Yep - you read it right. Samson's story is now being spread via Ebay, in an attempt to fundraise every possible penny I can for his Tildren trial! It started out as a suggestion from his former "mom", because she held a tack sale to help fundraise for the vet bills. So the other day I began digging through everything I could think of - extra things from the tack trunk that sit around untouched, even clothing from my own closet!
So, if you are in need of any horsey stuff, check my online store out at http://myworld.ebay.com/rmacanas23
There's a good little variety of miscellaneous items listed; and for local people - I also have two bandage/wrap racks that I never listed because they are too bulky to ship!
I also (under much duress and debating; I assure you...) added a giving widget to the blog. Samson's former "mom" suggested this to me a month ago, and I refused - I told her I didn't feel right asking for charity. But as she continues to spread the word and call me about people interested in helping, I realize how stupid it is to keep clinging to my pride on the issue. After all, it's about Samson. Not me. All I am trying to do is help him get every possible option he can have for a long and happy future - and if that means accepting charity from people who want to help, why would I stand in the way? I will still refuse to ask for help from anyone. I will dig through tack trunks and closets til I hit my goal if that's what it takes. But if having a silly little widget gets us there a little bit sooner, so be it.
In regards to my chestnut boy - his feet are looking remarkably better since getting his new shoes put on. The wedge really helps to get him more balanced, and the shoes themselves look fantastic. The therapeutic option has been shot down, so it looks like he will stay with me. It is great news and not-so-great news all wrapped together....Of course I ADORE him, and never really wanted him to leave. But with someone else paying his monthly upkeep, I would have been able to get together the money for his treatment much faster. That is a big part of the motivation to get my ebay auctions and general fundraising ramped up again - the fact that it isn't going to work out after all. Everything happens for a reason though, and I have to believe that it is all going to fall into place.
Besides - just ask the girl who took one of her first lessons on him the other day how special he is. You really can't deny it. He's just that amazing. :-)
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Life Happens
I have a nagging little voice in my head telling me it is only a matter of time until the other shoe drops. Right now there are so many things up in the air with no resolution in sight, and I wish I had some answers on how everything is going to fall into place. Needless to say, these are apparently days of uncertainty; to a certain extent, and I look forward to having more things settled - hopefully in the near future rather than off in the distance.
There is that old saying I keep reminding myself of - the one about how we make plans and life happens. I've had a lot of "life" happening lately. At this point, I don't think I'm even going to bother making any big plans. I'd rather try to roll with the punches for the time being, and use it as a chance to exercise my faith that God knows where it will all end up. Jeremiah 29:11 is very forefront in my mind these days, and I'm trying to meditate on that one small constant in a world that is ever-changing around me.
It is two days til the closing date for the CHP show, and it's looking like it is out unless I go along - my poor trailer buddy had a horse pull a shoe and land on the clip, and he is still three-legged lame. In the meantime, I'm just going to stick with our routine of mixing up conditioning hacks, dressage work, and jump schools. I am halfway pondering the idea of finding a clinic to go to in the area to help with the "itch" to get out.
Samson got his new shoes put on this week, and his feet look dramatically better! I have been toying with the possibility of sending him out on lease to a therapeutic facility, but they haven't called yet and I am wondering if it may not happen after all. Yet another thing that is completely up in the air at the moment....
We have started the search for another boarder, and there's the inevitable dread of not getting the "right" person. We are SO lucky to have the boarders that we do - I couldn't ask for a better situation. They are completely on the same page as we are when it comes to the care of their horses, and as a result everyone is really happy. It is such a low-key and positive environment - and I always look forward to whoever may be out there. So when you start looking to add one more person to the mix, there is the inevitable dread that you may end up with another crazy horse person - after all, there are plenty of them to choose from! Hey, I know we are ALL crazy in our own right, it's just a matter of finding others with your same flavor of crazy so you mesh well - that's my theory, at least!
Other than that, there is little to report. The week has all sorts of rain forecast, and I'm dreading the possibility that riding may be difficult for the next few days. Hopefully we will work in as many opportunities as possible......
There is that old saying I keep reminding myself of - the one about how we make plans and life happens. I've had a lot of "life" happening lately. At this point, I don't think I'm even going to bother making any big plans. I'd rather try to roll with the punches for the time being, and use it as a chance to exercise my faith that God knows where it will all end up. Jeremiah 29:11 is very forefront in my mind these days, and I'm trying to meditate on that one small constant in a world that is ever-changing around me.
