Physical Therapy

I checked in with the vet to discuss putting Cupid back to work, and he prescribed some stretching exercises to help with Cupid's stifles!  These exercises involve lifting and stretching Cupid's hind legs - flex straight up, stretch out behind, stretch out underneath him.  10 reps of each move on each leg, so it takes a little time to go through it.  Recommended every 2-3 days.  Cupid does not seem to enjoy it, but he tolerates it at least. 

In the cross ties, waiting for PT to start

Cupid's been very good walking and trotting around the property.  We encounter a lot of small animals (rabbits, birds, even deer), and he is not scared if they run out from the bushes.  He doesn't mind shadows or puddles.  But he doesn't like when there is a new object in a place he's familiar with.  The other day it was a pallet of white feed bags stacked in front of the barn, he did not want to walk by.  He finally danced past it, I told him he was good boy and we kept going and looped around a few minutes later and walked by it again.  A little better the second time but he was still nervous.  A few more times and he wasn't bothered anymore. 

Ready for a ride

The first ride back in the arena had me concerned because he didn't want to trot at all.  I wasn't sure if it was the stifle, or something else that hurt, or if he was just being naughty.  I gave him the benefit of doubt and let him just walk.  This was before I saw the vet and the vet said I should try to push him a little more - the vet thought he was moving okay and said we need to push him a little.  The next time I rode it was outside and he seemed much happier to trot - I don't know if he was in a better mood or prefers the harder ground or just being outside.  I also like being outside but unfortunately there aren't too many places we can ride without having to go along a busy road.

Almost Healed

There hasn't been much to report in the last few weeks - I've been going out to see Cupid twice a day to turn him out in the morning, refill his water bucket, and change his bandage/check on the wound.  For the first few weeks there didn't look like there was much change in the wound, then all of the sudden over the last week it just shrunk and closed up dramatically!  Cupid is still wearing a standing wrap because I'm worried about him re-opening the wound, it has become clearly apparent that he is pretty accident-prone! 

I put him on the lunge line on Saturday (wrapping his front legs in polos), and he was pretty uncomfortable trotting.  His stifles/hind end look really stiff.  Hopefully it is just from loss of conditioning, but I'll discuss with the vet if there are any other issues we need to check, and will try to stay away from circles at least initially.  Then on Sunday I rode for about 12 minutes, with a few gentle inclines for him to walk up.  We'll start gradually working back up.

What do you mean I have to work??

Playtime

I've been letting Cupid out in the pasture during the day, and he is happy to be with his buddies.  Here's his first turnout in about three weeks.

I watched him for a little while to make sure he's not overdoing it or trying to take his bandage off, but he was good.  He is getting more confident with the other horses, not a total pushover any more.  He was bossing the new horse around!  The big bay following him in the video is his buddy Spiffy, they seem to hang out together most of the day.  

On Sunday I clipped reins onto his halter and got on him bareback and just walked around for a few minutes.  Even though we didn't do much it felt good after not riding for so long!  Cupid was a very good boy.  I could feel a little difference that he's put on some weight during his time off, he was a little more comfortable bareback!  But I still wouldn't want to trot.

Adventures in Stall Rest

Cupid is slowly healing - no setbacks it's just going to take a while.  For the most part he has been a very good patient and has been very tolerant of me cleaning and wrapping his leg.  He doesn't seem to mind being in his stall but definitely has a lot of energy when I bring him out and we've had a few adventures.  I also feel bad for him because it does get pretty warm in the barn during the day.  I've been letting him out before and after work. 

One day when I was walking him he stopped and his eyes got huge, and I realized there was a new watering trough in the pasture that was scaring him.  But he was also kind of curious about it so we went to take a closer look.  Cupid would take a few steps stretching his nose out toward it, then stop and stare.  He couldn't decide if he was scared or curious!  But he gradually walked up to it, then realized what it was and took a big drink.

