Well....shock horror..AliG aint perfect after all :0
If you remember Ellie broke into the field with him and Polo a few days ago ,everyone was fine and they'd all be in together for a month Ellie just getting stripped off because she was getting too much grass so nothing to write home about.
Ellie came into season a few days ago and Ali has been rather interested but fine and managable just bit of shouting and 'bits' hanging out etc.
Marina went up to put some hay in for Ellie in her bare paddock Tuesday evening and he somehow managed to get past her into Ellie's bit,they then both ran past her again and escaped into the big field!
Marina said Ali was trying always to have his wicked way and Ellie was very happy with the attention!She tried for over an hour to catch Ellie who kept running away with Ali so went and asked the YO's hubby for help, they eventually caught Ellie but as they were leading her out AliG managed to squeeze out the gate THREE TIMES so she put Ellie in the nearest stable and you guessed it Ali squeezed in there with her too!
I have to say I couldnt for the life of me work out how he managed to get past them that many times ,im afraid i'd have got a whip or a brush and walloped him after he'd barged past the first time that type of behaviour is a danger to him and other's.Having said that I dont think he was being out and out naughty it was just the smell of Ellie and the lingering hormones but it still doesnt excuse what happened and mean he should be allowed to get away with doing it.
Anyway it all sounded a bit crazy so Alig and Ellie are going out at opposite times for the next few days until she comes out of season,we may have to strip the field in half for the winter until all the hormones are gone but will wait and see how they go when Ellie rejoins them.They were all absolutely fine in together before and they've are right next to each other in the field now so im very suprised it's all happened now.
Its funny but Ali so knew he was in bother when I got to the farm lets just say keeping his head down was an understatement,I brushed him, picked his feet up to test him and he did everying immediately with a sheepish look in his eye..well least he had the decency to know he'd done wrong!Funny but Polo' like that too,when he's done something silly or naughty he really grovels for attention afterwards:)
Guess what Polo did during it all??Kept out the way and watched I KNEW he wasnt 100%:))
Which leads us on to today.The vet came out and I was quite suprise with her findings but it makes sense.I explained he wasnt quite right,terrible to school and just didnt feel completely sound so she had a look at his side said there was a little bit of puss still there to get out but not that bad to account for what I was describing.So watched him trot up and down and reckons he has a touch of arthritis in his hocks with his right one being slightly worse.She thinks it a combination of him having time out of work,putting weight on,loss of fitness/condition and simply his age!She feels said its very slight and is sure once he gets back into work and fitter he'l be back to normal ..I suppose he's never shown any signs of aging before so I felt rather sad about it;(
She wants him on bute for a while to get him loosened up and mobile then hopefully reduce this down to only if and when I think he needs it..Caroline you still got any of your DIY stuff?
Im going to get my Bowen lady out next week,vet thought it would be really beneficial to him and ive got to track down some Echinacia (place I bought it from in the past doesnt have any now).
To top things off he'd broken out in loads of lumps and swellings all over his body, put a clean rug on that i'd washed and the detergent must have irritated him(he's had these reactions in the past),its the same one as usual but bless him I think his immune system must be a bit challenged at the moment.
Oh had a chat about AliG's splint and she agreed rest then when its completely cool and hard start work again but thinks a couple of longreining sessions on soft ground wouldnt do any harm.
So Polo is to have gentle work with a long warm up,bute and Bowen..AliG is getting his cream on his leg and a couple of longreining sessions a week.
6 comments:
oh dear, well that was a bit of a mixed bag! hope Polo comes right again soon, I expect he will...perhaps some glucosamine might be an idea? Had old Queenie on the Equine America stuff for a few years, seemed to help her...it's a shade pricey, other people are doing similar now...
I think I'm pleased that Ali isn't a saint. I think you'd be bored to tears if he was, after a horse like Polo.
It sounds like you've got him just in time too, if Polo needs a quieter life with his aches and pains.
Glucosamine is definitely a good idea. Cheapest place to get it is in Cortaflex off eBay, where people sell the US import. Cheapest reliable source is Gold Label from Robinsons and also in my local tack store, 50 days for £20.
My recipe was - 25 litres of cider vinegar (ask the school caterers to get you the cheapest stuff, about £15) Add 1 kg of devil's claw root, sold mail order by Hilton Herbs for about £25. Feed at 50ml per day, lasts 500 days :-)))
C
Keep cool, otherwise you'll end up with Devil's Claw cider wine!!!
C
Well, AliG was a bit naughty, even so. But sometimes it does take a while for the hormones to settle down. Lola was probably quite pleased with all the attention.
Oh, it is hard when our horses get older. Managing the exercise program for them can get tricky. Exercise is usually a good idea to help keep them sound. My vet recommends Cortaflex too, so I agree with Caroline.
There are also rubs with glucosamine in them as well. Don't know how they work, but I used to mix glucosamine from human vitamins into DMSO to make a rub for Tucker's ankle where he had an injury. The other thing I used and emu oil and glucosamine: Cryo Gel. I got that on eBay too.
It would be nice to have the opportunity to be bored... occasionally:))
I used to have Polo on Cortaflex religiously because of his front leg injury but I suppose he's always been so sound I stopped using it..plonker!Plus the supplement I use from Simple Systems has linseed in which is good for joints so kind of thought that would be enough.
I'll get him back on that and have some Arnica gel I can rub in .
Im sure he'l come right with managment,he hasnt huge mileage compared to alot of horses his age because ive always been quite cautious due to his front leg.
Was just a bit of a shock to the system knowing he's starting to show signs of ageing!
Hello
have been having a sneaky look at your blog to see how you are getting on with Ali.
Have had to put Polo's psuedo brother Monty on a glucosomin suppliment too. Theres a guy from Durham Andy Bell of Equine Answers. I have bought a tub of premier flex which if it all it is cracked up to be has more in it than Corteflex and at £39.99 for four months supply is worth a go. The web site is www.equineanswers.co.uk
I shall keep lurking and keeping an eye on you and your brood. By the way have all the puppies gone?
Anne H
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