Hello everyone,
I'm sorry this blog is three days late but things have been hopping (as well as snowing, again!) here at Windflower Farm. For the past three weeks we had the pleasure of having a Quarter Horse here courtesy of Bear Spot Farm's rescue efforts. Owner and proprieter, Dr. Jane Karol has just initiated a a program that brings in horses that are headed to slaughter and re-homes them. (For more information re: the great work Jane does check out the Bear Spot Foundation Website) Well, I fell in love with a sweet-faced 15.3 hand three -year-old named 'Star'. And since it seemed all was well with him--there was some minor concern expressed to me about capsulitis--I thought he might do well as a citizen here.
Sadly, it became quickly apparent that poor Star was in significant pain. He retracted his back when my trainer and I took turns lightly touching it. His stance was awkward. The only time he trotted was at feeding time but would immediately fall back into walk after a few steps. I talked with Jane who said she and her natural horsemanship trainer Gary saw him lunge and that he appeared perfectly sound. (Well, possible reason-- Bear Spot Farm has gorgeous footing and I do not, at least not until Spring when the three feet of snow has receded. ) She also gave me the phone number of Erica Fuller, DVM who had checked Star out shortly after his arrival at her farm. I got hold of her later that day. Dr. Fuller said Star had multiple conformational challenges. (No need to elaborate here but for those of you who are familiar with Quarter Horses, particularly those bred to show in the halter category, you know what they are.) She added that his feet were in lamentable condition and thought it best if I could let him go barefoot until Spring.
This made me nervous-- Jane kindly offered to take him back --but he was here at Windflower and everyone was already in love. So I pulled his shoes and scheduled--and re-scheduled (more snow!)--lameness expert Dr. Liz Maloney to come give him a more thorough going over. The news was not encouraging. She believed his conformational issues central to his lameness. At the walk turning to the right he she rated him a 3 out 5 for lameness and described the sole of his right foot as "partially prolapsed." The check ligament on his right front was thickened and possibly also a factor in his lameness. She found his back "extremely tight" most likely due to guarding for foot pain. She said navicular disease was also a possibility.
Liz recommended that 'Star' be fitted with corrective shoes--wedges with break overs brought way back with snow bubble pads to minimize pressure on his very thin soles. Dr. Maloney said it would take 2-3 shoeings before she would be able to know if most of his issues were related to his misshapen feet, his being now barefoot or larger issues. (Dr. Maloney also noted that the shoes he arrived in here at Windflower had to have been causing him pain because the rim pads would have been putting too much pressure on his thin soles.)
Dr. Maloney was concerned that even low-level dressage would be too much for him because of his poor conformation and that he should not jump for a year once he was determined to be sound.
In addition to Dr. Maloney's sobering assessment, I noted that 'Star' chose to spend most his time
in his stall rather than out on the snow. I believe the bedding offered his feet more relief than the uneven snow. As I said earlier, he was reluctant to trot and, I never once saw him buck and play.
Sadly, I decided to return him to Jane who understood and deeply sympathized with all my and Dr. Maloney's concerns. We will miss him but I have no doubt that Jane and her staff will do their utmost to heal 'Star'. I'm sure the clients in her incredible equine-assisted therapy program will be involved
in his rehabiliation. She has a top flight staff and the facilities to give him the level of treatment --vet, farrier, chiropractic--he will require over the next several months. Not until then would Jane ever consider re-releasing him for adoption and only then to that special person who would understand Star's needs and provide him with the love and care he deserves.
I'm sorry this blog is three days late but things have been hopping (as well as snowing, again!) here at Windflower Farm. For the past three weeks we had the pleasure of having a Quarter Horse here courtesy of Bear Spot Farm's rescue efforts. Owner and proprieter, Dr. Jane Karol has just initiated a a program that brings in horses that are headed to slaughter and re-homes them. (For more information re: the great work Jane does check out the Bear Spot Foundation Website) Well, I fell in love with a sweet-faced 15.3 hand three -year-old named 'Star'. And since it seemed all was well with him--there was some minor concern expressed to me about capsulitis--I thought he might do well as a citizen here.
Sadly, it became quickly apparent that poor Star was in significant pain. He retracted his back when my trainer and I took turns lightly touching it. His stance was awkward. The only time he trotted was at feeding time but would immediately fall back into walk after a few steps. I talked with Jane who said she and her natural horsemanship trainer Gary saw him lunge and that he appeared perfectly sound. (Well, possible reason-- Bear Spot Farm has gorgeous footing and I do not, at least not until Spring when the three feet of snow has receded. ) She also gave me the phone number of Erica Fuller, DVM who had checked Star out shortly after his arrival at her farm. I got hold of her later that day. Dr. Fuller said Star had multiple conformational challenges. (No need to elaborate here but for those of you who are familiar with Quarter Horses, particularly those bred to show in the halter category, you know what they are.) She added that his feet were in lamentable condition and thought it best if I could let him go barefoot until Spring.
This made me nervous-- Jane kindly offered to take him back --but he was here at Windflower and everyone was already in love. So I pulled his shoes and scheduled--and re-scheduled (more snow!)--lameness expert Dr. Liz Maloney to come give him a more thorough going over. The news was not encouraging. She believed his conformational issues central to his lameness. At the walk turning to the right he she rated him a 3 out 5 for lameness and described the sole of his right foot as "partially prolapsed." The check ligament on his right front was thickened and possibly also a factor in his lameness. She found his back "extremely tight" most likely due to guarding for foot pain. She said navicular disease was also a possibility.
Liz recommended that 'Star' be fitted with corrective shoes--wedges with break overs brought way back with snow bubble pads to minimize pressure on his very thin soles. Dr. Maloney said it would take 2-3 shoeings before she would be able to know if most of his issues were related to his misshapen feet, his being now barefoot or larger issues. (Dr. Maloney also noted that the shoes he arrived in here at Windflower had to have been causing him pain because the rim pads would have been putting too much pressure on his thin soles.)
Dr. Maloney was concerned that even low-level dressage would be too much for him because of his poor conformation and that he should not jump for a year once he was determined to be sound.
In addition to Dr. Maloney's sobering assessment, I noted that 'Star' chose to spend most his time
in his stall rather than out on the snow. I believe the bedding offered his feet more relief than the uneven snow. As I said earlier, he was reluctant to trot and, I never once saw him buck and play.
Sadly, I decided to return him to Jane who understood and deeply sympathized with all my and Dr. Maloney's concerns. We will miss him but I have no doubt that Jane and her staff will do their utmost to heal 'Star'. I'm sure the clients in her incredible equine-assisted therapy program will be involved
in his rehabiliation. She has a top flight staff and the facilities to give him the level of treatment --vet, farrier, chiropractic--he will require over the next several months. Not until then would Jane ever consider re-releasing him for adoption and only then to that special person who would understand Star's needs and provide him with the love and care he deserves.
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