Not in the 'more forward' as in when you are riding, but as in CHESTER GETS HIS SHOE BACK ON TODAY!!! Which means (hopefully) I will be able to ride him again on Wednesday or Thursday!! Fingers crossed!
Let's hope we don't have to start all over from the beginning again, but considering it has been about 6 weeks since I have really ridden him...I will be happy if I can keep his head down in our transitions! Actually, forget that, I will be happy if I can actually RIDE him without him being ouchie.
Farrier is coming today around 5 - shoe goes back on - I will lunge him. If that goes according to plan, we will lunge again in side reins tomorrow and then take it from there.
More soon...
Monday, February 14, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
REALLY...?!
Chester is on the mends...!!! Right...?!
Wellll, sort of.
I go get him today from his field and as I am walking towards him, I see red. Not the red that glimmers on his coat in the summer that makes him look like the sun, but the colour red that runs from a cut on the inside of his front left leg. I mean, come on REALLY?! I feel like this horse can have his own segment on SNL's Weekend Update titled 'Really?!'. Geeeeeze.
Upon further inspection, there was a tiny nick which wasn't bleeding anymore. There was however a bump, 1/2 the size of my thumb on the inside lower part of his leg about 2 inches up from his ankle. Come on horse, REALLY? No swelling, no heat, and no heat/swelling in his foot either. Thankfully.
So, I cleaned it out, put some bag balm on it and wrapped him up. I wanted to punch him.
The game plan is as follows:
~ continue on with 1/2 day turn out (unless he gives me a reason otherwise, which at this point I am seriously contemplating having him stay in for the rest of his life), until Monday when my wonderfully patient and understanding farrier will come out and tack his shoe back on.
~ lunge him (with side reins) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
~ on Thursday, lunge him and if he doesn't have any hesitation in his step, then I will ride him.
Makes sense?
Because time really isn't of the essence, I can take my time. I want to ensure his foot is fully hardened before I get on him, he is done being sore and takes no hesitation when he puts his FL foot down.
Fingers Crossed.
I get to move jumps tomorrow...from outside (and from all over the xc field) into the arena. We have an SJ clinic on Sunday....sigh - which I will be taking pictures of and not riding in.
Next time, Chester, next time.
Stay Warm!
Wellll, sort of.
I go get him today from his field and as I am walking towards him, I see red. Not the red that glimmers on his coat in the summer that makes him look like the sun, but the colour red that runs from a cut on the inside of his front left leg. I mean, come on REALLY?! I feel like this horse can have his own segment on SNL's Weekend Update titled 'Really?!'. Geeeeeze.
Upon further inspection, there was a tiny nick which wasn't bleeding anymore. There was however a bump, 1/2 the size of my thumb on the inside lower part of his leg about 2 inches up from his ankle. Come on horse, REALLY? No swelling, no heat, and no heat/swelling in his foot either. Thankfully.
So, I cleaned it out, put some bag balm on it and wrapped him up. I wanted to punch him.
The game plan is as follows:
~ continue on with 1/2 day turn out (unless he gives me a reason otherwise, which at this point I am seriously contemplating having him stay in for the rest of his life), until Monday when my wonderfully patient and understanding farrier will come out and tack his shoe back on.
~ lunge him (with side reins) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
~ on Thursday, lunge him and if he doesn't have any hesitation in his step, then I will ride him.
Makes sense?
Because time really isn't of the essence, I can take my time. I want to ensure his foot is fully hardened before I get on him, he is done being sore and takes no hesitation when he puts his FL foot down.
Fingers Crossed.
I get to move jumps tomorrow...from outside (and from all over the xc field) into the arena. We have an SJ clinic on Sunday....sigh - which I will be taking pictures of and not riding in.
Next time, Chester, next time.
Stay Warm!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Straight From The Horse's Mouth...
