We tried to get Gogo to stand up for a nice conformation picture in front of the barn, but she was not particularly cooperative. Probably because it was blowing snow and 22 degrees. I would be cranky too if I was naked.
After picture time was over, it was time to get booted back out into the field. I was very happy to see that she followed me up along the fenceline, but then turned around and wandered off of her own accord, happy to nibble on whatever grass was left... and she did not freak out or demand to come back in, even though she'd already been out ALL day. Good forward steps!
Forgive the crap pictures. My good camera is dead, and I have the crapola replacement camera doing a poor job in its stead.
Anyway. As you can see from the pictures, the injury is a classic low bow. The swelling has definitely, DEFINITELY come down... all without coldhosing, bute, wrapping or anything. Still, she has a pretty definite lumpy knot where the site of the injury is, which she never had when I was furiously diligent in my rest/ice/wrap routine. When she stands around in the barn, the leg does fill, but when she walks back outside, it all but disappears, leaving only the hard knot. She is VERY comfortable on it, and is perfectly sound at the walk. I hadn't seen her for days, but she didn't have a drip of mud on her anywhere, meaning she's not been running at all.
I have a small, happy flame of hope in me. Seeing that she's survived a week of turnout and had actually NOT died, broken a leg, killed herself, or blown her tendon to smithereens, AND it looks mildly improved all by itself, makes me think there IS hope if I just give her the time to heal on her own. I hope. I hope A LOT.
lovely photos, hope her tendon eventually comes right by itself! and that halter is to die for, love it!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry it usually snows in north Texas at least once or twice a winter. In winter 07-08 it snowed once, in winter 08-09 it only iced over once, in 09-10 it snowed in November, on Christmas, in Jan, Feb, and once in March! So five whole times it snowed this past winter, and at least three of them the snow stuck and one was enough that it stuck around for four days and we were able to build snowmen and such.
ReplyDeleteYay for good Gogo reports!!
ReplyDeleteAh, what you have there is nothing! Come up to Canada. Getting close to 2 feet of snow already and more on the way yet. Lol. And Gogo looks really good!
ReplyDeleteAww, I hope so too! Such a pretty mare-great pictures:)
ReplyDeleteTincture of time is a hard pill to swallow, but it usually does the trick.
ReplyDeleteGo, Go-Go, Go!! I hope that the time does her some good! There is a horse that was at the Giant Warmblood Barn that I work at who had such a (old) suspensory tear his whole lower leg was just hard. He was super lame at the walk, so instead of stall rest, they put him out to pasture. Rumor has it he's doing better and some of the scar tissue is breaking out.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the turn out is doing her good!! I hope that it heals on it's own. Horses are amazing creatures!!
I hope that Denal's legs heal too just being a horse. It's all up to her. If she's ever sound (hell, I'm still just glad she's alive) then great, if not then I have a very expensive pet. Maybe I'll teach her to do tricks.
Way back in the 90s, I bought a little part Quarter Horse mare who I was told (by other people)had bowed a tendon previously. It seems that she was bandaged and exercised as part of her treatment regime. Many people were heavily critical as they believed a horse with a bowed tendon should get complete rest. If you were not told about the injury, you would never know she had ever suffered it. Her leg was without any sign of it. The funny thing was that a couple of years ago, I was dating a trotting trainer and there was a conversation about the new way to treat bowed tendons using exercise and bandaging and I mentioned this mare, and they said, that's what we mean and commented that he was ahead of his time.
ReplyDeleteSo to give the Reader's Digest version, bowed tendons can mend.
Oh I love the photos Andrea ....Gogo looks fantastic. Am so glas things are all flling into place for you. Texus sounds like its going to be a great experience for you
ReplyDeleteShe looks fantastic, and very happy. I am hoping, too!
ReplyDeleteI have (fortunately) no experience with bows, but it's great that she's comfortable. She seems to be adapting well to turnout - often horses that are excitable or high-strung get much calmer when they get lots of turnout.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I've said CONGRATS on the new job in Texas! :-) And the mare looks great!
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you posted of the Texas barn look awesome! I love wide open spaces like that. You are so lucky! I'm in WA and I always say there are too many trees and mountains in the way of the view!
ReplyDeleteGogo looks great, too!
Being a pasture horse can be so great for their brain and in turn, their healing....dont you think?! That's my thought a nd I hope it works for Gogo!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see promising updates, and that she gets to find a happy place in Texas!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever mentioned what her breeding is on the blog? I'm guessing you did when you were discussing breeding her at some point, back before I found the blog. I'm just curious, because I'm big on shoulders and hips like hers, and from what I've seen they tend to be very inheritable.
I hope she continues behaving and heals up nicely in less time than you think it'll take. :)