It is two days til the closing date for the CHP show, and it's looking like it is out unless I go along - my poor trailer buddy had a horse pull a shoe and land on the clip, and he is still three-legged lame. In the meantime, I'm just going to stick with our routine of mixing up conditioning hacks, dressage work, and jump schools. I am halfway pondering the idea of finding a clinic to go to in the area to help with the "itch" to get out.
Samson got his new shoes put on this week, and his feet look dramatically better! I have been toying with the possibility of sending him out on lease to a therapeutic facility, but they haven't called yet and I am wondering if it may not happen after all. Yet another thing that is completely up in the air at the moment....
We have started the search for another boarder, and there's the inevitable dread of not getting the "right" person. We are SO lucky to have the boarders that we do - I couldn't ask for a better situation. They are completely on the same page as we are when it comes to the care of their horses, and as a result everyone is really happy. It is such a low-key and positive environment - and I always look forward to whoever may be out there. So when you start looking to add one more person to the mix, there is the inevitable dread that you may end up with another crazy horse person - after all, there are plenty of them to choose from! Hey, I know we are ALL crazy in our own right, it's just a matter of finding others with your same flavor of crazy so you mesh well - that's my theory, at least!
Other than that, there is little to report. The week has all sorts of rain forecast, and I'm dreading the possibility that riding may be difficult for the next few days. Hopefully we will work in as many opportunities as possible......
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Building on the Foundation
I have been really bad about keeping my blog updated, which usually means things are somewhat mundane and not worth reporting. However, this time, that is definitely not the case! The last few weeks have been going so well, I think there is a small part of me that doesn't want to jinx it by putting it down in black and white!
It all started with April's detox from the boys. Within a few days I had already noticed a marked improvement, and it has just continued to improve ever since. We babysit the different pasture arrangements to make sure she is never in close proximity to the geldings, and it has made such a dramatic difference. Then Kelsey returned from England last week, and we got back into our regular lesson program. The first lesson was at our farm on the flat, and it went better than any flat ride we have ever had. We are making sure we spend every minute possible at the walk until April truly "gives" to the contact and relaxes through her back. Once we reach that point, transitioning into our trot work is a night and day difference from where it was in the past.
Yesterday morning I had a lesson over fences at Kelsey's place, and it was probably one of the best jump schools we have ever had together. We worked on making the transition to the trot very low-key so that we can build instead of having to bring it back, which ends up making her feel trapped. The first fence we jumped was a little in and out combination, which went perfectly. Kelsey commented that I am doing a lot better job of staying up and steady through the fence instead of trying to "do" too much. In turn, April goes through the combination better and comes off the fence much more relaxed. Between me being quieter over fences and keeping my hands up and out in front of me, it is making a night and day difference. We schooled over a bending line a few times, then worked on a drop fence both directions, adding in a little trakehner as well. It was a fantastic ride, and I left soaring on air.
We are making so much progress, it feels unbelievable. I don't know what the difference is, but it has finally gotten to the point where the basic fundamentals seems to be clicking, and we are starting to build on each ride and have an actual progression, rather than being stuck in a vicious circle of the same battles time and again. I am planning to finally get her to our first event on the 21st of the month, and am a little nervous, but super excited as well.
Samson is doing well, and gets his new fancy footwear tomorrow. I am actually considering doing a free lease on him with a local therapeutic riding facility that takes FANTASTIC care of their horses. It was kind of ironic that his half-leaser gave notice, and within a day the therapeutic facility posted an ad that they are searching for a new horse for their program. I should be in contact with them on Monday about setting up a meeting, and we will take it from there. It is REALLY hard to think about letting him go to live somewhere else, but the financial stress would be relieved tremendously. Most importantly, I would know that he would always have the shoes he needs, be fed and cared for, and be in a routine light work program, which he really needs. I'm excited to see what comes of the whole situation, because I think it might really work out for the best. Not to mention, the farm is barely ten minutes away, so I would have full visiting rights - which I'm sure I would excercise regularly!
The hardest thing about letting Samson live somewhere else is the fact that he is the horse I trust to just jump on and do pretty much anything. But ironically, just the other night, Robyn and I hopped on April and Linkin bareback and went for a hack through some crazy terrain, and even hopped our little vertical on the way back. It really hit me afterwards that I am starting to have that partnership with April, and that it is totally possible that the big, fancy, uber-forward event horse might just be able to fulfill my other needs as well. Boy, if someone had told me a year ago the things I would be doing today, I'd think they were crazy. But I am loving each and every minute.
