Chiro - Round II

If nothing else, I am persistent. There is nothing that gets my juices flowing like a good problem; I am a dog with a bone. If there is a problem, you can bet that I will not rest until I have figured it out. Izzy's recent mystery ailment is a case in point.

CC called them Mutt and Jeff!

The other day, I wrote about all of the many ways I have tried to figure out what has been wrong with Izzy. After texting with Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage, I decided to go with his advice which was to use an anti-inflammatory for a few days, Equioxx to be specific. Sean's thinking was that if Izzy felt better quickly, it would suggest pain as opposed to attitude. Depending on the outcome of that experiment, my next call was going to be to my vet.

Mutt and Jeff were two very mis-matched cartoon characters created in 1907.

Yesterday morning, I "borrowed" a week's worth of Equioxx from the ranch owner and asked her to be eyes on the ground while I did a trot out with Izzy. He is very difficult to trot out because he turns into a rocket on a string which makes it impossible to identify any lameness. Despite his antics, she agreed that something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it either. As we stood talking about it, I showed her a few of the diagnostic techniques CC uses when he's doing bodywork on Izzy. As I showed her the method to check for soreness in the C7, Izzy whipped around and nipped my arm with his mouth.

CC uses a gentle press and squeeze.

It wasn't a malicious nip, and I think it even surprised Izzy because he looked kind of shocked that he had reacted so aggressively. I didn't mind in the least because it told me that we weren't finished with the body work. I immediately called CC and described what had happened, and then I offered to drive up to his place if he had time to see us. He said he'd see me when I got there. 

CC wears many hats: rider, trainer, judge, chiropractor, and now farrier. When I pulled in, he was shoeing one of his client's horses, a mare with a bit of white line disease. The man continues to surprise me. I did not know that he was also a farrier, but it's good to know. While he worked on the mare, I looped Izzy's lead rope around CC's hitching rail and went to watch him work. It was a good opportunity for Izzy to stand and relax, and of course in no time, he and the three-year old he was tied next to started up a serious bromance.

By the time the mare and client had loaded up and headed towards home, Izzy was bored and much more relaxed. In no time at all he showed CC where he was sore, C7 & ribs. I could tell that CC felt like he might not have done his job right when he had come to our place last week, but I quickly dismissed that and said he could only fix what Izzy showed him. For this visit, CC again worked on the C7 and the rib heads. By the time he was done, Izzy's demeanor had changed. He looked much more like his usual, goofy self.

When I unloaded him at home, Izzy walked off with his regular swagger, eager to graze and visit with his pals. CC gave me the okay to ride this morning, and suggested I hold off on the Equioxx until we know for sure that we got it. He didn't want the Equioxx to mask any pain. I am feeling very confident that we've worked out Izzy's issue. His every thought gets written across his face, and after CC was finished with him, Izzy had that dopey, I wuv you and you and you look on his face.

And if he's still not right, I'll give my vet a call. I don't think that's going to be necessary though.