Riding at Margaret's

Barry and I got up this morning and went and loaded up the boys.  I brushed Red and cleaned his feet.  I loaded him up and he hopped right up in the trailer and so did Sarge.  We ate at Subway in Buna.  We got up to Margaret's and Ronnie shewed Red.  He fussed about the lack of hoof wall so now Ronnie will be doing Red's feet.  I have tried all kinds of farriers but Ronnie says his feet are too soft.  I have only oiled them twice and that was this week because they were SO dry. 

We saddled up and rode out.  Red was a little spunky but he listened.  Cub gave Margaret a little flack going over a puddle and she corrected him swiftly.  Red went through everything I asked and I had to check him several times.  He was eager to go. 

He was a little sweaty when we got back but no much.  I wish I had had my camera - it was a gorgeous day.   I brushed Butterbean - he has rainrot and his hair is thick and full and fuzzy as all get out.  The little foal was full of sass and they turned her and her mother out for the first time and she kick and bucked and tore up the ground.  Carol was kicking running and bucking too.  I went to see Benjamin and he is gorgeous and has really grown. 

Barry and I are going to try to go to Ebenezer next weekend and ride.  I am going to leave Red with Margaret next week while I am gone to Houston.  She is going to put a little training on him for my birthday!  Woo Hooo!!!

We got some hay for the boys and headed home.  Red went back out into the pasture and I hope he is ok. 

Red smells bad!

I went out to the barn and Red was sweating under his blanket - poor guy.  I sprayed him with Show Sheen and used Cowboy Magic in his mane but he smelled bad!  His hooves (except the one in the wrap!) are dry and yukky looking.  I am going to have to hydrate them.  He was shedding pretty bad too.  He looks great though...he has put on weight while up in his stall and I am tickled about that.

New Boots!!!

Barry bought me a pair of boots for my birthday today!  Woo Hooo!!!!  They are so pretty - I love them.  I want to wear them just on trail rides when it is dry!  LOL  They are too pretty to get mucked up!!

No shoeing today

I was supposed to have Red shod and Sarge trimmed today but it was raining.  I spoke with the farrier and we moved it to Friday of next week at 10:00 AM.  I went out to the barn late this afternoon in time to see Red in the arena kick at the gelding on the other side of the little arena!  What a pill.  He always acts like an angel when I am there and he looked kind of surprised like "oh...she caught me!"

I got his food - Edgar put his joint supplement in and Jaimie added in the hoof supplement.  I got a fat flake of alfalfa and put them in his stall.  It was raining by then and the ground was nasty and I got my shoes filthy.  I went and got Red and put him up.  Bless his heart...he is so sweet.

He is ok!

I got out to the barn today and was going to ride.  I wore my black long sleeve tee shirt, my green mock suede, and my blue jean jacket.  It was COLD out at the barn.  I should have wore my pink and brown jacket.  It is warm.  I changed my mind about riding.

I put Red in the cold washrack and he was persnickety about me picking up his feet.  He was cattycornered in the corner and I think he wasn't balanced.  He got his antibiotic doseage.   I took his tape boot off and there was a little moist place over the abscess area.  I put ichthammol and the diaper and tape boot on and took him in the front and trotted up and down on the asphalt.  I can't see any soreness or tenderness.

I took him in to the arena and lunged him, trotting in both directions.  He did great...not bobbing, stumbling or anything to indicate tenderness or pain.  Into his stall he went with his alfalfa and grain. 

I have arranged to have his feet down tomorrow in Kountz.  Barry and I will haul Sarge and Red up there to David's friend's house and get them done. 

I talked to Margaret and we are going to try to ride Sunday and work on roses.  Margaret and I had lunch today...she was so excited as she sold a wedding cake at her consult this morning!

Red is BETTER!!!!

I went out to Doc's today and got more Bute.  I discussed Red with Melanie.  She said to trot him out over concrete and if he is still limping to call at 7:00 in the morning.

I went to the barn and got Red out.  I walked him through the storage barn and he was just fine.  Took his boot off and there was a little tiny bit of yuk on the spot where the abscess should be.  I had Sergio trot him down the barn and back.  I can't see limping.  Ms. Jean drove up and stopped to talk about Red, she looked at his hoof and I trotted him out down the asphalt for her and back.  She didn't see limping or head bobbing.  Later Lee Anne P.  comes by and says Red is jumping, bucking, tearing it up in the arena.  I trot him out for her.  She says not limping, head bobbing.  Slight hitch caused by one shoe she thinks.

I soaked him again and Ichthammoled his foot and wrapped up.  I will keep that up for a few days.  I think I need to keep Red up in the barn.  He is high maintenance but I will have to suck it up.  I want him well...I want him sound.  If that means keeping him up so be it.  Barry said NO.  I will just have to make more cakes.

Treating an Abscess on a Horse

There are different ways of treating an abscess I have found.  I am taking the "slower pain free way" for my horse.

He has been examined twice by his vet.  He tested Red's hooves with a callipher looking instrument.  Red flinched hard when he hit the painful spot.  The Vet said to treat Red with:

Bute....2 grams a day
antibiotics...10 pills AM and PM dissolved in warm water and given orally
Foot soaked in Epsom Salts and very warm water for 15 minutes
Ichthammol pressed into the area where the abscess seems to be and on the bulb of his heel to try to draw out the infection. 
A diaper (size approximately for a 25 lb baby)

Make a duct tape bandage...be sure and use good duct tape like Duck or some from Sherwin Williams.  The dollar store type is too flimsy! (I found this out. 

