Keep Walking and Carry On

So our vet, the fabulous Dr. Liskey was out on Thursday. Marking 41 days since the injury. That is basically 41 days of stall rest. Minimal walking. In the past few days, since we hit 30 days, I’ve been doing one-hour walks with him around the barns. Flat, stopping for a drink of water, but just walking around.

Just a little video from Friday of Ozzie after our walk. He is waiting for his little bucket of pulp, probiotics and a few carrots. 

So I had asked Dr. Liskey to come out for an x-ray. He came out, had me walk out Ozzie for him, turn in both directions. No soreness, or any favoring in any way. He liked what he saw and basically said that he’d do an x-ray, and take my money if that is what I really want, BUT he thinks things are going really well and even if the x-ray confirmed that he would not recommend doing anything different. I still wouldn’t get clearance for any turn out, or any thing other than hand walking. No clearance yet for Ozzie to move back to the big paddock. He said one hour walks are great, and we chatted about heading OUT into the ranch, up the canyon (flat) and Dr. Liskey asked how he is walking, “How’s his mind?” Ozzie’s got a great mind, and is very calm and mostly quiet during our walks. Dr. Liskey just emphasized we don’t want him to get away from me out on the ranch.

Ozzie has settled into the recovery routine very well. I did not find we needed to tranquilize him.

So I opted not to get an x-ray right now. But Dr. Liskey will be out around 60 days. He did say that 90 days off might be the “minimum.” He said that while at 60 days we may see it healing very well, he might say 120 days off. I said whatever is needed for his leg to be back to its full strength and integrity.

And after Dr. Liskey’s visit Ozzie got a full bath, and then I took him in to the big round pen, with nice sand.  I know Ozzie has been rolling in his stall, and I thought he would enjoy a roll in the nice sand, ON THE LEAD. It took him oh, about 3 minutes to figure out that I was going to let him roll while I had him on the lead line. He rolled, and rolled, wiggling in the sand, and laid there for a moment grunting. We went into one of the grass paddocks for a little grazing on the lead.

So as the days of summer continue to heat up, I’ve ditched my ranch jeans for ranch shorts. And we will carry on with our walking routine letting the bone cells multiply, connect, rebuild and strengthen. 

Ozzie and his new mustang neighbor.

Looking good

just some photos from yesterday.
Ozzie looks and feels great, Wound is healed. Zero soreness or any indication on his leg that he is injured at all. Getting vet visit on calendar for a follow up X-ray. Farrier is coming this week and we are starting to walk out more.

Ozzie seems to be doing well considering being so cooped up in the stall for so long.

Soon you'll be hearing about our walking adventures for the next 60 days as we let that bone heal up and seal up and build back.

Click on any photo to see them large.

Prepping for Second Xray

OK so this Sunday, May 18 will be 30 days of stall rest. Whew.

And I'm hoping to share the ranch visit fee with the vet with someone else having him come out in the next two weeks to confirm what I'm hoping is clear indication that the little fracture is healing beautifully. If that is what it shows, we will get clearance for lot's of hand walking. I'm ready for some walks out past the barn, up the road to Turkey flat.

He is looking good, enjoys his beet pulp buckets (small amounts with his probiotics) and having his legs hosed off.

The swelling is basically totally gone now. And he's usually just a tad stiff on his first step. I was out of town this weekend so I haven't checked his little wound, but hoping tomorrow am it will look great.

Hoping the heat is helping to keep him mellow, as I know he's gotta be itching to get out and about.

I try to just stay in the moment, and not get ahead of where we are. When I bought him he was already fit for 50 mile rides (and then some), now I'll have to learn to get him back in shape. That is one of the reasons I was drawn to endurance, to learn about really getting a horse ready for the endurance - the long days, the varied terrain.

In the meantime, I'm changing out the stirrup pads. Learning about saddle fit, and more.

Scan down a little bit to see the video of Ozzie waiting for the guys to bring round dinner. Gentle pacing in his stall.

18 Days and counting

Well he's been on stall rest for 18 days. That is a mere 12 days left on stall rest. I think we are gonna make it folks.

Today Ozzie looked great. He got a full grooming, some massage, a full scratch session on his mane. Some anti-itch stuff applied to his tail (we are gonna do a worming dose for pinworms). We walked twice around the barns cause he walked so well, and just wanted to get out.

Ozzie and I are really getting to know each other. Perhaps that is the silver lining of all of this. Me learning I've got to be the boss, even when he is hurt. He is learning he can let me touch his injury and know I won't hurt him. He is comfy with me lifting the hurt leg now. He even lets me put visine in his eyes (a great tip from Vicky to combat the itch and swelling from the flies), yes he wears that fabulous fly mask, BUT he and his next door neighbor pull each others off - We found Peppers fly mask at the bottom of the water trough. I'm also learning all about his body meaning.. how his muscles feel, where he likes to be scratched (his mane). We are getting into a new rhythm.

The swelling is nearly all gone - most of it has been resting in his knee, but it almost matches his other leg. And the other leg is looking good, not too much stress. He puts full weight on the injured leg no problem as he eats, stands etc.

Wed. May 7. Flashy Fly Mask and all. 

But a couple days ago the little cut on his leg re-opened. Maybe he itched it with his teeth, or maybe there was some proud flesh going on in there and it busted out. I don't know if that actually happens, but it was a thought I had. For any non horsey folk, (warning - this is a very unscientific and probably mostly wrong description, but it's how I understand it) proud flesh is when flesh from underneath gets a bit proud and pushes out, it can get really ugly looking, and come out over the skin, it is just a nuisance to deal with and I think can slow down the healing of that spot. And can lead to a nasty scar, we try to keep the proud flesh to a minimum and get rid of it so the outer layers of skin can heal properly. So we put some meat tenderizer powder on it. Yep, same stuff you put on your steak.

I'm giving it one more day before I mess with that stuff. Today I washed it well with Betadine, and Ozzie loved the hosing off of his leg. Applied some antibiotic ointment on the wound and then some SWAT - fly repellant ointment on it and around it. I'll see how it looks tomorrow to know for sure if the flesh is getting proud.
I'd love some input on how you actually confirm that it is in fact proud flesh.

Wed. May 7 - legs nearly match. Knee swelling way down

He walked out great today, maybe too good. We went twice around the barn cause I figured he could use the "fresh air." He wanted to walk a lot faster than I was letting him. And I got a couple reports of him moving around fast in his stall, and of him kicking the pipes. Urgh, Ozzie be good.

Started him on some pro-biotics today to counter act the antibiotics he took.

He continues to look too good to be hurt. Shiny, slicked out with his summer coat.

I'm thinking that I'll have the vet out at 30 days to do another xray to confirm that the fracture is improving, and hopefully get clearance for a lot of handwalking. Then find out - if all is looking good - when he might get clearance to go back into his BIG paddock.