From: mdresser@pbs.org (Melanie Dresser)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: Anybody got a clue....
Date: 18 Aug 92 18:36:24 EDT
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA

In article <11AUG199214374752@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov>, afallen@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (E. Allen Arrington) writes:
> Poor ol' Mason just can't stay sound (he's only 9 yrs old).  He had 
> problems with the navicular in his right forefoot earlier this summer, then 
> had an abcess in the left front.  The abcess was first found by the ferrier 
> about four weeks ago (he treated it and we went from there); Mason improved 
> to a point then dropped off after a week of walking. The ferrier checked 
> again but found no sign of the abcess.  However, the vet did find that the 
> abcess had filled up again (drained and treated it).  We followed the 
> doctor's orders and Mason was making good progress.  Yesterday, I wlked him 
> for 40 min or so with a little trotting to check condition; my wife said he 
> looked 98%.  Then the bottom fell out:  I trotted him for the barn onwer (
> resident horse expert) and darn if Mason wasn't limping worse than ever.  
> Note that the initial excercise was in the sift outdoor arena and the last 
> trotting laps were in the indoor arena (still dirt but packed down).  Its 
> been over two weeks since the abcess was teated by the vet (I'm I expecting 
> too much too fast);  could this just be that after 40 min of light work and 
> standing on hard floor for grooming that his feet were sore so that he 
> would show worse those final laps.  And of course, there's always the old 
> navicular monster in the left foot (we've had no problems with the left 
> foot up to now).  Anybody got a clue?   Thanks in advance for any ideas.
> 
> E. Allen Arrington  
>         Trooper, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, Co. C 
>         Mounted Memorial Unit                 
> and Mason (still a darn fine horse - fun to play with even if I can't ride 
> him)

You didn't say if Mason was wearing shoes or not, before, during
or since the initial abcess.
I'd say give him more time, and protect the foot if it is
unshod.

AMong the many problems I've had this summer, in May, the 
farrier I had been using nailed him twice in one foot, and
close on another nail on the same foot.  Needless to say, he
came up lame.  I couldn't reach that farrier and in desparation
called another who came right away, and pulled the shoe.
Well anyway, I went to soaking, to prevent an abcess, and he
got lamer and lamer, but no sign of an abcess, and just the
tiniest bit of heat in the foot.
Well after 3 weeks, I had to wonder what the problem was,
so we put on glue-on shoes (I didn't want to nail into
those bruised hooves).  He went sound as soon as he had
shoes on-- the poor boy had never gone barefoot before and
apparently has very tender feet.  He was much lamer than
you would have expected for just tender toes.

So maybe Mason has tender toes too, and needs a little
more recover time.

Melanie
    and Quest
-- 
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          Melanie L. Dresser	  mdresser@pbs.org    
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"In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant.
Well, for years I was smart; I recommend pleasant.  You may
quote me."  Elwood P. Dowd
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Newsgroups: rec.equestrian