To make the bandage lay out strips of duct tape, overlapping to stick them together.  Make it about 14"  or so by 12" or 14".  Turn and lay strips the other way and then again the opposite way to make a strong bond. 

Have a towel handy and take the hoof out of the hot water after 15 minutes and dry well with a towel.  Use gloves or wooden Popsicle stick to place a glob of Icthammol on the area where the abscess seems to be and on the back of the bulb of the heel.  Place diaper on the hoof and tape with the fasteners.  Take the tape bandage and place foot squarely in the middle and set the foot down flat on the floor.  Pull the front up and press down, fold the sides in and the back up pressing to mold to the foot.  Take tape and start at the bottom and wrap around the foot pulling snug but not too tight, going up to the top of the tape. 

Administer the Bute and the antibiotics.  If possible, put horse in a stall with turn out - try to keep from deep muddy conditions.  Pass out hugs and alfalfa. 

Hopefully in two to three weeks the abscess should pass out the bottom of the hoof or possibly the bulb or coronary band.  Once it has come to a head the horse should improve immediately. 

All of my horse's treatment has been under the supervision of his veterinarian. 

Red was in the Arena

I bought Red and Sarge 2 bales of alfalfa and a non slip pad for Red's saddle!  It was only $13 and has holes in it to breath.  It is for a racing saddle so it will fit my Aussie Saddle just fine. 

I went out to the barn and Red was in the arena with his blanket on.  It needs to be washed.  I took him into the wash barn and had a hard time getting his tape boot off.  That duct tape from Sherwin Williams was TOUGH!!!  I checked his hoof and it was slightly moist where the abscess is but not leaking.  I soaked it in very warm water.  I made the tape boot and put it on him.  It was blowing and starting to rain.  UGH.  We have had such cranky weather.  I gave Red his antibiotics and lead him to his stall - not Sadda's though.  He went into the second stall - it had his bahaia hay and grain in it.  I put Red in his stall and then got him a big fat flake of alfalfa. 

I will go get him Bute tomorrow.  He is out.

Called Billy Cook's about Red's Saddle

I talked to Jody today.  He said the tree's had just came in.  Ok...I was told this on January 7th and it is February 22.  Hummm...he reiterated they are making me a new saddle and that is great.  I did say I had to go out of town and wanted to make sure I was home when it arrived.  Maybe I will be it before the end of March but I am not holding my breath.

He still had his boot on!!!

Red still had his boot on when I got there!  The criss cross helped.  I was out of Epson salt but I soaked his foot in hot water.  It took awhile to get his boot off but his abscess has still not broken out.  I am out of Bute, and Epsom Salts.  I soaked his foot, made a tough bandage and wrapped him up.  I gave him his anti inflammitory and some alfalfa. 

I will call the Doc tomorrow and ask if I can pick up more Bute and get more Epsom Salt tonight when I got to the phamacy.  I am hoping to be able to ride this weekend...sigh...may just be wishful thinking.

Trying to keep that boot on!

Got to the barn and Red's boot was GONE...just some duct tape around his ankle.  I took him in to the main barn and put his foot into a bucket of water.  I made a 5 layer boot - going side to side and then in an X shape to make it stronger.  Still hasn't busted out as far as I can see - so I am hoping it happens this week and he gets better soon.  He is walking pretty darn good so I know the anti-inflammatories are working.  He was a good boy, standing like a total little doll while his foot soaked. 

I rode Sarge today!

I went out to the barn today - Barry was already there riding Sarge in the arena.  I went to visit my boy and his "shoe" was already off the bottom as I took it off.  I gave him alfalfa which he always likes.  I was out of duct tape so I had to run to the Dollar Store to get duct tape and a few towels for Barry to dry Sarge.  I went back to the Barry and filmed Barry riding Mr. Sassy Stuff.

I rode Sarge in the little arena...he is full of himself and a total show off - but I wasn't nervous.  I still can ride correctly but I am not the rider I used to be.  Working on it.  I went around several times - trotted him, etc.  Working on it Working on it!!!

I went into the barn and made Red his tape boot - Ray Langley called from Ebenezer and we chatted.  Kellie and I had texted and she said the horses were going nuts and 2 ladies had been thrown.  Some one had set up a obstacle course with bridges, jumps, hanging funnoodles that freaked the horses out.  Sigh...wish I could have been there.  It would have been fun - I don't think Red would have looked twice at it.  Ray confirmed that the horses were bananas and he was about to go out on the afternoon ride.  I am pea green with envy.

I soaked Red's hoof and dressed it.  Back into his paddock he went.  I will go out there tomorrow to treat him.  It still has not busted out and it has been two weeks. Sigh.......

Red was soaking up sunshine

I went to the barn at noon and Red was stretched out in his paddock - laying like an old lizzard sunning himself.  He got up when I came into the paddock.  I walked him out and over to the wash rack.  I gave him his medication and groomed him.  He was filthy.  I sprayed some Show Sheen on him - now he smells like a show horse that rolled in old cheese - better but still a little ripe.  I gave him his alfalfa and he was a happy camper.

I went back at 5:30 and he was steppin' out.  He seems to feel better.  I soaked his hoof.  His "boot" was all tore up....Doc's look WAY better than mine but mine hold up!!!  I put the ichthammol on and diapered/duct taped him up.  I put him back in his paddock and hugged his neck for the 10th time.

He is my sweetheart...and the best birthday present a girl could give herself!