It all started with April's detox from the boys. Within a few days I had already noticed a marked improvement, and it has just continued to improve ever since. We babysit the different pasture arrangements to make sure she is never in close proximity to the geldings, and it has made such a dramatic difference. Then Kelsey returned from England last week, and we got back into our regular lesson program. The first lesson was at our farm on the flat, and it went better than any flat ride we have ever had. We are making sure we spend every minute possible at the walk until April truly "gives" to the contact and relaxes through her back. Once we reach that point, transitioning into our trot work is a night and day difference from where it was in the past.
Yesterday morning I had a lesson over fences at Kelsey's place, and it was probably one of the best jump schools we have ever had together. We worked on making the transition to the trot very low-key so that we can build instead of having to bring it back, which ends up making her feel trapped. The first fence we jumped was a little in and out combination, which went perfectly. Kelsey commented that I am doing a lot better job of staying up and steady through the fence instead of trying to "do" too much. In turn, April goes through the combination better and comes off the fence much more relaxed. Between me being quieter over fences and keeping my hands up and out in front of me, it is making a night and day difference. We schooled over a bending line a few times, then worked on a drop fence both directions, adding in a little trakehner as well. It was a fantastic ride, and I left soaring on air.
We are making so much progress, it feels unbelievable. I don't know what the difference is, but it has finally gotten to the point where the basic fundamentals seems to be clicking, and we are starting to build on each ride and have an actual progression, rather than being stuck in a vicious circle of the same battles time and again. I am planning to finally get her to our first event on the 21st of the month, and am a little nervous, but super excited as well.
Samson is doing well, and gets his new fancy footwear tomorrow. I am actually considering doing a free lease on him with a local therapeutic riding facility that takes FANTASTIC care of their horses. It was kind of ironic that his half-leaser gave notice, and within a day the therapeutic facility posted an ad that they are searching for a new horse for their program. I should be in contact with them on Monday about setting up a meeting, and we will take it from there. It is REALLY hard to think about letting him go to live somewhere else, but the financial stress would be relieved tremendously. Most importantly, I would know that he would always have the shoes he needs, be fed and cared for, and be in a routine light work program, which he really needs. I'm excited to see what comes of the whole situation, because I think it might really work out for the best. Not to mention, the farm is barely ten minutes away, so I would have full visiting rights - which I'm sure I would excercise regularly!
The hardest thing about letting Samson live somewhere else is the fact that he is the horse I trust to just jump on and do pretty much anything. But ironically, just the other night, Robyn and I hopped on April and Linkin bareback and went for a hack through some crazy terrain, and even hopped our little vertical on the way back. It really hit me afterwards that I am starting to have that partnership with April, and that it is totally possible that the big, fancy, uber-forward event horse might just be able to fulfill my other needs as well. Boy, if someone had told me a year ago the things I would be doing today, I'd think they were crazy. But I am loving each and every minute.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Mare Detox
Long time, no post - I know. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but that's not really anything new. Between April coming back into work and Robyn being at the beach for a few days, it got a little hectic but I feel like we are starting to get back into a normal rhythm - finally.
April and I started hitting the regular schedule again about two weeks ago. She was finally sound enough to go back into work, and we squeezed in a couple of lessons before Kelsey left for Europe for two weeks. We were able to get in three lessons, and it was a roller coaster. We went from a fantastic flat school, to a really rough jump school, and then the last lesson was a fantastic session over fences again. Our rides on our own were following a similar pattern - no consistency, very up and down, and a lot of temper fits. Robyn and I got to talking through it last night, and I decided to try a little experiment. When I rode that night, I noticed how strongly she wanted to go after Linkin every time he was in sight. Then I started taking into account all the different mareish behaviors I had been seeing lately, as well as how often she had been in heat that I could recall.
The verdict? My mare is a whore. To make matters worse, the gelding pastured beside her is a man-whore. So, needless to say...not a good combination. So Saturday began what I am fondly referring to as "Mare Detox" - aka, complete separation from the wee-wee, wang, whatever it is you like to call it.
The first few days we flipped turnout for her, and she stayed in at night and went out with Rosie during the day. Robyn and I also decided to mix up our schedules and ride separately, rather than together. For one, April needs more sessions on the flat; whereas Linkin benefits from more hacking. Secondly, April tends to obsess over Linkin whatever we are doing, so this was just one more method of splitting them up.
In the back of my mind, I really thought that Tuesday's ride was a fluke. Then we saddled up for another school on the flat, and it was even better than the night before. She is so much more focused and willing when she isn't going nuts over whatever boys are around. Her attitude is improving TREMENDOUSLY.
