A Definite Improvement...!

A few days have passed since I last updated here. Shortly after I last wrote, my sore throat and fever, turned into a very nasty lung and chest infection. For a couple of days I was really quite ill and had to pass Heather's care to Carol at the yard.
I returned on Saturday. The weather had turned milder and has stayed that way. Something which I'm sure had a bearing on Heather's recovery. Each day we've walked around the yard or the indoor school if possible. She has shown improvement almost daily. She is still limping, but now and then for a few strides she walks well, with almost no head bobbing. As she puts weight on the injured leg, her head bobs up momentarily. The swelling has stayed down and there is still only a slight warmth in her knee compared to the other.
Horses love to be out in the field. They are very social animals and yes they do "play" rough. I never really thought about the term "horseplay". I remember it being one of the things forbidden as well as running and diving at the local swimming baths years ago. Now I can put a picture to the word and I can understand exactly why this conduct is not welcome at the baths! So injuries will occur, it's just very unlucky for her that she took a kick in the knee.
One thing I knew she would be missing by not being out....obviously fresh grass and company. No, the first thing she does every time she goes into the field...rolls! She always rolls in the same place, well for the first one anyway. I'm not sure exactly how many rolls per day she has, but judging by the mud, I'd guess at three or four in a day out. So today I took her in the indoor when it was quiet for a walk...and a roll! Now it obviously just didn't smell right. She had a good sniff around and pawed the ground here and there, but then looked up disinterested. We walked around and as we came back to the most likely spot, I pawed the ground with my foot. Mmmmh...must be good! Short while later, she was down having a good scratch and roll....followed by a satisfying shake and snort!
Took her out for a good groom in the breeze. She's losing her winter coat quickly. One thing I've noticed is that she seems to have developed dandruff! Thinking of renaming her Snowflake! I don't remember this last year, but perhaps it's as she's staying in and not moving about as much. She certainly loves being brushed and scratched almost everywhere. So in general lots of progress. I'm feeling better too!

Fresh hope...

Everything is becoming a little bit strange! For the last week or so, coinciding with Heathers relapse, I've been struggling to shake off a raging sore throat and fever. I'm still definately not well and finding all of this slightly surreal. With all the very clear weather, especially this time of year, it's difficult to ignore the low dazzling Sun. Or the equally bright Moon and stars in the evening sky. I'm wondering if there's not something in the fact that tomorrow night there is a total eclipse of the Moon, which is waxing to Full the night after! Whilst not being a believer in gypsy mumbo jumbo, I cannot deny that there are strong forces at work here. So seeing as things aren't as good as they could be, hope that things might take a turn for the better after say the Lunar eclipse.
Just in case none of that works....Yesterday evening on instructions from her owner...I made Heather walk out of her stable. She was bearing some weight on the bad leg before, so was pleased to see her move out again, even though she is so desperatly lame. For me leading her it's not so bad, I'm just concentrating on keeping her going and looking out for anything that might trip her up...there is half a tonne of horse next to me. Whilst obviously not happy, she didn't seem in pain and her movement did improve somewhat. Anything is better than her being totally immobile. So we got to hose her leg again. Then stagger around the yard again, which was busy with lots of horses and people in and out of lessons at the riding school. So I felt lots of eyes looking at me and asking what I was doing torturing this poor horse??
Another cold clear night and followed by a gorgeous day. Felt warm in the afternoon so I thought I'd go to the yard and see if I could move Heather about before the place got too busy and whilst there was still some heat in the Sun. Well she let me pick up her near fore leg, reluctantly, but nonethe less. Which is again progress, meaning she can bear full weight again on the bad leg. So out we came. Hop-a-long Heather out in the sunshine. Took her to hose her leg and have a stretch. Tied her up without a rug for some fresh air, whilst I made up a nice fresh bed for her. There's no increase in the swelling, still little heat and she seems happy enough. So we seem to have reached a manageable state again. The weather is changing and a new lunar cycle is starting soon.....

Bad News...

This morning Heather was cripple lame again on her off fore leg again. I wasn't totally surprised as I'd noticed a change for the worse since her miraculous recovery earlier in the week. She is stablebound again and looking sorry for herself for the first time. I feel devastated and helpless..
The weather is very cold, but dry and sunny. Today I cut an old pair of wooly socks and managed to get it over her foot and shoe, up onto her knee. I've brought ice packs and held them against the only slightly swollen knee. Don't really know if it's doing any good. Very depressing to see her hobbling again and I'm afraid I'm not being very strong for her and fear the worst. The Bute is now finished, though I now doubt this was really having any real effect.
I've since found out that the vet tried but could not sucessfully inject antibiotics because she reared and struck out. Was it this perhaps that triggered a fight or flight adrenaline rush that saw her soundish for a day or two?? Because when I tried poulticing that evening she was fighting mad and not hobbling. She would only have had oral antibiotics for a few hours by then?? Oh so many questions and so much frustration. I don't know if I'm cut out for this horse lark after all. Not when it's on someone elses terms. Her owner may look at her tomorrow?? I feel like giving up....

Quick, Quick...slow...

