And so. On Tuesday the Vet and the Farrier were meant to coincide at 2pm. I arrived at around 11.30am to find the Farrier had already arrived and Jo, caught on the hop had to leg it to catch in Daisy, Polly and Lu, as the Farrier wanted to get the shod ponies out of the way. Turns out it was a good thing, or we may have been there till midnight.
Although Charlie had Dora in the next field he was apoplectic at being without 'his' mares. He raced around in the mud and rain, got hot and rolled....and was absolutely caked in wet mud when I went to get him. Luckily he had enough time waiting in a stable to dry off a bit, and I rubbed him down with handfuls of straw and apologised profusely to the Farrier for his wet muddy feathers! I know a lot of people struggle in the Winter with Mud Fever in Hairy Cobs, and clip their feathers off. Believe me though, it is better to leave them on. They are natural protection against any bacteria. Constant washing of clipped legs causes the skin to weaken and the pores to open, which allows bacteria in. Scruffy as wet muddy feathers look, if you part the hair you will find nice clean, healthy skin underneath....so please leave them be. Lecture over.
Eventually the Vet arrived and started the ex-ray procedure with Sweet Pea. She was not too keen on standing on the blocks, and apparently at one point reared right up. She is very good at rearing vertically! I had buggered off to do the hay and water. When I came back the verdict was in. No arthritis at all and the feet were perfectly aligned with the Pedal Bone. And so.....back to soft tissue damage in the Fetlock. Mmmmm....thats what I suspected in the first place.
Box rest was advised. So after a long tiring day with the light fading we bedded down the biggest stable and popped both Shetlands away for the night. Sweet Pea would have had a nervous breakdown without Mini. They are surgically attached. Initially they seemed thrilled to be having a night out of the persistent rain, at a 5 star Shetland Hotel. I guess the mini-bar ran out too early......
The next day, we were met with very grumpy Shetlands. Sweet Pea refused her breakfast with pain-killers in. The only answer was to set up a very small pen outside again. It could be a long job!
Shaved Shetland leg after nerve blocks. As you can see she is not putting her foot flat on the floor.
Sweet Pea temporarily enjoying the 5star Shetland Hotel.
Happier in an outdoor pen.
Yes, Its not a weather channel....But Yesterday was glorious.....9C, sun and no wind. Positively tropical. Meg and Rob were there with little Nancy. Ruby and Teddy from the barn turned up. Suddenly there were more poo pickers, than equipment. After a quick assessment, I dispatched Meg and the kids to catch in and groom Polly and Dora, (Sorry Meg, but you are a mother), leaving Rob, Jo and I to peacefully clear the field.
My somewhat ambitious plan was to have Ruby ride Dora down to the Barn to see her parents, and Teddy ride back. Ruby already rides, Teddy doesn't. Dora hasn't been ridden since we got her, so seemed like a sensible plan.
Until Teddy said he wanted to be the first to ride Dora, and Ruby asked if she could ride Daisy!!!! And so we went with it. Ruby looked like a pea on a pod on Daisy, but rode very nicely. Dora behaved amazing well, considering she hasn't been ridden or off the property since she arrived. We are very pleased with her. A Unicorn she will be!
Once home, Teddy decided to stay, so Ruby rode Dora back and I hopped up on Daisy. Much easier to keep at a steady pace from up there. We had been following Polly all the way....at a very sedate pace!!
That was it. Our one day of Spring. Today was grim....grey and wet.. The forecast says more grey and wet followed by colder weather, with sleet and snow! Bye Spring....Maybe see you in a couple of weeks.
So today we had the Vet back to check Sweet Pea, who is still mildly lame on her near hind. Initially it was thought she had locked a stifle and pulled a muscle, but nerve blocking has ascertained that its lower. It could be side-bone, in fact at her age i would be surprised if she doesn't have some sort of Arthritis, but it came on suddenly. There are several ligaments and tendons around the Fetlock that can be pulled or strained. Tomorrow she will have an x-ray which will coincide with the Farrier visiting, so the experts can have a con-flab.
More news to follow....
