E and I have been talking quite a bit about when we think the bucking and head tossing started and we decided it might have been around the time they both fell and E broke her ankle (Sept. 2007). But I'm not completely sure about that - we were relying on my often faulty memory! (I'll have to go back and read through this blog to see if I can tell from my postings. I know he came to us with some head tossing issues - but they were different than his current head shaking.) It is possible that he may have injured himself but we didn't notice right away because not long after the fall, he had his first (of three!) hoof abscesses and then the shoulder inflammation that required even more time off.
I had a lengthy visit with the vet today and as he examined Curly I gave him all this information and we talked about possible causes for the obvious pain the horse is in. So, he agreed it could be from an injury or it may even be something called "kissing spine" syndrome. It also could be caused by a saddle rubbing on the area just behind Curly's withers. (The connection between his withers and the rest of his back is a rather dramatic drop off instead of the more normal slope. Consequently, the saddle may be putting too much pressure on this spot.) The vet does not see any problems with Curly's legs/other joints, so he doesn't think the back pain is a symptom of some other issue.
Dr. Kress uses a lot of common sense in his practice, so his first suggestion is to use several cut-away pads that will elevate the saddle off of the area just behind the withers to see if this alleviates Curly's pain. He also suggested moving the saddle back an inch or so, putting more of the weight farther back as well. And thirdly, he'd like me to take Curly on a longish ride, but being ponied rather than ridden. This might help me see if he reacts at that magic 20 minute mark only when he's saddled up and being ridden or if he starts the head shaking/bucking routine even without the rider.
Since there is no way to x-ray Curly's spine here in Walla Walla (and I'm not ready to make the commitment of driving to Pullman) we really have no way of knowing if there are some vertebrae rubbing together or some other injury to the spine. We went ahead and administered a steroid shot to help with any possible inflammation (second shot to be given on Wednesday) and Dr. Kress wants me to continue with the joint supplement we started last week. Both things could possibly help and neither will hurt him.
It's so hard to know how much of all this is truly originating from back pain and how much might be originating from his brain/personality. As I've spent more time with the big guy over this past month, though, I've begun to believe that he isn't all that naughty and it breaks my heart to think he may have been in immense pain for a long time.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Learning To Jump
E and Monte had their first Pony Club mounted meeting today. E was so excited, she was determined to go no matter what. And I probably shouldn't have let her....
Last Wednesday, she (possibly) fractured her right ankle. The pediatrician didn't see anything on the x-ray but he said the location and amount of pain indicated more than a sprain. He thinks we'll be able to see the (healed) fracture on the follow-up x-ray later this month. He asked her to wear her walking boot for as long as she thought was necessary and then to move on to a brace until it was all better.
Anyway, like I said, E was excited so I let her decide if she could ride or not. I truly didn't think she would last more than 20, maybe 30, minutes of the lesson but she didn't decide the pain was too much until the last 5 minutes of the ride. She even managed to post while trotting for much of the time!
The instructor, Marla Foreman, was working on jumping with the kids. The other 2 riders have jumped previously, but this was E and Monte's first go at it. They started with trotting over poles placed on the ground and worked up to going over two crossed poles (approx. 12" high). Monte really wasn't sure what was supposed to happen and managed to trot over the crossed poles instead of jumping. So they actually only "jumped" once during the whole lesson. But they'll eventually get it.
Last Wednesday, she (possibly) fractured her right ankle. The pediatrician didn't see anything on the x-ray but he said the location and amount of pain indicated more than a sprain. He thinks we'll be able to see the (healed) fracture on the follow-up x-ray later this month. He asked her to wear her walking boot for as long as she thought was necessary and then to move on to a brace until it was all better.
Anyway, like I said, E was excited so I let her decide if she could ride or not. I truly didn't think she would last more than 20, maybe 30, minutes of the lesson but she didn't decide the pain was too much until the last 5 minutes of the ride. She even managed to post while trotting for much of the time!
The instructor, Marla Foreman, was working on jumping with the kids. The other 2 riders have jumped previously, but this was E and Monte's first go at it. They started with trotting over poles placed on the ground and worked up to going over two crossed poles (approx. 12" high). Monte really wasn't sure what was supposed to happen and managed to trot over the crossed poles instead of jumping. So they actually only "jumped" once during the whole lesson. But they'll eventually get it.
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