Tuesday AM we left Los Angeles, and headed north up I-5 to Auburn Fairgrounds, where Tevis ends. Uneventful drive up, got the bys settled in their stalls, and went to the hotel and checked in. The In N Out Burger is right next door! Yum, a burger for lunch, and then we headed back to the fairgrounds, and took the boys for a ride out to Hwy 49 crossing and back. This includes going over No Hands bridge. The trail is in really good shape. Some of the best I have seen it in this section. A few small branches that will hit us in the face as we ride through in the dark before the sun rises Sunday AM. The horses were all jacked up when we headed out, and it was like riding a rocket. Hank remembered the trail, knew all the turns on the way OUT, not just back in. Have no worries about both horses knowing the way for the whole trail Saturday, as long as they do not have any odd changes since we last rode it.
Today we will do another ride out and back, at a slow, easy pace, and maybe some more organizing of the trailer for our camping Friday night. But right now, the hotel rom sure is nice!!!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
California...I remember this place!
For those who did not know, we escaped CA in 2000 to move to Texas. We arrived here after 3 days, 2 nights on the road. Stops at RV parks that offered corrals gave ther horses good nights rest, keeping them happier, and better hydrated by drinking well each night after long days in the trailer.
The weather over all on the trip was not bad. Today, we covered AZ and CA, where we did hit triple digits, but not as bad as it could have been.
Arrived at our friends horse mid afternoon, and got the trailer up the narrow, twisty driveway, and the horses settled in to corrals. We are in a studio apartment, watching the news, and laughing at folks on the news complaining about the HOT weather, that reached ab out 90 here.
Tomorrow we make sure the trailer, crew bags etc. are organized, and rest up before we do the last 8 hour drive Tuesday up to the fairgrounds where the ride ends. The horses will have nice big stalls, and learn that is home. A couple easy rides from the fairgrounds out the trail and back a little ways, to remind them where they are. Both have finished the ride, so I am sure they will remember when they get towards the end, they are almost back to their cozy covered corrals with food waiting.
Now to try to continue to get up pre dawn for the days before the ride, so that super early wake up of about 3:30 to 4:00AM on ride day will come easier.
The weather over all on the trip was not bad. Today, we covered AZ and CA, where we did hit triple digits, but not as bad as it could have been.
Arrived at our friends horse mid afternoon, and got the trailer up the narrow, twisty driveway, and the horses settled in to corrals. We are in a studio apartment, watching the news, and laughing at folks on the news complaining about the HOT weather, that reached ab out 90 here.
Tomorrow we make sure the trailer, crew bags etc. are organized, and rest up before we do the last 8 hour drive Tuesday up to the fairgrounds where the ride ends. The horses will have nice big stalls, and learn that is home. A couple easy rides from the fairgrounds out the trail and back a little ways, to remind them where they are. Both have finished the ride, so I am sure they will remember when they get towards the end, they are almost back to their cozy covered corrals with food waiting.
Now to try to continue to get up pre dawn for the days before the ride, so that super early wake up of about 3:30 to 4:00AM on ride day will come easier.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
California bound
I guess I am as ready as I can be for our adventure out to California for Tevis. Last couple days were spent checking my packing list over and over, and taking the things I think I will need, or MIGHT need over to Dollys house, and loaded in to her rig. I have duffel bags everywhere. I took masking tape, and lables all of them with what they were. Clothes, crew bag, horse feed. I'm actually pretty proud of myself to take all my things I kept in the horse trailer, and narrow it down into a handful of bags. Now I hope that I can find what ever I need, when I need it.
We went over today to the trailer, and my hubby practiced making some turns in the pasture, backing it up, and getting a basic feel for how it handled. He will be the one driving it from camp at Tevis, back down the mountain as we ride off into the darkness at the start of the ride in just 8 days. The trailer is a 3 horse with living quaters, mid tack, and MUCH longer and handles different than our 4 horse bumper pull. But he was comfortable with it, and should do fine.
Hank is locked in our small 2 acre field with Flag and Gambler for company tonight. He got a bath, and all the salt and sweat scrubbed off real good for the recent heat and humidity. In the wee hours of the morning, I will gather him from the field, wrap his legs with standing bandages for the trip, and take him over to Dollys horse. Off load from one horse trailer to the other, and start heading west. Our first over night should be Tucumcari NM, where I have stayed in the past at an RV park with corrals. Going to be a hot trip, and will try to hit the road eary each day to beat some of the heat. We should be in So. CA on Sunday.