I also have a confession to make. I think I'm finally learning how to put a horse together. Sad, huh? As long as I have been riding, I have never really "gotten" it. I could see that my horses were muscled up incorrectly, I could tell that it wasn't quite right, but I just couldn't get there, no matter how hard I tried.
Then I had a lesson the other week that somehow clicked. I have spent hours obsessively going over every little detail, and this time, for some reason, it is starting to make sense. I'm starting to feel when April starts to use herself correctly. Not always, and it's definitely a work in progress, but I feel like we really got somewhere big while working on it alone this week. I was venting not too long ago about the fact that I can't seem to do things by myself, and how frustrating it was. I could go into a lesson and do fine, but without an instructor holding my hand, it fell apart. Two days in a row now, I feel like that might be changing. And it is a huge step in the right direction, and I hope to continue it by leaps and bounds.
And now, to leave you with another dose of humor - I'm throwing in a picture of my gelding. As a matter of fact, this was shot last week, after a horrible ride on April - the same night that I was venting about not being able to ride. No sooner did I get it out of my mouth, and Samson, the comedienne extraordinaire, starts scratching his butt on the gate. (Of course I had to go help him....) Ahhh, a little humor can fix anything.
April and I started hitting the regular schedule again about two weeks ago. She was finally sound enough to go back into work, and we squeezed in a couple of lessons before Kelsey left for Europe for two weeks. We were able to get in three lessons, and it was a roller coaster. We went from a fantastic flat school, to a really rough jump school, and then the last lesson was a fantastic session over fences again. Our rides on our own were following a similar pattern - no consistency, very up and down, and a lot of temper fits. Robyn and I got to talking through it last night, and I decided to try a little experiment. When I rode that night, I noticed how strongly she wanted to go after Linkin every time he was in sight. Then I started taking into account all the different mareish behaviors I had been seeing lately, as well as how often she had been in heat that I could recall.
The verdict? My mare is a whore. To make matters worse, the gelding pastured beside her is a man-whore. So, needless to say...not a good combination. So Saturday began what I am fondly referring to as "Mare Detox" - aka, complete separation from the wee-wee, wang, whatever it is you like to call it.
The first few days we flipped turnout for her, and she stayed in at night and went out with Rosie during the day. Robyn and I also decided to mix up our schedules and ride separately, rather than together. For one, April needs more sessions on the flat; whereas Linkin benefits from more hacking. Secondly, April tends to obsess over Linkin whatever we are doing, so this was just one more method of splitting them up.
In the back of my mind, I really thought that Tuesday's ride was a fluke. Then we saddled up for another school on the flat, and it was even better than the night before. She is so much more focused and willing when she isn't going nuts over whatever boys are around. Her attitude is improving TREMENDOUSLY.
I also have a confession to make. I think I'm finally learning how to put a horse together. Sad, huh? As long as I have been riding, I have never really "gotten" it. I could see that my horses were muscled up incorrectly, I could tell that it wasn't quite right, but I just couldn't get there, no matter how hard I tried.
Then I had a lesson the other week that somehow clicked. I have spent hours obsessively going over every little detail, and this time, for some reason, it is starting to make sense. I'm starting to feel when April starts to use herself correctly. Not always, and it's definitely a work in progress, but I feel like we really got somewhere big while working on it alone this week. I was venting not too long ago about the fact that I can't seem to do things by myself, and how frustrating it was. I could go into a lesson and do fine, but without an instructor holding my hand, it fell apart. Two days in a row now, I feel like that might be changing. And it is a huge step in the right direction, and I hope to continue it by leaps and bounds.
And now, to leave you with another dose of humor - I'm throwing in a picture of my gelding. As a matter of fact, this was shot last week, after a horrible ride on April - the same night that I was venting about not being able to ride. No sooner did I get it out of my mouth, and Samson, the comedienne extraordinaire, starts scratching his butt on the gate. (Of course I had to go help him....) Ahhh, a little humor can fix anything.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Getting Back in the Groove
Early last week was my first lesson back on April. I never got a chance to write about it, and by this point we have two more lessons under our belt since that first one! Getting back to work has been a little bit of a rollercoaster, but I think we are starting to get back into the groove now. It just takes time to get back into the routine after a month-long break!
For starters, she was SUPER exuberant to get back to work. We started out with a few hack days, just to get her mind back into work-mode without pushing too hard. Then we had our first lesson on the flat at our farm with Kelsey. It was FANTASTIC. We spent a LOT of time at the walk, really pushing for her to completely relax the underside of her neck and start carrying herself from her topline. Once we got it though, she was a dream to ride. So soft and supple, and super relaxed. We are still working on getting a more consistent connection, because she does tend to bob her head around here and there, so that is a big goal in our flatwork in the near future.