A few days ago I was letting him graze and he decided it would be more fun to go for a gallop instead!  I wasn't expecting it and just had a loose hold on the rope so couldn't stop him.  He galloped down the lane between the paddocks and pastures, and stopped to say hello to the mares over the fence.  He got all the other horses riled up, and ran up and down the lane a few times then decided he had enough and let me catch him.  Luckily no one was hurt.

Yesterday the vet cauterized the wound, to reduce the granulation tissue and allow skin to grow over it.  Cupid was very good during the procedure, we didn't need to sedate him.  We might need to do it again in about 2 weeks.  The vet said I should switch to a standing wrap instead of vetwrap because it's better for the skin, and that he can be turned out as long as he can keep the wrap on.  Cupid will be very happy to hear that!

Happy Anniversary!

It has been exactly one year since I brought Cupid home.  It has been an interesting year with a lot of highs and a few lows, but I couldn't imagine not having Cupid in my life.

He is still recuperating from his injury.  Luckily it doesn't look like he damaged any of the tendons or ligaments, and it's not in the joint.  He is sensitive to the touch but is not lame on it.  He is getting a little antsy being cooped up in a stall all day and gets a little rambunctious when I bring him out to graze.  But he is pretty good about letting me clean and bandage it.  The vet said it would be about another week before the injury granulates, then we have to see how much scar tissue is developing and might have to clean that out.  Assuming no complications, it will be about 6-8 weeks to recovery.

Injured.... again!

Cupid had been a little on/off since what we thought was the abscess last month and definitely off the last few days, so I thought I'd set up a vet appointment just to make sure there isn't anything serious going on.  The day of the appointment I come out to find him with a huge gash below his knee and his leg swollen up huge.  :(  Poor baby.  Thankfully the vet was already there.  She said it was a puncture wound and we cleaned it up and got antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.  Cupid will be recuperating in a stall for a few days. 

Mental Game

People who don't ride sometimes ask if riding is really a sport, doesn't the "horse do all the work"??  My answer to that is an emphatic no.  Sure you can just be a passenger and not do anything, but proper riding requires a lot from the the rider.  For me there is a big difference between my lessons and when I'm riding alone.  Even though I try, I don't have the same focus alone and get a little lazy.  When I have my lessons I can get tired and out of breath, and feel sore the next day.

As much as riding is a physical sport, it is definitely also a mental one.  The partnership between horse and rider I think is pretty unique among sports, even though working well with your teammates is essential in a lot of different sports.  Horses easily pick up on our moods and emotions, and if we are worried then they think there is something they should be worried about too.  Horses need their riders to be present and confident.  But sometimes when we mess up the horse is there to bail us out!  Even though Cupid is young and green he is a great partner, and we're really learning how to work together. 

Usually riding helps me clear my head and not think about the stresses in my life, but every so often it can be too much.  I had such a lesson last week.  I lost my nerve a bit, even though we were jumping a grid we've done before and Cupid was behaving perfectly.  Something about how the fences come up so quick irrationally terrified me.  My trainer noticed and asked me what was going on, then we backed off a little.  I felt like I let Cupid down that day by not riding with the focus and confidence that he deserves.

Since that was a bit long and maybe more serious than most of my blog, here is something to lighten things up.  Cupid's pasturemate is showing that the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the fence!

Luckily our next ride was much better.  Even though I was a little worried, I was able to focus much better.  Also we had another horse and rider in the lesson and I think that somehow helped me relax a little.  We started out with a single little crossrail which gradually was raised into a 2'6" vertical, no problem!  Then we did the grid and it was much less intimidating this time.  Even

Our last lesson we did a little poles course - great practice for navigating around a course without the stress of actually jumping.  We went through it at a trot once, then cantered the entire course.  Up to now we generally just canter on a circle and with the exception of the serpentine exercise a few weeks ago Cupid has never cantered around the arena changing directions.  But he was very relaxed, came down to a trot easily and picked up the correct lead each time I asked!!  I was very proud of him.  The exercise was also good practice for me as I kind of forgot where I was going once, I need to work on memorizing my courses!