We will visit with my friend who I used to work for, and have not seen since Feb. when she came to see me get Hanks awards. She has finished Tevis 20 times, her husband 11 times , and her daughter 10 times. When she gives me advice on the ride, I listen. Then head up Tuesday before the ride, and the horses will stay at the farigrounds, with it becoming their home. A couple easy rides out on the trail a bit, and back to the stable will remind them when they get to that section of the trail during the ride, they are slmost to their stall which is bedded, and waiting.
So, time for some sleep, then early wake up, and out 420 mile travel day.
We went over today to the trailer, and my hubby practiced making some turns in the pasture, backing it up, and getting a basic feel for how it handled. He will be the one driving it from camp at Tevis, back down the mountain as we ride off into the darkness at the start of the ride in just 8 days. The trailer is a 3 horse with living quaters, mid tack, and MUCH longer and handles different than our 4 horse bumper pull. But he was comfortable with it, and should do fine.
Hank is locked in our small 2 acre field with Flag and Gambler for company tonight. He got a bath, and all the salt and sweat scrubbed off real good for the recent heat and humidity. In the wee hours of the morning, I will gather him from the field, wrap his legs with standing bandages for the trip, and take him over to Dollys horse. Off load from one horse trailer to the other, and start heading west. Our first over night should be Tucumcari NM, where I have stayed in the past at an RV park with corrals. Going to be a hot trip, and will try to hit the road eary each day to beat some of the heat. We should be in So. CA on Sunday.
We will visit with my friend who I used to work for, and have not seen since Feb. when she came to see me get Hanks awards. She has finished Tevis 20 times, her husband 11 times , and her daughter 10 times. When she gives me advice on the ride, I listen. Then head up Tuesday before the ride, and the horses will stay at the farigrounds, with it becoming their home. A couple easy rides out on the trail a bit, and back to the stable will remind them when they get to that section of the trail during the ride, they are slmost to their stall which is bedded, and waiting.
So, time for some sleep, then early wake up, and out 420 mile travel day.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Packing, sorting, prepping
Coming down the home stretch for getting ready for our trip to CA for Tevis. The past few days we have had some more unusual Texas weather. If 12" of snow in just one of our storms during our winter was not enough, we then had summer arrive early, with heat, and no rain. We watched the fields that had been green from the wet spring, start to crunch. Heat training for Tevis came easy, as any ride involved heat and humidity. But since July arrived, we have been having above average rain fall. In the past couple days alone, we have had about 3". Thankfully, we are not really needing to ride the horses, just let them eat, rest up, and do their thing out in pasture. That is in the pasture that has mud!
We plan on leaving at the end of next week, taking 3 days to get to So. CA for an over night at a friends, before heading up to Auburn, and the fairgrounds that is the end of the ride. Staying there, and doing some easy rides out from the finish line, a ways, and then back in will stretch the horses legs, and remind them where they are. Since both Chance, and Hank have finished the ride, I'm pretty sure they will remember that they are heading "home" to their stalls at the fairgrounds, especially when they reach the part past the last vet check at the Lower Quarry. We don't go up to the ride camp until Friday, as it is dusty and dirty, and not as wonderful and pleasant as it would be without 100's of other rigs.
But before all of that, we have the final packing to do. I have duffel bags for different items. One for grooming etc., one for tack, bridles and such. One for the leg wraps used for traveling and post ride. A nice tough plastic ice chest for medications and anything that could leak. Then we have the crew bags. A duffel for the horse stuff, and one for my stuff that will go into the two vet checks with holds. We have a nice little wagon that holds a zippered hay bale bag perfectly., In that bale bag, we will place all the things to go in to the vet checks, including feed. I am making a huge effort to have them all prepped and ready before we even leave for CA. In the past, I have spent the day before the ride, even going in to the night before, finishing up getting the crew bags and saddle packs ready. But this year will be different. After the rider meeting, I plan on going to the trailer, kissing Hank good night on the nose, and going to bed! Hopefully that plan will work out. Hard enough to sleep the night before, so giving myself the chance to do so for as many hours as possible might get me a little bit of rest.
