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.