Food for thought?

Just had an aha moment....

(and yes, I'm still on blogging vacation - I swear!)

Farley has arthritis in her left hock that warrents injections, but the right hock flexes clean. (both hocks still get injected).

Today, as I wait at my desk anxiously awaiting the clock to magically speed ahead to 1pm so I can start my vacation, I was thinking (as usual) about Farley. Now, I know that there isn't an explanation for everything, BUT - did you know that Farley has an old scar from a horrendous wire cut on her right hind? An injury, that when it happened would have been extremely painful (she's still a bit defensive about that hoof) and she probably spent some time hobbling around, putting more stress on the opposite leg and hock - the LEFT.

Voila! A left hock that's been stressed more than the right.

Of course, no matter WHY it happened or HOW, it's still up to me to monitor her comfort and make it possible to do her job for as long as we are both enjoying it.

BTW - vet appointment yesterday for the injections went very well. Absolutely routine, which is how we all like our vet appointments eh? The doc said her stifles felt fine (I haven't been observing any problems or behaviors that would suggest otherwise, but still nice to have a professional opinion), we re-flexed and trotted her at my request just to make sure nothing funky was going on.

There was a German vet student finished up her extern at the clinic who was very interested in endurance riding and Tevis (The doc described it - in jest - as a masochistic ritual performed every year by a group of absolutely insane people and their horses - or something to that effect!). I love talking about endurance - I can barely form words and comprehensive sentences when some stranger starts asking me questions. Maybe I'm not the best ambassador?

In addition to light sedation, Farley was twitched (lip). I actually perfer the use of a twitch for performing quick procedures, rather than administering more sedative. Sure, it can be overdone and done incorrectly, and it's no substitute for proper, long term training - but when done correctly I feel it is far more effective and safe than the drug alternative for simple, fast procedures. I mostly use it on uncooperative horses for very simple fast procedures (such as a leg bandage removal) and the horse is being fractious enough that the person is in danger of being hurt. Just applying the twitch with my hand while the other person dashes in is often enough to get the job done, and it's much less tramautic for the horse and the handler than fighting for 20 minutes (versus getting it done in 15 seconds).