What is still to be done is the food shopping for the trip. We have made lists of the things we think we will consider eating on the ride. Many items we both like, but there are a few that we won't have a problem with each other eating the others "favorite". I usually can eat well during the ride, while Dolly says she some times has trouble eating. Keeping hydrated AND food in our system will keep us feeling good, thinking straight, and able to take better care of the horses. It was kind of drilled in to me that there is not a reason for the rider to pull from Tevis because they feel crappy unless they are about to die. if the horse is strong and sound, you better crawl back up there, and keep going. Hopefully I will never have to face that and feel that bad to want to pull because of MY issues. I have always been able to push past any aches and pains. Of course, a pain pill doesn't hurt. ;-)
Have a new blog camera on its way, so I hope to be back to adding photos again soon. I wore my little camera out last year!
We plan on leaving at the end of next week, taking 3 days to get to So. CA for an over night at a friends, before heading up to Auburn, and the fairgrounds that is the end of the ride. Staying there, and doing some easy rides out from the finish line, a ways, and then back in will stretch the horses legs, and remind them where they are. Since both Chance, and Hank have finished the ride, I'm pretty sure they will remember that they are heading "home" to their stalls at the fairgrounds, especially when they reach the part past the last vet check at the Lower Quarry. We don't go up to the ride camp until Friday, as it is dusty and dirty, and not as wonderful and pleasant as it would be without 100's of other rigs.
But before all of that, we have the final packing to do. I have duffel bags for different items. One for grooming etc., one for tack, bridles and such. One for the leg wraps used for traveling and post ride. A nice tough plastic ice chest for medications and anything that could leak. Then we have the crew bags. A duffel for the horse stuff, and one for my stuff that will go into the two vet checks with holds. We have a nice little wagon that holds a zippered hay bale bag perfectly., In that bale bag, we will place all the things to go in to the vet checks, including feed. I am making a huge effort to have them all prepped and ready before we even leave for CA. In the past, I have spent the day before the ride, even going in to the night before, finishing up getting the crew bags and saddle packs ready. But this year will be different. After the rider meeting, I plan on going to the trailer, kissing Hank good night on the nose, and going to bed! Hopefully that plan will work out. Hard enough to sleep the night before, so giving myself the chance to do so for as many hours as possible might get me a little bit of rest.
What is still to be done is the food shopping for the trip. We have made lists of the things we think we will consider eating on the ride. Many items we both like, but there are a few that we won't have a problem with each other eating the others "favorite". I usually can eat well during the ride, while Dolly says she some times has trouble eating. Keeping hydrated AND food in our system will keep us feeling good, thinking straight, and able to take better care of the horses. It was kind of drilled in to me that there is not a reason for the rider to pull from Tevis because they feel crappy unless they are about to die. if the horse is strong and sound, you better crawl back up there, and keep going. Hopefully I will never have to face that and feel that bad to want to pull because of MY issues. I have always been able to push past any aches and pains. Of course, a pain pill doesn't hurt. ;-)
Have a new blog camera on its way, so I hope to be back to adding photos again soon. I wore my little camera out last year!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Three Weeks from now.....
In the past month, we have been doing our final conditioning and prep for Tevis. After the lameness pull at the endurance ride, I had my confidence broken for awhile about Hank being ready. You need to feel the horse is 110% before you head to the ride. A couple trips to the vet, just to have things checked out, and I am feeling good about how Hank is doing. He looks good, is moving sound and balanced, and has a good attitude. But, those little Tevis Gremlins have not moved on to someone else completely. The trailer issue (see below) was not the end of their mischief.
Hank tied to our super little borrowed trailer that is keeping us on the trail
On a training ride in June, I got home, to find Hank had chaffed himself in all his wrinkles near his elbow / arm pit area in front of the girth. I usually spray a bit of Show Sheen on him there, to have things move clean and smooth. But, I forgot, and he was a tad dirty, and the result was hair loss, irritation, and a couple small sores. So I have been slathering on medication to heal the area, and put Bickmores Gall Salve on for training rides. In general, I'd just put a horse out for rest for awhile, but he needs to keep conditioning. Bickmores is amazing stuff, that you can use under tack if needed, and it keeps healing. So now, we are finally going through the stage where the hair is growing in, and he has flakes like a peeling sunburn within all his wrinkles. The girth I use cuts back, and clears the area, but it is his own skin that did this. He is like an elephant, and could use a Nip and Tuck to tighten the skin!