Wednesday and Thursday, Heather's progress was remarkable. She walked across the yard to have her leg hosed with hardly a limp. As usual I had to fight to keep her from dragging me to the field, where she so obviously wants to be...
However yesterday and today she has gone backwards. This evening in fact her first few steps were decidedly stilted. What has changed? She still seems happy in herself, though no longer pulling for the field as much. I think that's just getting used to a new routine. She finished the antibiotics yesterday. The wound has dried. Any swelling on her knee has remained constant with no heat. She's happy for it to be poked and prodded. Her leg moves with no signs of discomfort. We're still on the Bute, painkiller, though her last dose is in her breakfast.
The weather has gone from being warm and Spring-like. Back to being cold. Tonights forecast is for yet more frost. Whilst she is wrapped up warm in a full neck quilted rug and her lower legs bandaged. Her knee is open to the cold and I'm wondering if this could be the cause of her relapse. I've been advised against bandaging her knee as such. However a thought passed my mind that I might use some old socks with the toes cut off to slip over her knee without being too restrictive. Anyway, my train of thought is that if she could walk almost 90per cent fine. Then there can't be anything broken or torn...as in bones or ligaments...Bute could not hide that. I'm hoping there's no infection...but there is no heat and the swelling is constant...but not much anyway. Fingers still well and truely crossed. She is a hard and brave horse.

Not Far Off a Miracle..

Only a few days ago I was choking back tears whilst encouraging Heather on through the mud and the dark...on three legs! Horses are beatiful animals, whose grace in movement comes from balance and almost imperceptible strength. So to see a horse in distress...so hopelessly crippled is, disturbing. Especially if that horse is the one you know best.
This morning, again, I was unable to meet the vet, due to work. However things went very well. Firstly Heather did not try to kill anyone! Secondly and more amazingly,,,,she went for a walk on the yard!! Got all excited and even trotted when she thought she was going out! I'm not the only one who is totally astonished. Even with some improvement yesterday I thought we'd be stable bound for weeks or worse..
So tonight I've walked her down the yard to hose her leg. Got to pick all four feet out, again something which I thought would be a problem. With Mary's help feeding treats, I poulticed her wound and even bandaged both fore legs, without last nights fight. She is still on painkillers and anti-biotics, which she happily eats with her feed. Speaking of which...she always leaves the apple till the end...eats the hard feed, then the carrots and has the apple for dessert! I am so relieved that she's on the mend. Any infection seems to be under control, it remains to be seen how much, if any long term damage has been done to her knee. Fingers crossed!

A Visit by the Vet..

Today, Monday, Heather was seen by a vet. Unfortunately I was at work, but managed to visit mid afternoon. Her examination revealed nothing obvious to her total lameness. The vet would like her referred to Leahurst animal hospital. Unfortunately the costs are prohibitive. The scab which had formed on the small wound was opened up. She has been prescribed anti-biotics. I'm not sure which but the vet administered either a painkiller or anti-biotics intravenously, which provoked Heather into her mad rearing and striking out temper. Having seen this for myself, in the close confines of a stable, she makes a very scary patient!

By the time I visited in the afternoon, she'd calmed right down. Welcomed me as a long lost friend and I took the headcollar she'd been guarding giving up earlier with ease! Happy horse!

In the evening I had my orders to perform before the vets follow up visit tomorrow. Pick open the wound and hot poultice. Apply bandages to both forelegs. Give her anti-biotics in her feed. Well she wasn't happy with the first bit!! Managed to pick her scab now and then whilst mucking out around her. Plenty of carrot bribes needed to fend off gnashing teeth. Got the poultice ready, with her nice and calm. Put it near her and all hell let loose! This went on. Tried all sorts of things, from being friendly and scratching her favourite spots to shouting and kicking her back!! No good... Tried bandaging her good fore leg. Same big fight...big fright too! Almost gave up. Carol came to help. She kept her busy with Heather's head in a bucket of feed, covering her eyes, whilst I hurriedly got the poultice on with vet wrap. Phew! But the bandages will have to wait. We quit while ahead and alive! The vet will re-visit tomorrow and see what comes out on the poultice. Meanwhile she's so greedy that feeding the anti-biotics is not a problem. As for her condition. She's still extremely lame. However, judging by her stable stains, she lay down last night, first time since her injury. More importantly she got up, without even wrecking her banks. So she must be feeling a little better.

Big Trouble..

I'm feeling quite emotional about this, so will try and stick to facts. Last night went as usual to go and fetch Heather in. I knew there was food down in the field, so she wouldn't come to the gate. Found her as expected guarding her own stash. Thought she was being awkward when she wouldn't move. Soon found she was cripple lame on her right fore leg. Had a quick feel of her leg in the dark and felt nothing untoward. Encouraged her on for about a hundred yards where she stopped. Not moving...

Fetched help, between three of us, we tempted, cajoled and smacked her to her stable on three legs. Not a pretty sight. Though typically brave of a horse who has become so trusting. On closer inspection found a small cut on the outside of her off fore leg, just below the knee. Was worried she had a puncture on wire or something. But more likely an unfortunately placed kick from another horse. Cleaned the wound and dressed. She seemed oblivious to it and happy to eat!

This morning found her in good spirits..ears pricked and a happy whinny. But still hopelessly crippled. The dressing removed showed no blood, but a weep of what is probably joint fluid. Not good at all. Still little swelling or heat in the area. Her owner was notified of her injury last night. By the end of the day there was some swelling around her knee and she was becoming protective of it. I was going to apply a dry dressing and wrap, but gave up. Seemed to be bothering her too much. So pretty much left alone, though clean. I am very worried as to her condition and think we are looking for a miracle to pull her through. She is not a valuable horse...but is well loved.