On a quest for answers

Honestly my absence has been a bit purposeful. The aftermath of Stampede’s lameness examination was not really what I was expecting or hoping. After these last couple years of trying to figure out what has been bothering Stampede I was finally thinking that because he was visibly off that the answer would be easier to find. Well I am definitely wrong there.

Basically he is not clinically lame, it is not an issue in one particular leg to look for. Whatever is wrong is up high and causing the strange back-end looseness that appeared in my videos and I can feel when I ride. The vet’s opinion is that it is probably spine or neck related and he has some nerve pinching. This would explain why no drug trials we have tried really ever seem to make him feel happier. He is also fairly back sore again, even though I followed the saddle fitter’s advice and have been using a shim on the one side.

So I am done playing the guessing game. I have spent more money over time chasing the symptoms Stampede has shown and never found real answers. Stampede heads up to Michigan State Monday morning and will be have a Nuclear Scintigraphy (Bone Scan) on Tuesday.  While I’m scared of what the answer might be I am looking forward to ending this long journey of searching for them.

P is still doing well. I rode him bareback Friday night, which is always fun. Today we did another flat lesson. I have a tendency to try to post too big on him, I’m sure it’s because I’m used to Stampede’s movement, so I’ve been working on settling that down. Here is a picture of P in the new bridle.

P looking handsome

Our dog also decided he needed some veterinary attention last week, after a cyst that has been on his leg for months decided to cause trouble. Reilly ended up having surgery to have the cyst removed, and we got his teeth cleaned while we were at it. He needs a haircut so bad and the place won’t take him until he is healed so ignore the insane fur.

The cone!

The leg repair in question

I’m planning to ride Stampede tomorrow (he was cleared for flatwork by vet). I read that you want to keep the horse in work if possible so that the issue lights up brightly on the scan. Stampede trots pretty happily, although it doesn’t feel right always, so we have been mostly trotting then just once around each way of canter. Anyways, optimistically pessimistic about this trip to Michigan State.