We went down to the ranch that we had our endurance ride over Memorial Day, and helped out at a NATRC clinic. Riding 16 miles with my clinic group, then going back out mid day, during the heat, and doing another 12 miles at a quicker speed. I figured that riding those trails again, with hills, rocks etc. would really show me if he was ready to go. After the almost 30 miles, I was kind of scared to lunge him, for fear I'd see a gait inconsistency. Some of them have been real, and then some things I have seen in his gait I think have just been my mind worried something was wrong, although it wasn't. I have a tendency to think my horse looks off, where many don't see things, and feel their horse looks fine when it isn't. The Tevis entry sent in causes many of us to think something is wrong, when it isn't. We over analyze ever step, head toss and fart the horse does. The lunge line hangs nearby, as we go out and lunge the horse every day to see if they look fine. We watch them walk across the field, looking at foot fall, to see if they are even on both sides.
So lunging him after the 30 miles was something I feared. But he looked great, as did Dollys horse. Next day, when he was at home, trotting across the pasture, I felt he had not looked better. Moving freely, even gait.
With the ride just over 20 days away, I am backing off a tiny bit. I see many riders push and push their horses before Tevis, going to lots and lots of 50's, even doing them just a few weeks ahead of the ride. Often by the time they get to the ride, they have used their horse up, and the horse is tired, or comes up with lameness issues. Rest is good. I'd have liked to have gotten to a couple more 50's earlier in the year, but it just did not happen. I'm feeling the most confident about him being ready now, than I have all year, but know that as soon as you send in that entry, you have a 50/50 chance of finishing. You can do all your homework, condition, prep, and do everything right, and have something happen to get you pulled. And if you are pulled, you and your horse are in the company of some of the best horses and riders in the world who have been pulled on that trail. No one is safe, anyone can be pulled. But I feel that the attitude is so much of giving yourself the best shot of getting that buckle. You need to have the mind set you WILL finish the ride. If you start the ride feeling you think you will get pulled, it raises your chance of having that happen even more.
I know what it takes to finish, know how to pace the ride, and what to expect. I hope I can still stay as mentally sharp as I have in the past, to keep my mind straight, and be concentrating on the timing, my horse, and how the day is going. Hank finished 5 years ago, on his first attempt. Then in 2006, he came in to Michigan Bluff (a tad over half way) feeling stronger than the year before. Walked up the the water, took a sip, backed away, and tried to go down with a case of colic. No sighs leading up to it that day, that told me he was not 100%. Even his heart rate was not showing any signs of stress before that point. Dolly and chance rode on, and she finished on their first attempt. This years plan is for us to ride into the stadium together, along with our friend Sara from CA.
And now I better get back to packing, putting together crew bags, and figuring out just what I need to take. Being a control freak, it will be odd for me to go in someone else's rig. It will be good for me though. A few control issues I need to just let go of, and this is one. We will be traveling in a much more stylish and comfortable rig, thats for sure!
He is looking mighty fit and ready, but I still try to not say the "T" word in front of him.
On a training ride in June, I got home, to find Hank had chaffed himself in all his wrinkles near his elbow / arm pit area in front of the girth. I usually spray a bit of Show Sheen on him there, to have things move clean and smooth. But, I forgot, and he was a tad dirty, and the result was hair loss, irritation, and a couple small sores. So I have been slathering on medication to heal the area, and put Bickmores Gall Salve on for training rides. In general, I'd just put a horse out for rest for awhile, but he needs to keep conditioning. Bickmores is amazing stuff, that you can use under tack if needed, and it keeps healing. So now, we are finally going through the stage where the hair is growing in, and he has flakes like a peeling sunburn within all his wrinkles. The girth I use cuts back, and clears the area, but it is his own skin that did this. He is like an elephant, and could use a Nip and Tuck to tighten the skin!
