Wednesday, May 25, 2016

How Much Do Horses Cost? Everything.

Since the show, I've been trying to figure out what's going on with Huck.  Is it attitude?  training?  physical issues?  We've taken days off, done tons of stretching and flexing.  We trail rode.  We rode inside. We rode outside. We massaged. We ground worked. We researched. We've employed the help/opinions of the farrier, trainer, chiropractor, and vet.

Today we injected both of Huck's Sacroiliac (SI) joints.

Both chiro and vet agree this is the way to go so I am hoping they're both right.  I had my lower back/sacrum injected a few years ago so I can somewhat understand what's going on.  I also have crappy SI joints. Pretty tired of my horses mirroring my issues.

Obviously this puts a hold on show season, but clearly the showing wasn't working anyway.  Perhaps this will give us a chance at some success in the future.

This also puts yet another strain on my very thinly stretched horse budget.  In 9 months we've had a facial laceration, forearm laceration with infection, and injections.  We also had proud flesh, scratches,  and he has a swollen lymph node in his right forearm (vet says it's probably fine and that the steroids will likely take care of it.) Seriously though. WTF. This "affordably priced" horse has turned into a money pit.  I sure hope there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  This is supposed to be fun, right?

Seriously though, I have some things for sale:  https://www.facebook.com/rebeccacherylwhite/media_set?set=a.10151796771101741.1073741831.526321740&type=3  or if you've ever thought about my decals, now's a great time to support small business and Huck's vet bills. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BuckstitchBeckys

He's in a stall with muscle relaxers, bute, and hand-walking for two more days.  On Saturday he can go back out to turnout and be ridden lightly at the walk and loose-rein jog for 10 days.  Then we can start loping and stopping and see where we are.  Fingers crossed.




7 comments:

  1. Fingers crossed indeed, I'll take a look at your stuff.

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  2. Fingers crossed that things start working out better! :(

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  3. Surely this will help. When it rains it pours, right?

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  4. Agh, I'm so sorry -- wanted to just say I definitely feel you. With a just-turned-11 yr old who is basically retired from sport (& I'm not certain if he'll ever be sound sound), I totally feel you. It's just been so much little crap that adds up. And even more frustrating that he has beautiful, pristine joints, awesome conformation, ability out the all ends, & brain to die for. None of his issues are really issues, none related to his solid racing career. He just is hard on himself & you phrased it perfectly. We know horses will break our hearts, but it doesn't make it any easier when they choose such ill-timed strategies. But I do hope this makes him feel lots better so you can keep doing things together! Getting rid of that SI pain is a big help for all of us whose cartilage is less cooperative than it should be.

    While I haven't done SI in horses specifically, I will say that when Encore gets his annual back injections (which are solid & great & keep him happily comfy there), it takes 3-4 weeks to gradually bring him back to full work (uh, when we did full work before stifle ligament fail). The first couple years, I would get very anxious, as with Solo's hock injections, it was more like 3-5 DAYS. I had to look back at my own blog posts to keep myself from worrying to death the next year. Backs are just a little slower, so just wanted to give you a little reassurance if things take a bit of time so settle. Lots of good luck hugs!!!

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    1. Thank you for the reassurance! I know you feel my pain. You've had more than your fair share of horse shit!

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    2. Fingers crossed -- on the plus side, the one thing they do provide in plenty is a surplus of said shit -- at least, if you are botanically inclined (um, I killed a cactus, sigh), it does grow really delicious vegetables! ;)

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