The Post I Never Thought I’d Write

Here’s the big one! Move up to Training!
~~Increase strength in haunches through cavaletti work (2-3x/week)~~
~~Walk-Canter-Walk transitions~~
- ~~Lead changes~~
~~Completing a Second Level dressage test with a score over 63%~~
~~-new- Participate in at least one dressage clinic~~

Oh how much can change in a week.

After my long 20 minute walk warmup last Thursday, I picked up the trot and immediately alarm bells went off in my head. I hopped off and threw him on the lunge and saw this:

And my heart sank. I put him up in his stall with lots of scratches and good boy’s and called the vet.

Two days later we poured over him, palpating, assessing, flexing, talking. On the lunge he looked just the same, and when he couldn’t pick up the left lead after three different attempts, we had a discussion.

My vet looked me in the eye, and said she had to be unsentimental about his prognosis.

She knew my goals of Training level CT’s/Eventing, and bar that, of 2nd and 3rd level dressage. And she said he would never do what I wanted him to do.

For clarification, I asked- you mean he’ll never jump again?

“Sorry Britt, I don’t think so.”

And what about 2nd/3rd level dressage?

“Not without an obscene amount of maintenance.”

It turns out my almost-9 year old has a slew of issues. Beyond the front fetlock chip and subsequent arthritis, he also has mild neck arthritis, probable arthritis in his hind left fetlock, slight hock arthritis and now stifle issues that are in turn aggravating his SI area. In order to maintain him at the level of dressage competition I was aiming for, I would have to inject all of those areas. Which beyond being financially impossible to keep up, isn’t fair to him.

We’ve got a couple things to try first. He’s on 10 days of Previcox, and we’ll see if this anti-inflammatory can make him comfortable enough to stay in work. If not, we’ll look into Adequan and similar products, and consider injecting at least the stifle. If he can be made comfortable enough to be worked, and build up the muscle required to support his weak areas (the muscle loss from stall rest, etc likely being what has made these issues so obvious), then we’ll be in a better place. We could at least “putz around” as my vet said, trail riding and doing really basic ring work. But he has to be comfortable first.

As to our future, I am still trying to figure things out. I have a lot of questions. And luckily, Foster is not without fans. I’m hopeful that I can find a solution that works for both of us.

2016. Not the year of redemption after all.

Happy days, CHP, May 2014

25 thoughts on “The Post I Never Thought I’d Write”

Oh my gosh, tears for you. News like this is just never, ever easy no matter what. *hugs* Saying a prayer for Foster<3

Oh no!!! I’m so sorry, and super bummed for you. Fingers crossed that injections/Adequan can work some miracles.

😦
Thinking of you both.

Oh no, I am so sorry to read this! No one should have to go through that with a nine-year-old. Thinking of you both. 😦

Oh Britt I’m so sorry.. there is no way to avoid how much that sucks. I’ll be praying for you and Foster!

So, so sorry to hear this, Britt! Everything happens for a reason and I am sure it will all work out! I’ll be keeping you guys in my thoughts!

And I am always available for a wine night if you need one (or 5…whatever works ;)).

Ugh, I’m so sorry. Know you’re heartbroken right now. Mourn the loss of that dream and regroup. It’ll be okay.

I can only imagine the heart break and I hope that the current plan gets him comfortable.

Sending the biggest of hugs your way ❤ ❤ ❤

This hits so close to home. I’m very, very sorry that you got this information, that this is what it is. I hope that, if it comes to it, you can find joy in the trails and in basic ring work. There is something absolutely liberating about obliterating all goals, but we’d rather have the goals. 😦

Oh no. 😦 Hugs to you.

Oh no, I’m so terribly sorry to hear that. Hugs.

Oh man, I am so sorry to read this. I was really hoping for a hell of a comeback this year. I know you’ll find the absolute best situation for him in the long run. Hopefully you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy him as a riding horse.

Oh no. Many hugs and thoughts sent your way. 9 is so young.

Take care.

Ugh. Britt. How awful. I’m basically here right now, but with an older horse. God, I can’t imagine. Hugs, girl. All the hugs. And wine. Maybe more wine than hugs.

Wow, I don’t know what to say other then sorry 😦 I’ll be thinking about you guys and here’s to making him comfortable so he can have even a low key life 🙂

Hugs!!

Oh, I’m so sorry. He’s such a good boy and so young. This sucks.

So sorry to hear this. A career ending injury when they’re young is really rough. Fingers crossed that previcox/adequan will at least get him comfortable enough to stay in light work so you can continue to enjoy riding him.