We went down to the ranch that we had our endurance ride over Memorial Day, and helped out at a NATRC clinic. Riding 16 miles with my clinic group, then going back out mid day, during the heat, and doing another 12 miles at a quicker speed. I figured that riding those trails again, with hills, rocks etc. would really show me if he was ready to go. After the almost 30 miles, I was kind of scared to lunge him, for fear I'd see a gait inconsistency. Some of them have been real, and then some things I have seen in his gait I think have just been my mind worried something was wrong, although it wasn't. I have a tendency to think my horse looks off, where many don't see things, and feel their horse looks fine when it isn't. The Tevis entry sent in causes many of us to think something is wrong, when it isn't. We over analyze ever step, head toss and fart the horse does. The lunge line hangs nearby, as we go out and lunge the horse every day to see if they look fine. We watch them walk across the field, looking at foot fall, to see if they are even on both sides.
So lunging him after the 30 miles was something I feared. But he looked great, as did Dollys horse. Next day, when he was at home, trotting across the pasture, I felt he had not looked better. Moving freely, even gait.
With the ride just over 20 days away, I am backing off a tiny bit. I see many riders push and push their horses before Tevis, going to lots and lots of 50's, even doing them just a few weeks ahead of the ride. Often by the time they get to the ride, they have used their horse up, and the horse is tired, or comes up with lameness issues. Rest is good. I'd have liked to have gotten to a couple more 50's earlier in the year, but it just did not happen. I'm feeling the most confident about him being ready now, than I have all year, but know that as soon as you send in that entry, you have a 50/50 chance of finishing. You can do all your homework, condition, prep, and do everything right, and have something happen to get you pulled. And if you are pulled, you and your horse are in the company of some of the best horses and riders in the world who have been pulled on that trail. No one is safe, anyone can be pulled. But I feel that the attitude is so much of giving yourself the best shot of getting that buckle. You need to have the mind set you WILL finish the ride. If you start the ride feeling you think you will get pulled, it raises your chance of having that happen even more.
I know what it takes to finish, know how to pace the ride, and what to expect. I hope I can still stay as mentally sharp as I have in the past, to keep my mind straight, and be concentrating on the timing, my horse, and how the day is going. Hank finished 5 years ago, on his first attempt. Then in 2006, he came in to Michigan Bluff (a tad over half way) feeling stronger than the year before. Walked up the the water, took a sip, backed away, and tried to go down with a case of colic. No sighs leading up to it that day, that told me he was not 100%. Even his heart rate was not showing any signs of stress before that point. Dolly and chance rode on, and she finished on their first attempt. This years plan is for us to ride into the stadium together, along with our friend Sara from CA.
And now I better get back to packing, putting together crew bags, and figuring out just what I need to take. Being a control freak, it will be odd for me to go in someone else's rig. It will be good for me though. A few control issues I need to just let go of, and this is one. We will be traveling in a much more stylish and comfortable rig, thats for sure!
He is looking mighty fit and ready, but I still try to not say the "T" word in front of him.
Horse trailer major ouch
I have a couple blog posts to catch up on. The first is how I put my horse trailer in the hospital, and on life support. Still not sure if it will make it or not.
Getting ready for our big trip out to CA, it was time for a couple new tires. I had cleaned it out in the horse compartment, complete with a good blast from the garden hose. I was happy at how much easier it was to clean the corners since I had replaced the rubber mat on the wall behind the horses. Headed to the tire shop, and got the two tires I needed, and then headed home. When we moved here, our road was gravel almost the whole way to town. Slowly they have paved sections, but it is still a country road. At one spot, there is a large tin horn drain that goes under the road. The road narrows at that point, and the edges go from a nice shoulder, to a straight down drop off, or "hole" around 4' deep.
Chugging along, just 2 miles from the house, and I realize I am too close to the edge, I try to get the rig moved over to the left, but too late. My trailer drops into this hole on the right side. A big jolt, I glance in the rearview to see tires flying, and for a moment I think I have actually flipped the trailer. I come to a stop, and am pretty shook up, and scared to go look at the damage. I am thinking "Well, there went my two new tires". I go back, and could not see the condition of my tires, as they are gone.
Including the wheels, and axle arms. I have managed to snap the axles at the arms clean off the trailer, which is now sitting on its frame on its right side.
Called hubby, called US Rider to come tow it, and talk to a neighbor awhile who stopped to see if I needed help. He found my tires and wheels. One went in the brush to the right side of the road, the other went all the way over to the other side of the road. We retrieve them, and would you believe the tires are still in perfect condition?