A few days later we had our first jump lesson in about five weeks - oy vey. It was...er...rough, to say the least. April was extremely forward, and extremely excited to be jumping again, and I rode like an absolute idget. I let her get away with way too much in the warmup instead of really regulating her rhythm and tempo, and then it carried over into our work over fences. Poor Kelsey, she's so patient. I'm sure she wanted to pound me in the head with a brick when she kept having to tell me not to HOLD with my hands all the way to the fence. All the old habits of holding her too much were creeping back in, so Kelsey was really trying to get me to relax and let the mare jump up into my hand. It's a vicious cycle, because I tend to plant and hold with my hand when I feel the slightest bit insecure; which only makes April run harder and faster at a fence, so I try to hold more...you get the picture. It can spin into ugliness quickly. We made what progress we could that day, but sometimes it just isn't your day. When I finally let my hand relax and let her come up to me, we quit on a good note.
Then came another jump lesson last night - it's been a busy week of lessons because I wanted to squeeze in an extra one before Kelsey leaves for Europe for two weeks. It was dramatically different from the last ride. I had really worked on my homework, and focused on keeping a super soft hand. Each lesson I have really walked away and reflected on every piece of advice, no matter how big or small, and tried to implement it into the next ride so I don't forget anything. From the very first fence last night, Kelsey commented on what a dramatic difference I had made with my hands. It really showed up in our work too - April was much more relaxed and jumped so much better. She will still come off of the bigger fences fairly hard, but it's not like she's running away with me - it's more excitement than anything. And the less I hold, the less she tends to "run" after the fence. Every little piece keeps coming together little by little, and I know we will get there soon enough!!
The most exciting part of last night - we schooled 3'3"!!!! It was super exciting to know that I was jumping that kind of height with SO much more organization than the last time we hopped it, just for fun. I think that was shortly after I had gotten April, and we definitely weren't ready for it - it was just a little playing around. But to know that we have worked our way up to that in a lesson is exhilarating, and I feel like we are making a little bit of progress! Not only was the fence 3'3", it was the "out" fence in a one stride grid, with a pretty tight stride in between. April jumped it BIG too, but I didn't feel the slightest bit intimidated. I cannot BELIEVE how much fear has vanished in my over fences work.
Samson is doing well, and there isn't much in the way of updates. I started a Samson fund, and the second I put it together the brakes in my car went out. ***Sigh*** I got a phone call from a sweet friend who suggested putting together some kind of donation page, but I told her I really feel strange about that kind of thing. After the phone call, she texted me for my address so she could send me a little bit to help out. She is the second person - who I really haven't known that long or that well - who has made such a generous and selfless gesture. I am so touched that people have such a big place in their hearts for an animal who has made such a difference in my life. I think of each of these people every morning, when his rumbling nicker reverberates around the barn at feeding time. I am touched and blessed to have each of them in my life, and hope to never take it for granted.
For starters, she was SUPER exuberant to get back to work. We started out with a few hack days, just to get her mind back into work-mode without pushing too hard. Then we had our first lesson on the flat at our farm with Kelsey. It was FANTASTIC. We spent a LOT of time at the walk, really pushing for her to completely relax the underside of her neck and start carrying herself from her topline. Once we got it though, she was a dream to ride. So soft and supple, and super relaxed. We are still working on getting a more consistent connection, because she does tend to bob her head around here and there, so that is a big goal in our flatwork in the near future.
A few days later we had our first jump lesson in about five weeks - oy vey. It was...er...rough, to say the least. April was extremely forward, and extremely excited to be jumping again, and I rode like an absolute idget. I let her get away with way too much in the warmup instead of really regulating her rhythm and tempo, and then it carried over into our work over fences. Poor Kelsey, she's so patient. I'm sure she wanted to pound me in the head with a brick when she kept having to tell me not to HOLD with my hands all the way to the fence. All the old habits of holding her too much were creeping back in, so Kelsey was really trying to get me to relax and let the mare jump up into my hand. It's a vicious cycle, because I tend to plant and hold with my hand when I feel the slightest bit insecure; which only makes April run harder and faster at a fence, so I try to hold more...you get the picture. It can spin into ugliness quickly. We made what progress we could that day, but sometimes it just isn't your day. When I finally let my hand relax and let her come up to me, we quit on a good note.
