It's an abscess...

Well, heard from the BM (a different person then the BO/Trainer) that Gus, for sure, has an abscess. The vet was out on Monday to look at another horse and since she was out, I figured I'd split the vet call and have her take a look at Gus too.

According to the BM (and the BO, as I sent her an email asking more questions) he was very sore in the sole... not sure if it was in the toe or where, but they did find the abscess and the vet dug it out. It's quite possible that there was another exit for that abscess... see those photos I posted previously.

So, the treatment plan is soaking and wrapping until it's no longer draining. The BO has been soaking and wrapping Gus since Monday. I believe she's doing an Epsom salt soak and then a betadine/sugar (sugardine) wrap.

I'm heading out today (first time I'll have been at the barn since Sunday) to do a soak and wrap before my lesson. I'm also planning on soaking with Epsom salts, but then doing a wrap with Magic Cushion. It's a great product (so I've heard) that I've fortunately NEVER had the pleasure of using. I'm hoping to not have to use it ever again (although it looks to be a great product to keep in my arsenal).

I plan on taking more photos, but it'll be with my Blackberry... so nothing spectacular.

Leg Photos

Gus's newest leg injury to his left front leg. Noticed the injury yesterday, April 19th but noticed the day before that he was off. Couldn't pin-point the leg (or even if it was front or hind lameness, although the head bob should've been a dead giveaway) but when grooming him yesterday this was pretty obvious.

These next couple photos were taken prior to cleaning up... although area has been clipped short.





This view shows there is no swelling at the site... which is LF outside, so the right side in this photo (where it's all wet). There is NO heat in the leg and it is not tender when been prodded. I ended up doing a hot pack (really, just a really warm towel - soaked in water) to the area for about 10 minutes. Nothing came out of the sores... least nothing that I could detect.

These next couple are after being hot packed and then slathered with Patch N' Go. I felt I needed to put something on there... so I figured that stuff wouldn't hurt. It's like an antibacterial ointment/homeopathic stuff.

And finally, another body shot of Gus with his head shoved in a round bale. Nice, huh?

Weight Gain!

Yeh! I think Gus is finally starting to pack on some weight. He should be now, getting nearly 8lb of "grain" a day now and nearly unlimited hay...

Here's some photos. These first few are from March 15th, the last are from today.

March 15th:

Oh, these next couple were from the first day at his new "old" barn:

Today:

He is HAIRY. And gets sweaty so incredibly fast. Today was a good day though. He started off really rough, with some bad stumbles from the hind end. After working through that doing lots of trotting, we worked on the shoulder-in. Man is his a plow-horse on that front end of his. Sheesh.

We did end up with some nice work at the end. A few half-hearted attempts at leg-yielding too, which was a pleasant surprise that he offered that. He's much softer to the left then to the right. To the right, he just blows through my aids and leans heavily on the right rein. I definitely need to get some lessons on him again, but not until he's more fitted.

The goal is to start working on transitions again. Walk to trot, trot to walk, walk to canter, canter to trot to walk, walk to halt, etc. He really needs to strengthen that hind end. I am also wanting to start working on cavalletti again too. Those are supposed to be very good with strengthening the hind end. So, we'll see.

First Colic!

Yikes. Last Wednesday was NOT a good day for Gringo. Everything started off normally, but quickly spirled downhill. He had his typical 1/2lb of alfalfa pellets, slightly mushy with water, and his supps. I then turned him outside to munch on his hay while I was picking up his pasture. He took on small (very unusual) bite of hay and then proceeded to lay down. He stood back up, pawed at the hay and then laid down again (flat out).

I knew almost immediately that something was not right. First of all, Gringo never takes small bites of anything. It's all or nothing for him. And laying down while eating? He's lazy, but not THAT lazy.

