tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post5956681616227582903..comments2023-09-16T06:21:35.320-07:00Comments on Pia's (and Prairie!) Parade: Maintaining Perspective on MaintenanceGinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06677667981067220682noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-43912060302818364152021-06-27T11:12:49.814-07:002021-06-27T11:12:49.814-07:00Absolutely valuable information that you have writ...Absolutely valuable information that you have written above. I am really impress with your working. Quite helpful and valuable information.Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><a href="https://www.kentmskclinic.co.uk/subacromial-bursitis/" rel="nofollow">Cortisone Injection in West Malling</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16906373173560095689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-3495327146150899292015-04-30T04:59:51.349-07:002015-04-30T04:59:51.349-07:00I struggled with the same thing with Spirit for ye...I struggled with the same thing with Spirit for years, and then with Yankee when he had slight pain when he turned 11..I was devastated at ELEVEN he was showing signs. BUt injections kept him free and clear for a few years. I just know that if it becomes too routine, its time to throw in the towel. Not worth pushing it for human gain.Checkmark115https://www.blogger.com/profile/08875106264738444238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-52695111532134962202015-04-27T08:32:14.144-07:002015-04-27T08:32:14.144-07:00Excellent post--Courage is a tough, though definit...Excellent post--Courage is a tough, though definitely not stoic, horse who hasn't needed that sort of maintenance yet. That said, his body has A LOT of miles on it, and I know it's coming. He takes good care of himself and isn't hard on himself, so fingers crossed it will be a much lighter regime than last time around. <br /><br />I really don't have a problem with maintenance, as long as it serves to keep the horse sound and happy in appropriate work. SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-36249297476066703672015-04-25T15:26:54.953-07:002015-04-25T15:26:54.953-07:00I have my first horse that has ever had injections...I have my first horse that has ever had injections. It was a really hard decision for me (and I totally cried afterwards). They actually didn't help him a lot but they didn't really do any harm either. I'm learning to have a more open mind about the whole idea. Great post!KateRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870548960430847612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-11944647536148538472015-04-24T21:41:45.852-07:002015-04-24T21:41:45.852-07:00I. Love. This.
The first pony I ever really comp...I. Love. This. <br /><br />The first pony I ever really competed on and leased for 4 years was similar to your Star, in that he got a pound maybe of sweet feed twice a day and that was it. He lived out, didn't get a single supplement, never got injected, didn't have a fancy half pad, saddle wasn't fit specifically for him. I just got on, rode and we kicked butt. He's still rocking it around jumper courses (saw pictures of him, at 13.3hh mind you, and his kid jumping 4 foot last summer!!) and is probably in his early 20s with zero maintenance. He doesn't even have shoes on. And he LOVES his job.<br /><br />Now, my own personal horse is the polar opposite. He gets special shoeing, supplements, Adequan, has been injected, has a BOT mesh sheet, gets chiro work when necessary, needs specific low starch/high fat grain otherwise he's a hot mess, the list goes on... I often wonder if I should retire him and let him be a horse somewhere warm for the rest of his life. But I remind myself that no two horses are alike and naughty ponies are very different than opinionated OTTBs. My horse likes a job. He can't keep his job unless I do some maintenance. If it keeps him comfortable, happy and is safe to administer, then I'll give it a go. :)<br />Becky + Digbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09788041309826669742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-77106583835286552932015-04-24T16:56:36.852-07:002015-04-24T16:56:36.852-07:00Wow is this timely. I have this irrational deal w...Wow is this timely. I have this irrational deal with my horse where I feel like if he can't do the lower level ammy stuff I want without medical help he should just go live in a field forever unridden. Thank you for talking about this, it helped me take a deep breath. Now, a couple years ago where I could barely go 2 months without him needing hock and coffin injections just to barely be at 1st level...that was when some serious evaluation and soul searching was required. Ummmm...fortunately?!...he broke his pastern where his layup diffused those issues entirely once we started back under saddle and he hasn't needed anything other than a little chiro here and there. Nicku Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07006911603623063201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-16199661918199584372015-04-24T15:14:53.573-07:002015-04-24T15:14:53.573-07:00I kind of love this post, lady. You hit it right o...I kind of love this post, lady. You hit it right on when you talked about the change when you considered your own "soundness." As a runner, I know intimately all the aches and pains and little injuries that happen with regular activity. It's life. <br />When I apply that to my horse, an active guy who loves having a job and is stoic beyond belief, I can't imagine not giving him the same care I give myself. He gets injections for the joints with problems, because they help. He gets bute on days when the rainy weather makes him creaky. His workload is varied so he doesn't work the same muscles, and I allow him plenty of time to decompress. It's important. He's an athlete, why not treat him like one?Austenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13004088333430762406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-37622011865418571812015-04-24T13:46:54.380-07:002015-04-24T13:46:54.380-07:00I, too,use my own body and reactions to treatments...I, too,use my own body and reactions to treatments as a gauge to whether or not to try something on my horse. Since they can't talk to us, we need to research things as best we can.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15925650148327532110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-45704466199536412042015-04-24T13:24:58.649-07:002015-04-24T13:24:58.649-07:00nice thought-provoking post! i agree completely wi...nice thought-provoking post! i agree completely with the idea protecting against the general little things that make a horse less comfortable in its work. tho perhaps it's worth adding that evidence suggests regular maintenance can also help protect against catastrophic breakdowns - definitely something i can get behind! emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-1086600829954267792015-04-24T11:42:33.508-07:002015-04-24T11:42:33.508-07:00In my case it's a big name lameness vet in the...In my case it's a big name lameness vet in the area that I trust and he has been great about coming back and looking at Phoenix (and not charging for farm calls so far). He just said it was bad luck to have such a bad inflammatory reaction, especially when he has injected my horse before with the same meds. He doesn't believe infection is involved but did send off joint fluid for testing. Still waiting on the results, which will hopefully be good news.