Interesting developments

My new hoof knife arrived yesterday, so I decided to try it out on Jester first. The bars on his fores needed some tapering, so I did that. The hinds needed some tidying too, check. Great tool. Love that new sharp edge. Whoa!!! what's that red stuff dripping down my arm????? I think I bought a scalpel instead of a hoof knife. I didn't even feel the slice. Forward to today- I KNOW I lowered that bar yesterday, but here it is again! I thought his bars had gotten un-jammed, but not completely yet! I went ahead with a full trim and discovered his sub-solar abscessing had been at both toe pillars and was now being replaced with new sole WOOHOO!!! The right fore, with its higher heel needed more bar work, and I beveled the heels toward the back, to imitate the angle they will have once he grows in a properly concaved front half of the hoof.On the left fore, sole that had accumulated in the middle third of the hoof flaked off easily so I went ahead and cleaned that up. I had been leaving it to see how much wanted to be there. As usual, the fore toes were backed up about 1/4 inch. His hooves are starting to look more and more "normal" :) I thought to myself, pretty soon I won't have to do a therapeutic trim, it will be a regular maintenance trim... Can't wait!! Hinds needed maintenance, I haven't done them for about a month. There is still some weak broken wall, especially the RH toe. I could almost peel the top layer off. Left hind had the most growth, consistent with best blood flow and most use. He still uses it more than the right. I beveled both hind toes and am happy with the overall shape and function they have. They wanted quarter relief so he will have good flexion in them. Thrush has surged again, so NoThrush is back in his daily Tx along with first aid on the proud flesh and his runny eyes. No riding since Tuesday night. We went about 3 moonlit miles with a friend. Jester was a cool cucumber even when the younger gelding had a spook. Such a good boy.

More riding, more jog/trot!

Sunday evening. Jester had been out of boots for a couple of days as I am agressively treating some proud flesh at the lateral heel coronets. LF is dime sized, RF is slightly larger than a quarter, but shrinking. I added moleskin inside the heel captivators on the boots,applied them to his fores and he was happy to go! I rode alone, up a paved street to the nearby irrigation canal. A wide, hard packed dirt path flanks the canal for several miles. We traversed less than one. Squawking blackbirds in mountainous oleanders alarmed Jester some. He was antsy when asked to stand. I tried out some more of his buttons, asking him to collect and extend the walk and jog, and transition to halt and back. He sure knows his stuff! Pivots to the right are good. He resists crossing his right fore over the left on a left pivot. That's his higher heel side, so I expect it will take a while for it to loosen up. The good: only one slight stumble, and no toe stabbing. The bad-I'm impatient to start loping!and he gets dancy and acts a bit barn sour when ridden out alone. The ugly- I can't keep boots on him 24 x 7 to keep him super comfy due to having to treat that proud flesh. This too shall pass.... once said someone wise... After all, a month ago he couldn't be ridden!

Two more rides

Jester was still happy in the boots, so he got another slightly longer walk on Tuesday, and Wednesday I took off the boots to check his heels- the proudflesh on the rub spots is very stubborn. It is frustrating that he moves well in the boots and a few hours after their removal, but the boots are preventing those heel rubs from healing. I am agressively treating the areas. He got a touch up trim Wed. also. Heels lowered and balanced, bars shaped, toe breakover refreshed. RF is still more toe first than flat. No new abscess exits that I can see. One on each fore hoof is enough! New hard sole is growing :). His eyes are doing better since the ivermectin dose- less discharge. I am going to add bermuda pellets (soaked) to his diet. He seems to tire of chewing after chowing through the one flake of alfalfa and his bucket of potions. I really want to see him eating eating eating and regaining condition. Wednesday I rode him in a friend's turnout (somewhat soft footing) without boots. He was on and off favoring the left fore. Still tender on the frog and the abscess exit at the lateral toe pillar. He was sluggish overall. If I can get my hands on some casting material I will try that, as it will give his hoof shape and protection without affecting his heels' healing. The soft foam liner in the heel captivator on the Renegade boots is wonderful for healthy heels, but tends to hold in heat and moisture on Jester's wounded ones. (improper fit on the heels is what caused the problems to begin with- I take the blame). I continue to be thankful for his healing.

Eager under saddle once more

With his Renegade boots fitted on the front hooves, Jester was moving very well today- so I hopped on him bareback and walked him around the pasture for about ten minutes. He was responsive and moved well, though still unevenly. This evening I saddled him and rode him up the road to the canal- he walked with an eager step and took interest in his surroundings. My husband walked along with us and Jester began to follow him. Once back home I asked for a few strides of jog. He evened out the longer we went. Total workout: Walk 20 min, jog 2 min. It felt so good to be up on him again. He wasn't sure he liked my bit, but settled down once we were going places. I was happy to hear his fores strike the ground evenly, without the tell-tale scuffing sound that accompanies a toe-first landing in boots. Most of the uneven feeling I got was from the hinds. My right hip felt pushed up higher than the left. Not surprising, given that his right hindquarter is the atrophied side, which had had the wedge pad and shoe with long toe shape. Today I dosed him with ivermectin. He now eats one flake alfalfa mix hay twice a day plus all he can eat grass hay, and a mixture of beet pulp, black oil sunflower seeds, CA trace supplement, and Devil's Claw Plus. He loves that alfalfa candy.... Prefers it to his bucket! With light exercise I expect he will regain condition within a couple months.

Sole hope

Right fore has been a source of discomfort- and toe first landing more so than left. I kept looking for loose sole around the front half of the frog... a sign that he was ready to lose that retained sole crescent. Yesterday I saw it! I peeled it away and found the area in front of the frog is a little bowl!! And it's holding firmly still today! He doesn't walk as if he has a rock in his foot anymore. :) The sole may look prolapsed but it's the shortened wall through the quarters making an illusion. There is only slight give to the sole all around, just as it should be. With just less than half a new foot grown, I expect more concavity and the apex, or tip of the frog to raise into a more normal position, away from the ground. He has been trying all the samples I got from SmartPak while waiting for the Devils Claw Plus supply to arrive. SmartSox, SmartGain4, SmartFlex Rehab, and Smart TLC... He is happier than ever, even hanging out with the "herd" and moving better and better Honey decided he'd better be put in his place and chomped down on his hamstring- just enough to cause a squeal and loss of hide... not enough to draw blood... She was promptly banished to isolation. Well, just for a few hours. She is not allowed to bully Jester off his food though. I keep them separate long enough for everyone to have at least half of the hay I put out. I like to use the small hole hay nets so they don't inhale the hay. It keeps their guts (and minds) busy longer :)

Trot!!!!!

I added Devil's Claw Plus to Jester's feed potion... And he is definitely feeling better!! Within a couple hours he was much more mobile and within 2 days he was walking around as if never lame! This is on pasture footing. On hard pack he hobbles. He will be getting daily workouts now! (10 minutes of walk and trot, at liberty. With less pain I am hoping he will not burn his calories on stress and can actually pack on some pounds :P and Trots with encouragement!

Deep breaths! Looking good...

August 12 November 1 July 29 in shoes- note toe first on all fours Sept 9- being chased, otherwise did not move much November 1- I'm hoping the tide has turned for good, I am seeing flat and heel first most of the time now on the fores, and even better on the hinds when his fores feel good.