I have good news - the best news! Tuesday morning, I trailered Gogo up to see Dr. C, just for my peace of mind, but also afraid for what we might find. I was feeling weird about the great leaps and bounds she had been attempting to make all week, and I wanted to get cleared via ultrasound before we started trotting and she broke down horribly (or so I was imagining in my head). When we went to jog her out, Dr C. pretty much asked "why on earth are you here?" She looked GREAT. She has some muscle asymmetry on her right side, probably because both of us are much weaker that way, but that was the only thing we really could see. Other than that, she was sound. So sound! On ultrasound, the RH looked outstanding, so much better than just a month ago. All that walking does the trick! I could hardly believe how good it looked. It was nearly filled in all the way. Sweet! Cleared for trotwork! I left feeling super good, gave her that day and the following off from riding, and then got on her yesterday, feeling super excited about the propect of trotting.
And I wasn't dissapointed. She was a bit snarky in her walk work, as you'll see in the video of her going right, but after we trotted she seriously relaxed. I couldn't believe how easy it felt. The lightest aid, and she went right up into a nice, forward trot, reaching for a contact on her own. The second down transition we did was slightly awkward, but hardly! That was about it. After that, we switched directions and she continued to feel amazing. All we did was trot both long sides going one way, and trot both long sides going the other way, but that was plenty. She felt strong, sound, and ready. It was like a dream come true.
The best part? I left her wraps off, and today the legs are down and pretty tight - tighter than they have been all week. LOVE IT!
Videos! Trot left and right. My god, I've let my upper body get sloppy! My leg doesn't look too bad though. Things to work on, things to work on!
AHHHH SO AWESOME!
Proving her heart of gold and guts of steel at the 2009 American Eventing Championships
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69.7%, Reserve Champion first time at First Level!
Encore H.T. 2008 - Gogo's first real event!
19 comments:
I just have to say -- WOOHOO!!!
She looks fantastic!!!!!!!!!! Loooooooooove the toe flip up front- means her feet feel gooooood!
Congrats girl, can't wait to see the progress!
~ Amanda
*clap, clap* YAY! She's looking WONDERFUL!
Yeah! It's hard to watch the video, I just keep getting mesmerized by her tail. You both look good!!!
Yay Gogo! She looks great. And favorite Clap Your Hands song -- Satan Said Dance! ;)
Oh I am so happy for you and Gogo!!!
Yay Gogo! She looks happy to be trotting again, and I bet it feels great to be able to let her go forward a little!
HAPPINESS!!!
AWESOME!! Yay!
Glad she is doing better. My only question is why are you asking her to come round and take up contact when you are just starting to trot again? It is just putting added stress on that hind end. She should be going on a long, relaxed rein before you start asking her to use that hind end even more. I am also rehabbing a horse with a hind end injury, and my vet was very adamant about this.
Other Andrea,
I am on instructions from my vet to do 20 minutes of on contact work at the walk following 30 minutes of loose rein walk, straight lines only. I kept the contact I had when I moved to trot because I wasn't sure if I would get death rodeo if I gave her a loose rein, or if I could get her to go straight (probably not). I don't ask her to come into that contact, she just goes there herself. I'd rather that than get bucked off at this point! I could ask my vet though, she did not ever specify, nor did the specialists at Tufts.
My horse had/has a suspensory injury, so I don't know if that makes a difference. I know what you mean--the loose rein is freightening, for fear of a large buck or who knows what! (I've got an 8 y/o TB.) I've been using dorm, which is much more predictable than ace (you might want to look into trying some dorm). My horse also seeks out the contact, but I try to encourage him to go long and low, rather than shorten the rein and make him more uphill. This rehab is not fun!
I wish there were more uphill-ness to it! I actually thought today, "wow this has to be easy on her hind end" because she was hanging hard on my contact and just sort of running around on her forehand. Fail! I actually do want to think about dorm too, 1/4cc of Ace has been doing a great job so far but I HAVE had those days when suddenly it seems like she's had an adrenaline boost instead. Stupid rehab!
Yeah!
wow you guys look great!!!. Its so awesome to see you stepping up a gear
This is other Andrea
Dorm is a great thing. You can get a 20 ml bottle from Allivet for $269. Sounds like a lot of $$$, but you only need 0.1-0.2 cc per ride. For my horse 0.2 cc = very dead. Okay for walking, but if we want to trot, forget it. The amount I use depends on where we are and the weather. Hot and going outside = 0.18 cc. Inside = 0.14 cc. Inside and T-storm coming (I am also in CT in your area) = 0.16 cc. I use a 1 cc TB needle, and it is super easy.
Oh Andrea this is just SUCH amazing news! I am so very happy for you and for Gogo. Couldnt be happier.
great news...so happy! and that TAIL!!!!!! lordy!
Gogo looks absolutely fabulous. She looks engaged and comfortable in her movement. Reading your blog, it has been a very long road of recovery with her, I only wish you continued success with her.
May it be smooth sailing here on.
Best of luck!
Jen Steel
Parelli Central
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