| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
| Locked on 08/07/2007 7:37:51 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason: |
Posted on 01/02/2007 9:57:39 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
We have skiing an hour away here :~)
I used to ski! ALOT! Last time I went I was still in college. I think it'd be fun to do one of these winters... ecurbh's been skiing ~once~
Personally I have doubts about how "comfortable" they were able to keep him. I don't think we were being out and out lied too, but I don't think we got the whole picture either. Once again let me say, I'm no vet, but I do know that walking is what keeps circulation going in a horses legs, if you restrict walking, you're going to have problems. His situation made it impossible to let him move...horses cannot live that way.
Becky
That's what I meant. I'm not 2nd guessing. Just thinking. . They had to make choices on what might work and to a large extent a lot did. So they go back to where things started to go wrong, and try something else, I guess. IMO, this was about Barbaro but never really about Barbaro. They are looking for a cure.
Tennessee definately did better being turned out with the other horses. He didn't move around much at first, but he still moved more than he would just standing in his dry lot, or by me walking him 30 minutes a day. Because even though it was a big lot, he had no incentive to get out of the stall, other than to go get a drink, because there were no other horses in there with him. Now he wanders all over the pasture, just following the others as they graze. He seems happier too, even though he has to ware that darned ol' muzzle.
The pool is another idea - I wonder too! Even if to let him walk in really deep water. It does show the limitations we still have with fixing founder... I'd almost think they could take the foot apart and fix it, but they can't. And that's another reason to try all to avoid it. It's still a killer, even when money's no object.
She is the daughter of a friend of mine, and a childhood friend of Jenny's. And I just remembered, it's Choctawsquaws daughter.
Becky
LOL!! Husbands are cantankerous even in our dreams. The least your dream husband could have done would have been to agree with you. ;o)
The incentive to move is important. I guess we all agree on that. If I had a chance, I'd ask them that.
Comfortable is not pain free, just comfortable. Animals or people can not recover from an injury without some pain but you can keep them comfortable. What impressed me was that all along the vets and family stated that if he started to suffer they would quit. When the vet mentioned the day before that they might have to call it quits, I figured they had decided it was time.
I think too many people, both professional and otherwise, forget there are things that break in this world that cannot be fixed. I understand the need for research but it's possible that some things will never be able to be fixed.
I have to admit though, that I've also chosen to try life saving measures on my cherished horse that failed. He lost 25 ft of small intestine and fought hard but it was not to be. I was told his chances were %50-50 and some horses have lived through the same ailment and treatment. I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't tried. It broke the bank and broke my heart but I had to try. I can understand why the Jacksons did given the technology and resources available.
Unfortunately what I learned this year after speaking with someone who has had extensive colic surgery experience at ISU and was a contributor to colic surgical textbooks, was that given the results of the belly tap, my horse didn't have a prayer. This surgical facility doesn't have the best reputation but it was only 5 miles away and given the weather was our only option. Thank God I didn't have to use them for Deuce.
Gonna play all the games? :~)
I think the swimming pool exercise would have been good for his overall muscles, but I don't think it would've done anything for his feet since they need the pressure and release motion of walking to pump the blood in and out of them. I think he was doomed from the start.
Well I was thinking more of putting him in a sling in the water...maybe he would have trashed around to much...
And all of these questions are exactly why I feel this should never have been tried. Too many questions, risks of a bad ending anyway, why put the poor animal thru it. Do you think he was truly a happy content, pain free horse thru out this ordeal?
Becky
Exactly...there was just no way around the problem, they should never have tried. JMO:)
Becky
So how can you keep that going and heal a broken leg? The million dollar plus question.
No, he wasn't pain free, but I don't think horses know they have a choice, to not be in pain that moment, they just live through the life their given. They don't dwell on the questions we dwell on.
It's a given when you decide to take on a major rehab process that there will be some pain in recovery... But those who do get past it and heal probably think it's worth it. The question is how much and how long and will it ever end. I think they decided finally it had been enough, and they didn't think it would ever end.
Which brings us to the topic of when is enough enough:), and that's a tuff call.
Becky
It's the games that make showers an excruciating ordeal for me. It's kinda funny picturing you having to host one though!
I don't know if you can. I guess that's why most horses get put down when they break a leg. I read something the other day that stated that the way horse's feet pump blood, it's actually like they've got 5 hearts, and when they can't walk around that it actually puts a strain on their real heart because it has to carry the whole load of the circulatory system. But that's neither here nor there in this discussion, just a useless tidbit of info that bubbled to the top.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.