who would really much rather eat all day
Sorry for leaving you guys hanging! I attended the Women’s Leadership Conference or WLC in Vegas this year, and left on Sunday. I thought I may still have time to blog buuuuuuut apparently not haha. It was really good though, and I highly recommend it. But let’s get to the news!
Last Amber saw the vet 8 weeks ago, she’d worn down her sole to where she was very uncomfortable, and her coffin bone was pretty straight, so she needed a wedge pad that could take the pressure off of her back tendon. So, she got a full set of shoes again, and my farrier lopped off all of that extra toe. More could still come off, but obviously there’s only so far you can take a hoof down in one trimming.
But her x-rays and feet went from looking like this:
To looking like this:
You can bet I’m feeling pretty damn good about that. Just a big breath of relief. Looks like we’ve found a perfect angle, and having shoes on the hind feet and a pad is all just the right mix for her. That’s A LOT of sole that she grew, which is super positive. Even Doc said that in all her x-rays she’s never grown this much hoof, which is excellent. A definite “yes” that we’re on the right track again! I know she’s happy – she really really hated those boots lol.
Doc also said that she’ll probably have a very normal-looking foot. While that’s a plus, I’m certainly not too worried even if it’d look abnormal. It’d just get trimmed in the way it functioned the best. It’s still a positive, though, so you can bet that I’m taking that too haha! Her front feet are looking positive as well, and I think she’s a lot more comfortable.
But the best news?
She should be pretty rideable in another 4 to 6 months!
Not anything like we used to, and mostly a let’s-putz-around-trail-horse. She can probably do a bit of loping here and there, but mostly long walks and some trotting, and that’s more than I thought I’d get a while back, so yeah I am extremely happy lol.
Part of what I wanted to try that was low-key and low-impact for her was liberty. She already follows me around mostly, so I figured that maybe we can turn it into something else we do together. We’ll see how it goes lol. I’ve never made her following me into a job, so now that I can start doing a wee bit more riding I may not do liberty too extensively.
Her right hind is still short, still hitches a wee bit. But the more I get her out to just walk around, the better it gets each time. I think part of it is that it’ll never be 100% and has some scar tissue blockage there. The other part I think is that she still expects that left hind to hurt, even if she’s feeling better, which I can totally understand. I rode her over the weekend, and I’m going to hopefully hop on her 3-4 times a week now. Mostly just walking, and maybe at most 15 minutes because it’s god-awful hot for anything longer if it’s not at 5 am or pitch-black out lol. But I’ll be monitoring her every ride.
Ya’ll, this little girl really is a miracle pony. Even Doc said that she’s really been surprising him with how well she’s doing. It’s certainly a relief!
Such good news. Her hoof xrays look great. All that sole!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! We are so excited about all that sole lol
LikeLike
Yay! Those xrays show SO MUCH progress. I am sure that she is happy to be done with those boots haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think doc and I breathed a major sigh of relief when we saw how much the shoes helped her!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’m sure! And shoes with pads is totally doable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such good news!!! Very happy for both of you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Her feet look so much better! I’m glad that your hard work and diligence is paying off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Me too! It’s been hard to wait but thankfully it is paying off!
LikeLike
Big difference in those xrays! Goid job by your farrier.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, I’m so glad haha. We’ve been finding a rhythm of xrays right before a trim and it really seems to be working out very well so far!
LikeLike
Hip Hip Hooray for Amber!! 🙂 So excited….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michele!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YAY what a relief ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely! ❤
LikeLike
Those xrays look great — what a huge change for the better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I’m really pleased!
LikeLike
Best news ever! I’m so psyched for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
That’s amazing news!!! Congrats!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
That is some really great news! I’m sure she’ll be super happy to do any kind of work even if it is putzing around on the trail with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! She always loves going on rides and I think she’ll like the trails!
LikeLike