Then came another jump lesson last night - it's been a busy week of lessons because I wanted to squeeze in an extra one before Kelsey leaves for Europe for two weeks. It was dramatically different from the last ride. I had really worked on my homework, and focused on keeping a super soft hand. Each lesson I have really walked away and reflected on every piece of advice, no matter how big or small, and tried to implement it into the next ride so I don't forget anything. From the very first fence last night, Kelsey commented on what a dramatic difference I had made with my hands. It really showed up in our work too - April was much more relaxed and jumped so much better. She will still come off of the bigger fences fairly hard, but it's not like she's running away with me - it's more excitement than anything. And the less I hold, the less she tends to "run" after the fence. Every little piece keeps coming together little by little, and I know we will get there soon enough!!
The most exciting part of last night - we schooled 3'3"!!!! It was super exciting to know that I was jumping that kind of height with SO much more organization than the last time we hopped it, just for fun. I think that was shortly after I had gotten April, and we definitely weren't ready for it - it was just a little playing around. But to know that we have worked our way up to that in a lesson is exhilarating, and I feel like we are making a little bit of progress! Not only was the fence 3'3", it was the "out" fence in a one stride grid, with a pretty tight stride in between. April jumped it BIG too, but I didn't feel the slightest bit intimidated. I cannot BELIEVE how much fear has vanished in my over fences work.
Samson is doing well, and there isn't much in the way of updates. I started a Samson fund, and the second I put it together the brakes in my car went out. ***Sigh*** I got a phone call from a sweet friend who suggested putting together some kind of donation page, but I told her I really feel strange about that kind of thing. After the phone call, she texted me for my address so she could send me a little bit to help out. She is the second person - who I really haven't known that long or that well - who has made such a generous and selfless gesture. I am so touched that people have such a big place in their hearts for an animal who has made such a difference in my life. I think of each of these people every morning, when his rumbling nicker reverberates around the barn at feeding time. I am touched and blessed to have each of them in my life, and hope to never take it for granted.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Samson - The Popular Pony!
Well, it would appear there is quite a bit of interest in Samson the wonder pony! I happened to stumble over to my blog stats, and the post about his condition has already received 68 hits! It turns out that his case is interesting to more than just myself!
There isn't much in the way of updates to report. I did receive an incredibly touching phone call the day after I posted about him, from a woman who knows him from a former barn. This amazing person is rallying together a tack sale to help raise funds, which will be donated directly to Samson. I had tears rolling down my cheeks at the amazing generousity of someone I really don't even know that well - but wants to assist my big red horse, who managed to touch her life at one point as well. It is times like these that I am overwhelmed with the goodness of people. There are many days where we are hounded with how much bad there is in the world we live in, but on days like this, I am assured that much good still remains.
I am posting two photos that we snapped at the barn yesterday. We walked into the barn on the way to start a fencing project, and I immediately noticed the usual head sticking out of the first stall on the left. I crept up and found him curled up in his stall having a midday snooze. As I curled up beside him, I started scratching his face, and he made the most endearing little groaning noises...I don't think I have ever heard a comparable sound come out of another horse. I have heard quite a few ponies make their usual grunts and relaxed groans, but this was priceless - it sounded like a horse's version of a cat purring. I will never in my life forget that moment, him burying his head in my lap to get the deepest scratch possible, all the while groaning in pure relaxation. Pony heaven, I'm sure.
Here's to you, Samson. We are going to "fix" you to the best of our ability. I will do everything in my power to get every penny together and take a little gamble that just might work. I don't even care if I never get to streak around a foxhunt with you. I will be content to have you curl your head up in my lap, and just be the biggest pet I've ever owned.
There isn't much in the way of updates to report. I did receive an incredibly touching phone call the day after I posted about him, from a woman who knows him from a former barn. This amazing person is rallying together a tack sale to help raise funds, which will be donated directly to Samson. I had tears rolling down my cheeks at the amazing generousity of someone I really don't even know that well - but wants to assist my big red horse, who managed to touch her life at one point as well. It is times like these that I am overwhelmed with the goodness of people. There are many days where we are hounded with how much bad there is in the world we live in, but on days like this, I am assured that much good still remains.
I am posting two photos that we snapped at the barn yesterday. We walked into the barn on the way to start a fencing project, and I immediately noticed the usual head sticking out of the first stall on the left. I crept up and found him curled up in his stall having a midday snooze. As I curled up beside him, I started scratching his face, and he made the most endearing little groaning noises...I don't think I have ever heard a comparable sound come out of another horse. I have heard quite a few ponies make their usual grunts and relaxed groans, but this was priceless - it sounded like a horse's version of a cat purring. I will never in my life forget that moment, him burying his head in my lap to get the deepest scratch possible, all the while groaning in pure relaxation. Pony heaven, I'm sure.
