| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 12/30/2004 7:09:47 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can 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 last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
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 Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) 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 last thread, 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.
I was more concerned about her licking the trap because of the warfarin than getting stuck. They are a mess to get off though.
Sounds like a mild colic to me, since her bowels were moving. One of my colts coliced this last winter because he wasn't drinking enough water. He was having small bowel movements, I could hear gut sounds when I listened, but he was clearly in pain and wouldn't eat. He wasn't trying to roll, but I loaded him up and hauled his butt to the vet for a gallon of mineral oil and a shot of Banamine. He was fine after that. I had another mare get colicy this summer after getting into the feed room and having a little too much to eat. She was dripping sweat like she had a hose on her and was rolling when I got there and she got the same treatment. I didn't have to walk either one.
Do you think that alot of it depends on the type of colic you are dealing with? I always compare to humans:). Sometimes it helps a stomach ache to move around, some times that makes it worse.
When Rusty coliced this past summer, he wanted to lie down alot but didn't roll much. I let him lie, but sat on his neck to be sure he didn't roll. He didn't fight it much. Still not sure what the cause of his was. Nothing obvious.
Becky
I would have been reluctant to over-walk the horse that had been in the grain, because she would have been at high risk for founder.
OOHHH...you have to take them off. Yuk. I thought you just threw them away.
Becky
So does walking make founder worse?
Becky
By rolling they are really just trying to shift things around, and I've had the same feeling with bad gas (too much information?) I'd play it by what they seem willing to do, move around or rest. Rolling is just too violent and can rupture them if there is a blockage.
They are trying to get themselves comfortable. Bay wanted to lay quiet and I let him. He looked so sick. Worried me to death because I've never had a horse get so sick, and at Bay's age, I know it'll be something someday.
Something similar happened to me a few years ago. I was standing at the gate, which is wood and about nose high, just kinda day dreaming, looking at the horses, minding my own business, when one of the barn cats decided to jump up on the gate from the other side. Well, my nose just happened to be hanging over the top of the gate and you can imagine what happened next. The cat's claws sunk right into the middle of my nose as she chinned herself up. Man! That hurt! And bled like a stuck hog. I squealed like one too. You know, you can actually HEAR cartilage when it rips. I've still got a scar from it too, but it was kinda funny, after the fact of course.
It's my understanding that you don't want to let them move at all. If the hoof wall is separating the coffin bone will rotate worse with every step. They'd be in extreme pain, so it isn't something you'd be unaware was happening.
~shudder~
Very vivid description including sounds!
Yeah, they can really look pitiful. I knew something was wrong with Rusty more from how he looked then what he was doing.
If they will lay quietly, I'd let them lay.
Becky
I had read somewhere that getting a large rolled up towel or blanket and, with a helper, running it under their belly and lifting repeatedly could help with a mild colic. And somewhere else I read that there are accupressure points in their ears that can help with the pain. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try either one until the vet gets there, as long as the horse will allow it.
Yeah, that was a classic case of me having my nose some place where it shouldn't have been. ;o)
WAI!!
Finished! No more school! Now I'm DrEmpress!
*dances around the room*
Woohoo! Congratulations, Dr.!
I am so incredibly jealous of your life.
Where and what kind of practice do you hope for?
Congratulations!!! :-)
Here is a pic of her from yesterday lunging... the near rear leg is the one that locked up today.
Hi Hair! I'm sure Empress can answer you better, but here's my comment for what it's worth. My mare Truly did this, as did her mother. I was told that it was caused by the horse being "too straight in the stifle". From what I understand, a horse has 3 ligaments connecting the stifle joint together that run over the knee cap. The one in the middle is the one responsible for a horse being able to lock their knees and sleep standing up. Sometimes the conformation of the joint is such that this ligament engages when it shouldn't and the leg "locks up" just like you said. When it would happen to my mare, she would be trying to take a step and the effected leg would just hang out there behind her all stiff for a second or so, or she'd get this funny look on her face and you could tell she was trying to move it and all of a sudden that leg would jerk off the ground so fast that you'd think she was fixing to kick you, but she wasn't, she'd just gotten it unstuck, plus it would kinda pop when it happened. She also seemed to be uncomfortable while traveling down hill under saddle as well as when the farrier had that leg pulled up high over his knee to shoe her on the back. My vet recommended "clipping her stifle" which is when they cut that middle ligament. He did both of hers at the same time. He just made little quarter inch incisions over both knee caps, under anaesthesia of course, clipped the ligaments and closed with a single stitch and she's been fine ever since. The only drawback is she can't sleep standing up anymore.
Fascinating how it was fixed for you....
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.