Got in to the vet today

Hank was still a tad off this morning, and we managed to get an appointment with the vet this afternoon. I wanted to get him in while he was still showing signs of being sore, so I could hopefully FIND the issue. If I had waited, and he got better on his own, I'd have not know what the issue was, and then worry it would be something that would come back again because I had not actually treated it, and hopefully healed it the first time.  Some lameness issues are things that will heal, and not reoccur, but others, especially soft tissue issues can look better, then get re-stressed.

This is the facility that did Hanks colic surgery, and they had not seen him in awhile. They fussed over him as I told them about the events at the ride this weekend, and what I thought was going on.  Then they had one of their techs trot him out, as the vets and intern vets new to the practice watched. Used hoof testers on his feet, which showed no reaction. But, he is fairly stoic, and does not always react quick to things like that, even if painful or uncomfortable. They injected the leg to do a never block on the hoof, then trotted again,a nd he was better. But then we saw a little something on the other front leg, and after palpating, found the tendon area was tender. Best guess is, the shoe torqued, the nail slipped out some, then back in, but most likely not in the hole, and hit an area to cause discomfort.  That discomfort caused him to shift more weight on to the other front leg, stressing it a bit. And maybe that is why I was not feeling him "off" on the ride, but just more of an unbalanced feel when we trotted. Both fronts had a bit of pain.

So, we have some stuff to pack and wrap his foot in for the next few days to a week. This vet does not like Epsom Salt soaks for hoof issues. He feels they dry the feet out, and stopped using them. Found that interesting. I also have some stuff I used last year to wrap his legs with when he was doing so many rides and travel, that is very popular with the race horses, and last, and anti inflammatory oral med for a couple weeks. He felt I should be back on the trail in a week or so.

I'm glad I went today, as I would have probably missed the slight issue on the tendon.

I always tell people that the entry fee for a ride like Tevis is the cheap part. Travel etc. is expensive, and when you are trying to compete at higher levels, the care and maintenance issues the horse needs goes up.  Talk to those who compete a lot, and things like Adquan and Legend shots, different types of therapy, chiropractor work, swimming the horses between riding, different feeds etc. add up quick.  It has been interesting to talk to people who compete heavy and see what they do to keep their horses in what they feel is top form. Me? I head to the vet quicker than I used to. lol  But that is what probably save his life when he had the colic issues too.

Now to see if I remember to update after his is back to work again.