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-73123771995064904672015-04-24T10:40:23.324-07:002015-04-24T10:40:23.324-07:00Even just maintenance for pain free in everyday li...Even just maintenance for pain free in everyday life as a horse. A horse may not jump 3'6" on its own in the wild but to walk, trot and canter, freely, properly and without pain, that's gotta be key.L.Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05052638724440787772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-23313424425821926862015-04-24T10:36:46.346-07:002015-04-24T10:36:46.346-07:00Well said. I traveled a similar road in my head, a...Well said. I traveled a similar road in my head, and now keeping my horses healthy and pain-free is the best thing. Where that line is will be different for everyone.jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-21128314581721234792015-04-24T09:56:31.808-07:002015-04-24T09:56:31.808-07:00I really love this post. I have adopted a similar...I really love this post. I have adopted a similar philosophy to you, and have a horse that needs a little more help than most at his age. To me, the best thing for him is to keep him fit, happy and pain free so he can work as long as possible. It is a fine line and I don't know where I draw it yet. So long as he enjoys his job and can do it without pain, I'm happy.SheMovedtoTexashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062200290148658096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-72975644571664376082015-04-24T09:47:14.730-07:002015-04-24T09:47:14.730-07:00I've gone through a similar mental cycle about...I've gone through a similar mental cycle about maintenance over the last few years. It's certainly a fine line and a slippery slope, but I 100% agree that as long as you are always making decisions where the bottom line is the welfare and care of the horse, then that's the most important thing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14443209253064570063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-25905012567299232152015-04-24T09:38:42.421-07:002015-04-24T09:38:42.421-07:00Good point, I should say that I won't let just...Good point, I should say that I won't let just anyone near Prair for her tune ups. I had a good friend with a *horror* story of an experience where a simple injection ended up infecting the tendon sheath and she was about 2 hours from having to put the horse down when she finally started responding to antibiotics... Mind you the vet in that instance is not someone I would trust, but there is definitely always a risk. (and that is not always discussed...)Ginghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06677667981067220682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-48196631755812203312015-04-24T09:35:39.023-07:002015-04-24T09:35:39.023-07:00Thanks for providing another perspective. My sport...Thanks for providing another perspective. My sport has always been riding and I've not had any experiences with needing injections for myself.<br /><br />In general I am very unsure how I feel about injections. My most recent experience with Phoenix and the fact that I still can't ride him a full month later due to a reaction when he was sound but in my mind uncomfortable before the injections has left me with a lot of guilt and the feeling that I was pushing for something. I just want him to be comfortable while he does what he likes doing. <br />Stampede on the other hand may be a different case. Even with injections I'm not sure he's very comfortable but he's a hard read. I may still try the new injection and rehab plan I attempted to start so many months ago, but I do have my doubts. <br />Injections are certainly a very personal decision and not something to take lightly for sure. The risks and the rewards are both very real.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-15083069930955449492015-04-24T09:27:29.156-07:002015-04-24T09:27:29.156-07:00well said :)well said :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15451566561739069413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-67333525452582480352015-04-24T09:14:49.087-07:002015-04-24T09:14:49.087-07:00For sure it is easier to have clarity when there i...For sure it is easier to have clarity when there is a specific issue to address (cough cough, we have a couple). I would have a much harder time with trying to determine the "right" amount of maintenance when there's nothing diagnosable to treat... murky waters indeed. But even in the gray (which Prair's back often is), it's crazy the difference it makes in her self carriage, and in turn her topline/muscling. So I just always have to remind myself that even if it's a 5% improvement, that 5% (for her) allows her to protect her own body and strengthen all her support systems. <br /><br />But man is it a tricky question - and rarely with an obvious "right" answer :)Ginghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06677667981067220682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-1786567377684035412015-04-24T09:11:08.630-07:002015-04-24T09:11:08.630-07:00You know, I've been tossing and turning about ...You know, I've been tossing and turning about this a lot myself, so your post, as ever, is resonating with me. I injected Tucker's hocks on the advice of a trainer two years ago. IWhen we got them done the vet had this "eh, it won't hurt," attitude about it, but at the time I wanted to do what the trainer thought was best. He hasn't been injected since, and in fact isn't even on a joint supplement (injectible or feed through) at the moment. And I don't know if that means I'm a bad horse owner or not... On the one hand he's sound, but this work certainly isn't easy for him and maybe it would be easier with maintenance? I'm pretty sure a vet would be happy to inject him, because last time even though he wasn't "lame" after flexion, he recommended it anyway ($$$). So I just keep having the same conversation with myself, over and over....<br /><br />And in response to your post, you definitely seem like you're doing a really good job with Prairie, and making responsible choices for her. I wish I had the same clarity about my own horse though!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13790278181159401158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4855187223809114916.post-76290537919242233862015-04-24T08:57:19.603-07:002015-04-24T08:57:19.603-07:00But it most certainly is not a free pass to a high...But it most certainly is not a free pass to a higher level. <-- That right there speaks volumes to me.Cathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15652933884652697666noreply@blogger.com