Here's to you, Samson. We are going to "fix" you to the best of our ability. I will do everything in my power to get every penny together and take a little gamble that just might work. I don't even care if I never get to streak around a foxhunt with you. I will be content to have you curl your head up in my lap, and just be the biggest pet I've ever owned.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Adventures in Congenital Bipartite Navicular Syndrome
Poor Samson. He is rarely featured in my blog, since he is semi-retired and semi-useless. I don't know that I have ever really told his story, but since it has been heating up with new developments, I will give a little background.
I bought Samson in the summer of 2010 to be my confidence booster. I stumbled across him on Craigslist, went to see him, and fell in love with his placid, easygoing nature. Little did I know, purchasing would be the biggest "adventure" (oh, how I use that term loosely....) of my life.
I am fortunate to have a really cool, generous vet, who let me sit in on pretty much the entire procedure. To make a long story short, we then progressed through the following 8 weeks of recovery pretty uneventfully. Since recovering, he has remained sound and comfortable to be my flatwork and hacking companion. I had dreams of maybe making him a foxhunter, since he is a blast out in the open, and that was my motivation to go ahead and pull a second set of radiographs to see how his wonky navicular bones were looking a year or so down the road.
Boy, did we have a bit of a surprise waiting. We pulled x-rays of the right foot first, and when Smokey laid the current shot next to the identical shot from 2010, it was astounding - it looked remarkably better. I was nearly jumping up and down, thinking at the moment that his body was actually trying to heal itself, to the best extent possible, and that we may have a shot at a decent career after all.
I bought Samson in the summer of 2010 to be my confidence booster. I stumbled across him on Craigslist, went to see him, and fell in love with his placid, easygoing nature. Little did I know, purchasing would be the biggest "adventure" (oh, how I use that term loosely....) of my life.
A month or two after putting him into a normal workload, he started showing signs of intermittant and even shifting lameness. After trying stall rest, extended turnout, time off, slow rehab, and everything else at our resources, we called in the vet.
The local country vet watched him go, did the first nerve block, and his lameness shifted to the unblocked foot. We were immediately handed a diagnosis of navicular, a prescription for isoxuprine, and recommendations for shoeing. I was distraught. From there, we took him to a local clinic where we had a second full scale lameness work up. Similar findings after nerve blocks - both pointed to navicular - so we progressed to radiographs. The first x-ray was baffling. Now, being that this was my first time even SEEING an x-ray of the equine foot, I had no clue what they were looking at. But I quickly figured out how bizarre it was, when the vet kept on snapping multiple angles at no cost, just because he had never seen anything like it. The first foot looked like it had fractures. Then came the second foot, and it looked similar. Smokey didn't know how it was even possible that a horse would fracture BOTH navicular bones, and have little more clinical symptoms other than being a "hair" off.
So, off went the rads, to NC State and Tennessee. A few days later, the diagnosis rolled in - "congenital bipartite navicular syndrome". Prognosis - denerving would be the best option to keep him sound and functional.
My trainer at the time was trying to reassure me that she had known of many fully functional hunters that were nerved and still in work. In the beginning, I think I really tried to believe that one day it would be possible for Samson as well. But it didn't take long to decide that I had a pretty strong opposition to put any more concussion on a defective bone than reasonably necessary. So then came the palmar digital neurectomy, or "nerving", in the fall of 2010. ****BEWARE****If you are squeamish in any way, don't play the clip - it is of a surgical procedure
I am fortunate to have a really cool, generous vet, who let me sit in on pretty much the entire procedure. To make a long story short, we then progressed through the following 8 weeks of recovery pretty uneventfully. Since recovering, he has remained sound and comfortable to be my flatwork and hacking companion. I had dreams of maybe making him a foxhunter, since he is a blast out in the open, and that was my motivation to go ahead and pull a second set of radiographs to see how his wonky navicular bones were looking a year or so down the road.
Boy, did we have a bit of a surprise waiting. We pulled x-rays of the right foot first, and when Smokey laid the current shot next to the identical shot from 2010, it was astounding - it looked remarkably better. I was nearly jumping up and down, thinking at the moment that his body was actually trying to heal itself, to the best extent possible, and that we may have a shot at a decent career after all.
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| 2010 Right Navicular DP |
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| 2012 Right Navicular DP |
Then came the left foot....