Hi Folks,
I have a little bit of news. Last night, I felt like a million bucks!! It was a long time coming to get out of my cell and into the arena...and MAN, I was feeling SO GOOD!! It felt like I was on springs! I was soo excited to be in the arena, that I was showing off a little bit because some of my friends that I haven't seen in 2 weeks were in there!! I was bouncing all over the place and every little noise just set me off! I don't really know why we were only in there for like 4 minutes! But - the good news was, I was back IN there after my ball and chain was taken off. I was even allowed to TROT (FINALLY!!!)...it felt soooooo gooood, that I even cantered a little bit!!! But I am pretty sure I wasn't supposed to do that because I got in trouble.
I was lucky enough to get ANOTHER spa treatment last night too!!!
But - the BEST PART...I WAS ALLOWED TO GO OUTSIDE THIS MORNING!!!! OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOYYYYYY!!!!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN AUNTIE JEN ACTUALLY PUT MY HALTER ON AND WALKED ME TO THE FIELD!!! AND THEN - I SAW ALL MY FRIENDS!!!
OH - AND this afternoon, was also AWESOME!!! I was in the arena and was just cantering around with my nose to the ground!!! It felt sooooo GOOODDDD!!!!! I got so many pats and 'good mans' and TREATS and I didn't EVEN DO ANYTHING!!! Seriously, BEST. DAY. EVER!!!
When I was back in my stall around 2:30, I was sooooo tried!!! I think I fell asleep standing up because my mom was laughing at me.
I know my mom has been a little weird lately and I think there is something going on because I have been seeing her a LOT...not that I mind, because I love her sooooo much, especially when she finds new treats for me to try, OH OH OH, like Frosted Mini Wheats AND Big Foot candies!! YUMMMM!!!! Today, was the absolute happiest I have seen her in a long time!! AND, I didn't even DO anything!!! Oh - AND, I even think I am allowed outside again TOMORROW!!! And the NEXT DAY and then the NEXT DAY and the NEXT DAY TOO!!!!
I don't know what I do to make my mom so happy, but I love my mom. A Lot. I am glad she is mine. Oh, and can someone please tell her that? I love her, even though I know I have been a bad boy lately, but it was just because I was stuck inside my cell with a ball and chain. Oh, and can someone tell her that I want to jump too? Maybe next week....? I really really want too...
Chester
I have a little bit of news. Last night, I felt like a million bucks!! It was a long time coming to get out of my cell and into the arena...and MAN, I was feeling SO GOOD!! It felt like I was on springs! I was soo excited to be in the arena, that I was showing off a little bit because some of my friends that I haven't seen in 2 weeks were in there!! I was bouncing all over the place and every little noise just set me off! I don't really know why we were only in there for like 4 minutes! But - the good news was, I was back IN there after my ball and chain was taken off. I was even allowed to TROT (FINALLY!!!)...it felt soooooo gooood, that I even cantered a little bit!!! But I am pretty sure I wasn't supposed to do that because I got in trouble.
I was lucky enough to get ANOTHER spa treatment last night too!!!
But - the BEST PART...I WAS ALLOWED TO GO OUTSIDE THIS MORNING!!!! OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOYYYYYY!!!!! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN AUNTIE JEN ACTUALLY PUT MY HALTER ON AND WALKED ME TO THE FIELD!!! AND THEN - I SAW ALL MY FRIENDS!!!
OH - AND this afternoon, was also AWESOME!!! I was in the arena and was just cantering around with my nose to the ground!!! It felt sooooo GOOODDDD!!!!! I got so many pats and 'good mans' and TREATS and I didn't EVEN DO ANYTHING!!! Seriously, BEST. DAY. EVER!!!
When I was back in my stall around 2:30, I was sooooo tried!!! I think I fell asleep standing up because my mom was laughing at me.
I know my mom has been a little weird lately and I think there is something going on because I have been seeing her a LOT...not that I mind, because I love her sooooo much, especially when she finds new treats for me to try, OH OH OH, like Frosted Mini Wheats AND Big Foot candies!! YUMMMM!!!! Today, was the absolute happiest I have seen her in a long time!! AND, I didn't even DO anything!!! Oh - AND, I even think I am allowed outside again TOMORROW!!! And the NEXT DAY and then the NEXT DAY and the NEXT DAY TOO!!!!
