thursday morning, the woman […]
Read MoreOn Saturday morning I arrived at the barn with my trailer ready to hunt. I’d been away for work for a few days and was really looking forward to a gallop through Concord. Unfortunately, it was not to be. It appeared that Freedom had abscessed on his right front; it burst out the coronary band […]
Read MoreAs readers of my blog know, Freedom has been barefoot for the past two years. For hunting and riding on rocky trails, hoof boots have provided the necessary cushioning. Last week, though, something went wrong. I had booted Freedom up for a trail ride and he came out feeling great. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. After […]
Read MoreThe last couple of weeks have been crazy busy. Usually at this time of year my clients withdraw into a quiet hibernation and we start planning for the new year. This year, there’s been no stopping. I’m not complaining — work is a good thing! Especially as it coincided with some freezing weather that left […]
Read More