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2010 Left Navicular DP
|
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2012 Left Navicular DP
|
When examined side by side, it is progressively worse. Noticeable even to me, the idiot when it comes to knowing anything about x-rays. So here we are with a horse that is better in one foot, and worse in the other. The new rads were sent back to the same clinics for second opinions, but they didn't have much to offer in the way of explanation or advice on how to proceed.
It left me unsettled, and I started asking around. I showed the rads to a new farrier we have been trying out, and he was flummoxed as well. They looked like a fracture to him as well. He had not even heard of "bipartite", and he was the one who initially suggested I send them off to Dr. Hamilton down at Southern Pines Equine.
Two days after emailing them, I got an email response that Dr. Hamilton wanted to set up a phone conference. I didn't know whether to be excited or pessimistic, because it obviously wasn't going to be a short answer. So the phone call commenced at 4 pm yesterday.
The first thing he said to me is that my horse is "shocking." Followed by a long pause. He then walked through several of the x-rays, giving his notes on the changes that had taken place from 2010 to 2012. He expressed that he wished both feet looked like the right, because we would be on the right path. Unfortunately the left foot has him pretty concerned. The primary concern is the amount of shifting that has taken place in the smaller section of the navicular bone. He was overly pessimistic about the area obviously not having much stability, and about the long-term effects on soundness should the bone continue to shift. The main concern would more than likely be the deep flexor tendon, which encapsulates the back of the navicular bone. Basically, to make a long story short, although we nerved him to keep him sound, if this bone continues to move around it will cause damage to the surrounding areas, which will only cause the lameness to show up somewhere higher in the leg. He will more than like be unsound again. When, it is hard to say, since my horse is "one in a million", and there isn't much in the way of comparable case studies to base it off of. If you so much as google "bipartite navicular" in equines, you may get a couple pages with the brief mention of it, and that's about it. It is so rare there really isn't anything to base the next step on.
So, after walking me through so many deep explanations of the anatomy of the navicular bone, as well as the surrounding structures that could be affected, my head was already spinning. Then he stopped abruptly, and said, "so what the heck do we DO about it?"
The first recommendation was a "drug" that is now being used in the states that has apparently been in use in Europe for years. I instantly asked if he was talking about Tildren, and sure enough, he was. I had heard of it being used in "navicular" cases, but knew little about the way it works. Tildren is a biphosphonate drug that inhibits bone resorption. In a normal horse, the composition of osteoclasts (which digest bone) and osteoblasts (which create bone) should be fairly balanced. In Samson's case, they are more than likely out of balance, when you look at the amount of bone resorption that has taken place in the last eighteen months. What Tildren does is stimulate the osteoblasts, which also regulating the osteoclasts, which ultimately help the body to lay down newer or denser bone.
So logically, after this is explained in more detail, it would make sense to want to encourage him to lay down additional bone to try to stabilize the shifting bone in the left foot, so that it will ideally attempt to "heal" itself in the same manner that the right foot has already done.
He also threw out shockwave, and explained why - that was news to me, since I thought shockwave was only used for tendons, ligaments, etc. It apparently can be advantageous to try in the navicular area, since it is a part of the foot that naturally has poor blood supply, and since shockwave increases neovascularization (blood supply), it could only benefit the area. But at the end of the day, the top recommendation is to try the Tildren.
He is fascinated with my congenital freak patient (as are most that come across him...) and would really be interested to see how he is affected by the Tildren, so he offered to make it as reasonable as his own costs would allow. Sadly, the quote rolled in today, and even with the fat trimmed, we are looking at a minimum of another $1,000.
So. That is where we sit. And, once again, the Tildren treatment will be more or less a gamble, since there aren't really any studies of this particular nature to compare it to. There have been a lot of successes in treating navicular syndrome with it, but that tends to have more to do with the drug affecting lesions and demineralized areas that tend to affect a "typical" navicular case. Will it help the bipartite? No one knows. It's a gamble. But it's a gamble that would possibly save him from going lame again in the future - however near or far that future may be.
Needless to say, it's been a rough 24 hours. I don't know what to do. I don't HAVE another $1,000 to put into this horse. At this point I just want to keep him sound and comfortable as long as I can, and I have already invested quite a bit into that.
It was reasurring to hear Dr Hamilton commend me on even pursuing options though. He said that there are so many people who would just throw this horse away, and I know that it is sadly true. Not with me though. I love that big silly guy, to pieces. I don't know what I would do without his nuzzles or his constant antics. But that is where we stand...pretty much at a loss. I will keep you posted on where things progress, but at the moment, I don't know where we will be headed.
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