I don't know what I do to make my mom so happy, but I love my mom. A Lot. I am glad she is mine. Oh, and can someone please tell her that? I love her, even though I know I have been a bad boy lately, but it was just because I was stuck inside my cell with a ball and chain. Oh, and can someone tell her that I want to jump too? Maybe next week....? I really really want too...
Chester
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I Can't Win to Lose...!
Something that I have done, at one point in my life, must have REALLY pissed someone off. I am just trying to rack my brain as to what....I think there is a saying that when things are bad they are really bad. Annnnd that about sums up what has been going on since about November of last year...even more so recently. Not only with Chester, but with EVERYTHING. It has literally been one thing after another after another after another. I have no idea what I have done to be on the receiving end of Bad Karma, but at this point it is getting to be a little bit like Ben Stiller's character in Meet the Fockers...EVERYTHING that you THINK can go wrong, does.
Last Wednesday, I had an interview in Toronto...and it was the day that we had a massive snow storm. So, rather then spending $12 on public transit to get to downtown Toronto for 9:00 a.m. I had to spend $68 (which I don't have) to take VIA Rail. Most expensive interview I have ever been on.
We go skiing last weekend. I am driving and get pulled over. Why? Ohhh, because I have been driving around with an expired licence since December 2009. I had no idea. The amount for that offence: $315. Yesterday afternoon, I wasn't able to get it resolved because - shockingly enough - I was given the run around by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Imagine that? Getting the run around from a government agency. At this point I have paid the $150 reinstatement fee and now have to wait for my significant other to get home so we can drive 45 minutes to pay the OTHER $75 to have my licence renewed...So, almost $600 (that I don't have in the first place) later I am going to be able to drive again. Awesome. (That is total sarcasm.)
Chester - DVME came out on Sunday - prior to the Superbowl - trusty hoof pinchers in hand.
And she was able to get a pretty strong reaction out of him - which almost ended up with me getting a knee to the head - when she pressed on his sole on the outside of his frog and outside hoof wall...I hope I explained that right...This reaction is a good thing. He will be more sensitive because he is barefoot and we have been soaking his foot for almost 2 weeks so it is quite soft. The reaction also tells us a couple of different things: What I thought I saw last Saturday on the poultice pad...more then likely wasn't the 'burst' I had been waiting to see and that he more then likely does have an abscess. DVME also said that she has had to wait up to 3 weeks sometimes before an abscess has burst. Thursday morning will be the 2 week mark. That will also mark the day when we change from using the InexAnimal Poultice pad to a mix of bran, DMSO and Epsom salt. Geeze - hopefully it doesn't come down to that! He has also developed a bit of an attitude problem...which I am not making excuses for him, but I can understand why. I wouldn't want to be locked in my stall, grumpy and ouchie for almost 2 weeks either. I feel bad for him. He was pretty ouchie yesterday which DVME also said is a good thing. It tells us that the damn abscess is on the move.
I am hoping everything gets turned around soon. I am just about ready to throw in the towel. It is hard to try and remain positive when you are surround by negative responses, trying situations and just plain bad luck. It's almost to the point where if I don't laugh at it, I will end up in tears. Buuuut - I am not finding a lot funny at the moment. I also feel bad for Aaron who is unfortunately for him getting nowhere in his attempts to cheer me up. Poor guy.
They also say that it is the shit things in life that you go through that makes you enjoy the good things. I have had about enough of the shit and am hoping for the good to start happening soon.
Last Wednesday, I had an interview in Toronto...and it was the day that we had a massive snow storm. So, rather then spending $12 on public transit to get to downtown Toronto for 9:00 a.m. I had to spend $68 (which I don't have) to take VIA Rail. Most expensive interview I have ever been on.
We go skiing last weekend. I am driving and get pulled over. Why? Ohhh, because I have been driving around with an expired licence since December 2009. I had no idea. The amount for that offence: $315. Yesterday afternoon, I wasn't able to get it resolved because - shockingly enough - I was given the run around by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Imagine that? Getting the run around from a government agency. At this point I have paid the $150 reinstatement fee and now have to wait for my significant other to get home so we can drive 45 minutes to pay the OTHER $75 to have my licence renewed...So, almost $600 (that I don't have in the first place) later I am going to be able to drive again. Awesome. (That is total sarcasm.)
