Tonto has not been well for a while. I haven't wanted to post about it because, well I guess writing it here makes the whole horrid situation more real. He hasn't held his weight, he has been choking on food, he has lost his confidence with other horses, he trips and falls too often for my liking and has been standing camped up behind. I think the aches and pains are getting too much for him. To try and help him I have put him on stable livery and upped his but. He is getting rugs this year and extra fattening foods and going to try some injections for arthritis.
Of course the boggy wet winter we are having this year is not helping. All the fields are waterlogged causing stress on his old joints. But if I just keep him in he will stiffen up. Can't win really. I am off to look at a yard in shame green for him on Saturday.
Unfortunately I am having little more luck with sof. The mud is causing her boots to fall off and she seems to be getting foot sore now her feet are soft. On top of this she still feels a bit uneven behind. I decided enough was enough and finally called the vet. She agreed low level lameness. First port of call is shoes on all four. Tommy is out tomorrow to pop them on.
So here end's our barefoot trail for now at least. I am disappointed, because her feet look great and she is so much more comfortable on most surfaces now. The other part of me is relived. No more fretting about weather I am doing the right thing. Obsessing over her feet. Spending ludercrass amounts on boots that don't fit. Fighting off endless critics. Still I suspect she will shoe pull, so I am not selling the boots just yet.
My theory for soft mystery lameness? Sods law dictates it will be hock arthritis. I do hope I am wrong.
And as bad news comes in threes, Emma bought a new horse so we have lost our lovely sharer.
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