Three steps forward... a bunch of steps back. :(

Things had been progressing well with the wee lad. He has been a star during ground work, including lungeing and long-lining. We introduced him to a saddle and he acted like he had worn a saddle his whole life. The week of his third birthday we backed him, and he didn't put a foot wrong. First trot with a rider, also no problem. The breeder warned me that it was going almost 'too well', and we did eventually have a little hiccup. One day he felt that we were asking too much... we started to extend the length of his work sessions by a little, and he bucked and threw me. Ah well, we backed up a little and continued on. No biggie. We even planned to do some free-jumping in an upcoming clinic.

This weekend however was one of heartbreak, and a big setback. :( The wee lad got caught up in a fence, and has badly cut his leg. It's still too early to tell if and how the injury will impact his movement. Right now it's a matter of bandaging the wounds and trying to keep him quiet in the hope that he doesn't pull out the stitches... keeping a 3 year old quiet in a stall (when he is accustomed to being outside) is not an easy task. Cross your fingers. We know that that it could have been worse, and that we are lucky that our beloved boy is still with us (and mostly on four legs)... but he is not completely out of the woods yet, and he has a long road ahead. Here's wishing that he comes through it well. He only turned three in April, and we are hoping that he has a long and full life ahead.

I am glad that my boy understood that he was in trouble and stood quietly while the barn owner cut him out of the fence. He also stood quietly while the vet stitched his wounds (with a local anaesthetic of course). He is getting a little 'full of beans' because he is bored with stall rest, but hopefully he will remain cooperative for our tending of his injuries and giving him meds.

Please send good thoughts his way... maybe we can will the wee lad to have a full and speedy recovery. ;)

Also remember to hug your horses... you never know what tomorrow holds!

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Comment by Ferrous on June 10, 2010 at 10:23am: Thanks Geoffrey, I am still reeling a little from the shock of it all, but I have been working to shift my view of the experience. It has certainly made me appreciate every moment with my horse even more! It will also give me time to work more on my own horsemanship, so that I am a better rider and partner for him in the future.

I am grateful that he is so young, as I am sure that his age will contribute to how well he heals. He has been getting a little too "full of beans" in the stall (yay, he's feeling better!) and so we have started to give him daytime turnout with a quiet buddy. Cross your fingers that he behaves and doesn't tear out his stitches. It's heartbreaking to see him try to run, but yet encouraging because he feels well enough to try. I do wish that I could convince him to stay quiet for a little while longer so that the wounds can heal.

It is hard to not become almost phobic about fences after an event like this (my horse is fine, it's me who cringes every time he gets near the fence line). Horses are too good at finding trouble... my horse hurt himself in a well maintained fence around a large field that he has been in for three years with no issues... but obviously he kicked out in the wrong place. *sigh* I pestered the vet with fencing questions and he said that no matter what kind of fence it is, a horse will find a way to worry his humans. Aaargh, silly beasts!

I am so grateful to my "support team"... my vets, my barn owners, my boyfriend, my coach... and the horsie folks who have encouraged me with their stories about horses who recovered from similar injuries. It is scary when it is your first 'big' horse injury and it is your best horsie pal who is injured... help from horse-people with experience dealing with similar issues is invaluable. Thanks everyone!

Comment by Geoffrey Pannell on June 10, 2010 at 12:00am: Try and think of it as steps to the side not so much backwards ones Ferrous. Horses will always suprise you with their ability to heal. Cheers Geoffrey