Needless to say, he was colicing. I got the good vet out (Dr. NS, the same one we had for our spring vaccines this year) and she gave him a good dose of banamine and some other wonderful drug to help stop his cramps. She said he was colicing, but it was more of a "I ate bad Chinese" stomach cramp rather then an impaction. To be on the safe side, we did go ahead and tube him with some electrolytes.

He's better, but still not himself. He's very subdued. Talked to trainer/BO and she recommended adding in some probios/electolytes... so I think I'll try that to see if he perks back up.

Anyways, the farrier was out today and I took some shots of Gringo's feet just after the trim. Any suggestions?



He says "Mom, I don't feel so well".

Weight-wise, he looks pretty decent. He's still really hairy though.

Front Legs

Another front view.

Hind Legs.

LF

LF

LF

LF

RF

RF

RF

LH

LH

LH

LH

RH

RH

RH

RH

That's it for photos for now...

The MOVE!

Well, this past Saturday Gus moved back "home". Home would be where he's lived about 6 of the 10 years I've had him. It was funny picking him up from the fMIL's place. He saw the trailer, gave the inside a good ol' sniff and jumped in. No Big Deal. When we arrived back at the old barn, he jumped off the trailer, stretched a bit and that was that. No fuss. No whinnying. No Big Deal.

So far he's adjusting quite well to the place, which is pretty typical of Gus. Nothing ever bothers him too much. He'll be turned out during the day with N again (used to be turned out with him a while back) and overnight he'll be out by himself (well, in a turnout by himself... there are two other horses on pasture board as well).

I did end up upping his grain, least for the time being. However the *lovely* feed mill exchanged hands (older owner sold out) and the new owners were late in reordering feeds. So Gus will be out of his ProAdvantage Grass after tomorrow morning. Did I mention that I was out to the feed store two weeks ago this Friday? Uggh.

Anyways, his new grain is as follows:

AM:
1lb Progressive ProAdvantage Grass
3lb alfalfa pellets

Plus his supps, which consist of:
10g MSM
8g MagOx 56%
100mg HA
SmartGut (until gone)
Tri-Aminos

PM:
1lb Progressive ProAdvantage Grass
3lb alfalfa pellets

Plus:
1/2c Cool Calories 100

The plan is to decrease the alfalfa pellets over time (hopefully) and also to discontinue the CC100. We'll see how things go. I'm hoping he puts the weight (and muscle) back on before the end of summer. My goal (shhsh, don't tell) is to do the fall show at our barn - probably the Intro Test A or B, and if that goes well one of the Training Level tests.

Gringo seems to be adjusting to the lack of Gus. I went out on Sunday (after having a MARVELOUS ride on Gus) to see him and he was very happy to see me. Nickering at me a lot. I think he misses Gus - but only because he was something to pick on.

Both boys are shedding like crazy. I'm really amazed at how much Gus is shedding. Usually he keeps his winter coat until June. I'm wondering if it was either (A) the lack of blanketing this year or (B) finally getting his IR under control that made the difference. Those (besides the move to the old barn) were the only two changes in Gus's life over the past 12 months.

Needless to say, I'm hoping Gus continues to blow out his winter coat, cause otherwise the clipper blades may be in his future. He is still hairy and just after 45 minutes of work on Sunday he was sweating pretty badly. No big deal but he's having a hard time cooling off.

So, we'll see. More photos and updates to come. Can you believe that April is just days away? Uggh. And I'll be married (and officially Mrs. B) 4 months from tomorrow!

Riding Photos

Okay. The FINAL set of photos. These were taken 2/20. Don't you just LOVE my new saddle pad? Well... I do. It's a very pretty color on Gus. Then again, just about anything looks good on Gus.

The snow was so deep, you couldn't see his hooves. Now... well the snow isn't so deep. And the fields are getting sloppy. Uggh. Mud season is upon us. Great.

A scary photo of me. Really... I need to get better photos of myself. One of these days...

Our tracks.

The geese... welcoming (err, not so much) us back to the barn.

Ta Da! No more photos... for now.