The Vet Visits Jackson

Jackson had a very special visitor today.  Dr. Thacher came by to evaluate his concussion laminitis and his hocks.

First she had me walk him on the hard pack dirt driveway.  Then we trotted. 

Then she flexed his hocks, held it, then had me trot him off.  Both sides.

The verdict:  definitely sore in the hocks. 

Then she tested the front to see if he had soreness there, in the name of being thorough.  Jackson thought they were doing yoga.

Forward bend

Shavasana

Verdict:  no more concussion laminitis.  Yes!!!!!!

Treatment:  hock injections.

She gave him a sedative and did the first side.

And then the other.

After she finished, he got a shot of bute.  I'll give him more tonight and over the next three days.  Monday he'll be ready to go back to work.

Prognosis: Excellent

Owner: Broke but very happy and optimistic.

I'm celebrating by making a big pot of marinara sauce with all my tomatoes.  Eggplant parmigiana tonight for dinner.  I think I'll dig a nice bottle of wine out of the cellar too.

 

I Got an Auke Update!

Two years ago I sold Auke to this wonderful young woman.  She came out to California from Nebraska with her trainer to try him.  They arrived on a hot day in October and went to the barn where Auke was in  training.  He never did well in the heat.  He didn't do well for her that afternoon.  My trainer called me and said she was sure that the girl, Sarah, was going to decline.

But they came back the next morning.  They wanted to meet me and Sarah wanted to try riding Auke again, in the cool of the morning.  I was impressed with Sarah.  She was a tall, serious teenager with a good seat.  She had YR dreams and she wanted Auke to be her partner.  He was good for her that morning and a few weeks later I put Auke on a trailer bound for Nebraska.  She had stocked up on A & W Rootbeer, pending his arrival. 

 They spent the first year getting to know each other.  Auke is a very talented horse but he is a difficult ride.  I prayed that she would figure him out.  At shows, he had trouble keeping all four feet on the ground.  But, she persevered.   She has a good trainer and she takes him to clinics.  She's worked very hard and she hasn't given up.

A few days ago, she sent me a message on FaceBook:

Hey Annette I just wanted to give you an update on how things are going with Auke. He got fourth at regionals at second level and is ranked first for jr/yr friesian breed. He was perfect this season. We are starting third level movements this fall. He has become a real apple lover....

I am so happy, so relieved, so proud.