About this Blog

Meet my very 1st horse, Lazarus.
I couldn't wait for Santa anymore or ask one more time for a pony for my bday (after age 30 it got embarrassing). I took matters in my own hands and I finally decided to pick a pony that needed a new home. Laz found me as I contemplated with this idea. He was sweet yet very sassy, fresh off the track, Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Join us for our re-training, rehabbing from laminitis and testing all parts of mixed up horsemanship and partnership, and luck...

Friday, November 11, 2011

Weekly catch up

 Thank you to you lovely readers for playing our give-a-way.
A winner will be announced via Laz SOON!!! Stay tuned...

Laz has had it pretty easy the last couple of weeks.
I haven't ridden him in two weeks.
Why?
His RH (surprise surprise) was giving him a little grief. He was very vocal about not wanting to trot. So, I've decided to do another round of xrays and that way my trimmer M and I can discuss options, compare with the xrays from June and see where we are at.
He has some bruising that has surfaced on the sole and we want to know WHY.
So...Laz is in fine spirits and in fact today, we had a 'discussion' that NO indeed you are NOT at stud/retirement and YES you can still have manners and walk politely and not be a herd bound chubster.
OK?
So, our days have been; lots of grooming. Loving. Bodywork. Flexing. Hand walking. Hand walking and oh...hand road walking.
And posing for the camera...
 And eating
"Wha.....it's WiNTeeR comen and I needs my kalorees"
 I did put his Equine Slipper with an Easy Boot pad for a hand walk last week
"I'm STARVING.....mmMmmmMMMm"

 Here's the slipper stuffed with a pad for comfort.
I want to walk him barefoot to help stimulate his soles, etc but for his RH, I also needed to keep it protected.
I've been applying Keratex Hoof Hardener to his soles for the past week, and I swear it seems to help.

 Schmodel...handsome boy!
Fuzzy bangs DANG...
 A few days this past couple of weeks, I grazed Laz on the back pasture that is now 'closed' for Fall/Winter but open for riding/hand grazing
 Tossed Mason his Frisbee a few hundred times...

 Captured some of Falls last colors....
 This tree is already almost all bare as of today.

 Not wanting Laz to go completely loose, I pulled out some jumps (PVC poles) and I 'lunged' him at the walk over the pole. Mind numbing boring for he and I but good for his body.
We also worked on ground side passed with the pole in between his front/back legs and he had a very hard time with that concept so we'll have to practice that A LOT more.
 This week, for his soaked BP/Timothy slop, I've started adding in his salt, Spirulina (hoping it helps with this summer and prevents his hives from bug bites) and Chia seeds.

The Chia in their dry form
 And soaked; this shows basically what it will do internally.
If you are curious about Chia, click HERE to learn more
Enzo's Mom and I had a hilarious conversation about US eating it...I can't quite do it! BUT I will..promise!! ;)

And hoof pics from my last trim.
This is why a new round of xrays may be helpful...the bruising.
Shown at tip of Frog and along the Medial side.
There is also bruising that has been there for months on lateral hoof wall.
Why?
 The world's thickest hoof wall deformity and the opening that has shrunken, but still exists.
:(
Despite White Lightening treatments...it may be too far inside to penetrate.  We don't really know yet.
 Lateral view (outside) of RH
Medial view (inside) of RH...this picture makes the hoof look way more distorted than it is, see below for what I mean...
 Front view, showing hole/opening. 
The hoof wall is growing SO thick and just won't grow DOWN..very frustrating.
His LH which had similar damage (not as much) during his laminitic episode, has healed completely normal. 
 Heel view/back view


I hope I get some solid answers...nothing too scary and hopefully something that is easily fixable.  I have a wonderful trimmer who is so willing and patient. I hope we can continue moving forward with just trims and not get into scary discussions with my vet about other options, etc.  (surgery? Coffin bone fracture? Bone infections? who knows........)
You know, xrays make me PANIC.
For something that is literally black and white; the diagnosis isn't always.
My appointment is set for this Tuesday, so please wish us LUCK!
Good thoughts....Laz deserves a normal RH hoof!
While my vet is out, I plan on asking her about Laz's weight (see if it's OK despite his hay belly he's always ribby) ask about exercises I can do for Laz to help his healing without over doing it. Ask about his stifles/back, etc.
Oh, and Monday, Laz gets his teeth floated too (by hand, no drugs, no power tools).
Pampered.............when did I last go to the Dentist?


8 comments:

  1. Good luck with the x-rays and figuring out a good course of action. I expect you'll get it figured out!

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  2. Don't you wish we just had magic wands and could cure our boys with a flick and a swish and a few magic words? I'll keep dreaming! :-)
    Best of luck! I'll be thinking about you guys on Tuesday.

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  3. LOL!!! I drank my CHIA this am!!! I send tons of prayers for the x-ray and RH!! Lots of love from us!!! Janine and Enzo!!!

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  4. GOOD LUCK Laz!!

    I just started Val on magnesium (citrate) supplements - shelly feet, tender soles and white line / separation issues. I'll let you know how it works.

    P.S. just got some chia seeds for me - what's the best way (least slimy) to consume them?!

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  5. Great blog - why not come over to http://hay-net.co.uk/ an Equine Social Blogging Network for more to follow!

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  6. Good luck with the x-rays! Laz is so lucky to have you as his mommy.

    Gorgeous fall colors and pastures.

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  7. You know- I uncovered a few disease pockets on my problem client horse last weekend. From the quarters I could see cracks like the one at Laz's toe and the sole was kind of fungusy/flaky. I scraped down through the junk and found some round pockets of nastiness. That stuff just hides under the sole and sometimes the only way to get to it is to scrape off the top and open it up. Course you'd have to ask Michelle how she feels about that.

    Looks like he's got some bruising at the apex of the frog and the medial bar too, poor guy.

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  8. I hope the xray gives you a plain answer that is easy to fix. He's looking good to me. :) Some Thoroughbreds always look a little ribby. He reminds me a lot of my old OTTB Finn. They had the same body structure.

    Oh and I absolutely love that eye shot! Very nice!

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