Chester - DVME came out on Sunday - prior to the Superbowl - trusty hoof pinchers in hand.
And she was able to get a pretty strong reaction out of him - which almost ended up with me getting a knee to the head - when she pressed on his sole on the outside of his frog and outside hoof wall...I hope I explained that right...This reaction is a good thing. He will be more sensitive because he is barefoot and we have been soaking his foot for almost 2 weeks so it is quite soft. The reaction also tells us a couple of different things: What I thought I saw last Saturday on the poultice pad...more then likely wasn't the 'burst' I had been waiting to see and that he more then likely does have an abscess. DVME also said that she has had to wait up to 3 weeks sometimes before an abscess has burst. Thursday morning will be the 2 week mark. That will also mark the day when we change from using the InexAnimal Poultice pad to a mix of bran, DMSO and Epsom salt. Geeze - hopefully it doesn't come down to that! He has also developed a bit of an attitude problem...which I am not making excuses for him, but I can understand why. I wouldn't want to be locked in my stall, grumpy and ouchie for almost 2 weeks either. I feel bad for him. He was pretty ouchie yesterday which DVME also said is a good thing. It tells us that the damn abscess is on the move.
I am hoping everything gets turned around soon. I am just about ready to throw in the towel. It is hard to try and remain positive when you are surround by negative responses, trying situations and just plain bad luck. It's almost to the point where if I don't laugh at it, I will end up in tears. Buuuut - I am not finding a lot funny at the moment. I also feel bad for Aaron who is unfortunately for him getting nowhere in his attempts to cheer me up. Poor guy.
They also say that it is the shit things in life that you go through that makes you enjoy the good things. I have had about enough of the shit and am hoping for the good to start happening soon.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Airplanes...
With one step forward....it seems I am taking 5 ginormous steps backwards.
Yesterday, Chester had next to Nil in the heat area. There was a little on his coronary band, but that was it. Yessss, I thought to myself progress. That was until I showed up this morning. He was stocked up over his ankle, heat was permeating out of his poultice wrap and he looked, well, like he was mopping. It was awful. He was pretty much a gimp when I took him out of his stall and when I put him into the indoor - he literally just stood there with his nose to the ground. It. Was. Heartbreaking.
It took me 5 minutes to get him into the wash stall so I could soak his leg. Which really frustrated me...never, not once, not even the first time I took him in there, did he ever refuse to set foot into it.
I feel sorry for him. He is bored out of his mind, has had no mental challenges in the past week and he is not comfortable. It is tough to look at him knowing what he is going through.
At this point, I am starting to second guessing myself: Did the abscess actually burst? Was it an abscess in the first place? What else could it be when it ALL points TO an abscess? The barn owner told me this morning that she had to poultice for 2 weeks once with an abscess...one of the other boarders was also there this morning and she said it took her 6 weeks end to end for her guy's to fully clear. Sigh. Heartbreaking. So, we are back to soaking and wrapping with the poultice pads. We will give it until next Thursday - which will make it the 2 week mark - and if we get no change, then we will have to move on to the next option.
Send good thoughts to Chester...he could use them right now more then I could.
Like the song says: Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish, to go back to a place much simpler then this...
Yesterday, Chester had next to Nil in the heat area. There was a little on his coronary band, but that was it. Yessss, I thought to myself progress. That was until I showed up this morning. He was stocked up over his ankle, heat was permeating out of his poultice wrap and he looked, well, like he was mopping. It was awful. He was pretty much a gimp when I took him out of his stall and when I put him into the indoor - he literally just stood there with his nose to the ground. It. Was. Heartbreaking.
It took me 5 minutes to get him into the wash stall so I could soak his leg. Which really frustrated me...never, not once, not even the first time I took him in there, did he ever refuse to set foot into it.
I feel sorry for him. He is bored out of his mind, has had no mental challenges in the past week and he is not comfortable. It is tough to look at him knowing what he is going through.