I unhook from the truck, run it home, and bring back my 1/2 ton, to follow the tow truck to the trailer place, so I can unload my "stuff" out of the tackroom. My goodness I have a lot of stuff in there.
I carry insurance on the trailer and camper, actually listing them, with values. Somewhere I gave a value, which I found out was not enough to cover replacement of a trailer like this one. So first, be sure to talk to your insurance company, and make sure you are covered well. Many just depend on their trucks insurance, and hope that will cover what ever trailer is being towed behind it. Glad I actually had the trailer listed, as the insurance has been such a smooth process so far. Next, because of the value listed, my trailer has been listed as totaled. (sigh) As unattractive as it is, I LOVE my trailer. I have spent a lot of time doing little things to make it work best for me. Adding hooks, rings etc. where I wanted them to secure and hang stuff, special plates added to attach Hi-Ties, bucket holders. It just works. But, I decide to start looking for another, while waiting for insurance to finish up.
Boy howdy! Bumper pull trailers for 3 or 4 horses, that I'd actually put my horses in are expensive! Amazed at some of the prices on used trailers. So, we are considering doing a buy back from insurance if the trailer shop thinks the trailer is structurally sound enough to put the money in to it. I'd still have some out of pocket expenses, but in the long run, might be the best way to go. Meanwhile, a friend has loaned us their bumper pull they do not use, to be able to keep conditioning for Tevis, haul to the vet if needed, and our farrier appointment. We will go to Tevis in my friends rig.
This is a tough trailer, and I keep thinking how bad it could have been had it not been as well built, or what could have been had I had a horse on board, or if the trucks tires slipped off in to the hole. I'm pretty sure the truck would have flipped on its side due to the depth and extream drop off of the hole.
Getting ready for our big trip out to CA, it was time for a couple new tires. I had cleaned it out in the horse compartment, complete with a good blast from the garden hose. I was happy at how much easier it was to clean the corners since I had replaced the rubber mat on the wall behind the horses. Headed to the tire shop, and got the two tires I needed, and then headed home. When we moved here, our road was gravel almost the whole way to town. Slowly they have paved sections, but it is still a country road. At one spot, there is a large tin horn drain that goes under the road. The road narrows at that point, and the edges go from a nice shoulder, to a straight down drop off, or "hole" around 4' deep.
Chugging along, just 2 miles from the house, and I realize I am too close to the edge, I try to get the rig moved over to the left, but too late. My trailer drops into this hole on the right side. A big jolt, I glance in the rearview to see tires flying, and for a moment I think I have actually flipped the trailer. I come to a stop, and am pretty shook up, and scared to go look at the damage. I am thinking "Well, there went my two new tires". I go back, and could not see the condition of my tires, as they are gone.
Including the wheels, and axle arms. I have managed to snap the axles at the arms clean off the trailer, which is now sitting on its frame on its right side.
Called hubby, called US Rider to come tow it, and talk to a neighbor awhile who stopped to see if I needed help. He found my tires and wheels. One went in the brush to the right side of the road, the other went all the way over to the other side of the road. We retrieve them, and would you believe the tires are still in perfect condition?
I carry insurance on the trailer and camper, actually listing them, with values. Somewhere I gave a value, which I found out was not enough to cover replacement of a trailer like this one. So first, be sure to talk to your insurance company, and make sure you are covered well. Many just depend on their trucks insurance, and hope that will cover what ever trailer is being towed behind it. Glad I actually had the trailer listed, as the insurance has been such a smooth process so far. Next, because of the value listed, my trailer has been listed as totaled. (sigh) As unattractive as it is, I LOVE my trailer. I have spent a lot of time doing little things to make it work best for me. Adding hooks, rings etc. where I wanted them to secure and hang stuff, special plates added to attach Hi-Ties, bucket holders. It just works. But, I decide to start looking for another, while waiting for insurance to finish up.
This is a tough trailer, and I keep thinking how bad it could have been had it not been as well built, or what could have been had I had a horse on board, or if the trucks tires slipped off in to the hole. I'm pretty sure the truck would have flipped on its side due to the depth and extream drop off of the hole.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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.
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.
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