At this point, I am starting to second guessing myself: Did the abscess actually burst? Was it an abscess in the first place? What else could it be when it ALL points TO an abscess? The barn owner told me this morning that she had to poultice for 2 weeks once with an abscess...one of the other boarders was also there this morning and she said it took her 6 weeks end to end for her guy's to fully clear. Sigh. Heartbreaking. So, we are back to soaking and wrapping with the poultice pads. We will give it until next Thursday - which will make it the 2 week mark - and if we get no change, then we will have to move on to the next option.
Send good thoughts to Chester...he could use them right now more then I could.
Like the song says: Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish, to go back to a place much simpler then this...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Back to Practicing My Patience...
At what point in time do I question my ability to properly look after another living being...!? Considering the year I have had with Chester, I would say now, it is almost a daily occurrence. Most people I have spoken with - when I tell them the story of Chester's most recent injury - tell me 'Oh, well, sudden lameness is normally always an abscess.' And give me one of those 'Ican'tbelieveyoudidn'tknowthat' looks. Great. Thanks for making me feel like a good horse owner. There really is so much to learn and when you miss something that is so blatantly obvious (according the the general masses) your confidence in your ability to care for your living being...takes a hit.
Sigh. I guess the positive coming out of Chester's abscess is: He is a million times better today then he was a week ago and I now consider myself to be the best hoof pouliticer-vet-wrapper-duct-tape boot-maker East of Toronto.
He is still not 100%...the abscess burst sometime overnight on Friday...soooo, doesn't that equal immediate pressure relief and he should be a-one-good-to-go?! You would think. There is still some heat (no swelling anywhere) on his coronary band...but it is minimal. There is absolutely NO DRAINAGE anymore. So, why the hell is he still not 100%?! According to DVME: 'Keep poulticing for the next few days until the drainage tract fills in and heals over. He will be sore.' Well, he is definitely sore. I can tell you that much. I am hoping by Friday I won't have to poultice anymore and the drainage tractS (THERE ARE TWO ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEEL RIGHT WHERE HIS HEEL MEETS HIS CORONARY...fml) will close up.
Perhaps I have to practice my patience more. Which I should have told myself from the beginning of this whole fiasco...because really, when it all comes back around, this horse (from Day 1) has really tested my patience. I have owned Chester since October, 2009. That is 15 months. Out of the 15 months I have had him, he has been injured, unrideable or rehabbing from an injury for 8 of those months. My first EVER blog entry is bitter sweet. This is what I wrote as my goals for Chester and I on March 17, 2010:
Short Term Goal: 2 or 3 Entry level events, then Pre-Training in 2010, Bromont 3-Day Event Training Level, June 2011
Long Term Goal: Make Chester a confident and happy Prelim horse, complete a couple CCI*s
Stretch Goal: Intermediate (IF and that is a big IF I grow the necessary parts to be able to do that.)
Wow - Amazing how things can change so drastically in such a short amount of time Eh?!
Although we are starting at Pre-Training this May (Ha - I should say we are *hopefully* starting at Pre-Training in May), it would be nice to actually have something go according to plan with this horse....then again, what does everyone say about horses...? "Always make sure you have a Plan B, C, D and more then likely E."
Come ONNNNNN already Chester...we have goals to accomplish!! In the meantime, it is back to lessons in patience.
Sigh. I guess the positive coming out of Chester's abscess is: He is a million times better today then he was a week ago and I now consider myself to be the best hoof pouliticer-vet-wrapper-duct-tape boot-maker East of Toronto.
He is still not 100%...the abscess burst sometime overnight on Friday...soooo, doesn't that equal immediate pressure relief and he should be a-one-good-to-go?! You would think. There is still some heat (no swelling anywhere) on his coronary band...but it is minimal. There is absolutely NO DRAINAGE anymore. So, why the hell is he still not 100%?! According to DVME: 'Keep poulticing for the next few days until the drainage tract fills in and heals over. He will be sore.' Well, he is definitely sore. I can tell you that much. I am hoping by Friday I won't have to poultice anymore and the drainage tractS (THERE ARE TWO ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEEL RIGHT WHERE HIS HEEL MEETS HIS CORONARY...fml) will close up.
Perhaps I have to practice my patience more. Which I should have told myself from the beginning of this whole fiasco...because really, when it all comes back around, this horse (from Day 1) has really tested my patience. I have owned Chester since October, 2009. That is 15 months. Out of the 15 months I have had him, he has been injured, unrideable or rehabbing from an injury for 8 of those months. My first EVER blog entry is bitter sweet. This is what I wrote as my goals for Chester and I on March 17, 2010:
Short Term Goal: 2 or 3 Entry level events, then Pre-Training in 2010, Bromont 3-Day Event Training Level, June 2011
Long Term Goal: Make Chester a confident and happy Prelim horse, complete a couple CCI*s
Stretch Goal: Intermediate (IF and that is a big IF I grow the necessary parts to be able to do that.)
Wow - Amazing how things can change so drastically in such a short amount of time Eh?!
Although we are starting at Pre-Training this May (Ha - I should say we are *hopefully* starting at Pre-Training in May), it would be nice to actually have something go according to plan with this horse....then again, what does everyone say about horses...? "Always make sure you have a Plan B, C, D and more then likely E."
Come ONNNNNN already Chester...we have goals to accomplish!! In the meantime, it is back to lessons in patience.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Success...I think...
I THINK the stinkin abscess has burst! On Saturday afternoon, I was heading out for there second time to soak and change the poultice on Chester's foot. He was pretty ouchie when I took him out of his stall for his hand walk around the arena. (I think this horse would be happy living inside. He just stands there, eats his hay and is as happy as can be.) He warmed out of it, but there was significant limping. When I took the poultice pad off, there was all this oozie, light brown well, ooze, that looked almost like gel. REALLY...?! I think the damn thing burst!!! As I rand my thumb over his heel, the ooze just poured out of a hole on his heel right by his coronary band. SUCCESS!!! He stood in the soak like a champ...I really think that it feels good for him which is why he is finally standing there like a good boy. After the soak, there was still tons of ooze...poor Chester.
Yesterday, was his best day by far!! There was no heat or swelling in his leg and the only place that I felt heat was on his coronary band and in his foot...but that might have been from the poultice too. He just marched out of his stall and proceeded to walk around the arena on his own. Annnd then he started running around like a moron so I put a stop to that. The Boss came out to check on us quickly. She said I was doing everything right and to keep going with it! Love getting the positive reinforcement - especially from someone as knowledgeable. Makes me feel like I sort of but kind of not really know what I am doing when I am charged with taking care of a living being...
Farrier comes tomorrow (during snowmagedon) to put his shoe on and maaayyyybe he can go out side on Thursday and maaayyybbbbe I will ride him on Friday. We will see.
I'm off shortly to check on him - fingers crossed he is better then yesterday!!!
Speaking of snowmagedon - I am supposed to be in downtown Toronto tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. for a meeting...ha, good luck to me...If I actually have to go, I am going to take VIA...and it will be the most damn expensive meeting I have ever been too...sigh...
More soon (and in sooner then 4 days, I promise.)
For people in the Toronto Area: PREPARE YOUR SHOVELS FOR BATTLE!!
Yesterday, was his best day by far!! There was no heat or swelling in his leg and the only place that I felt heat was on his coronary band and in his foot...but that might have been from the poultice too. He just marched out of his stall and proceeded to walk around the arena on his own. Annnd then he started running around like a moron so I put a stop to that. The Boss came out to check on us quickly. She said I was doing everything right and to keep going with it! Love getting the positive reinforcement - especially from someone as knowledgeable. Makes me feel like I sort of but kind of not really know what I am doing when I am charged with taking care of a living being...
Farrier comes tomorrow (during snowmagedon) to put his shoe on and maaayyyybe he can go out side on Thursday and maaayyybbbbe I will ride him on Friday. We will see.
I'm off shortly to check on him - fingers crossed he is better then yesterday!!!
Speaking of snowmagedon - I am supposed to be in downtown Toronto tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. for a meeting...ha, good luck to me...If I actually have to go, I am going to take VIA...and it will be the most damn expensive meeting I have ever been too...sigh...
More soon (and in sooner then 4 days, I promise.)
For people in the Toronto Area: PREPARE YOUR SHOVELS FOR BATTLE!!
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