Dodging Bullets

Dodge this!

"Dodge this!" Trinity says. I am a Matrix nut. I've seen all three movies many times and never tire of catching bits and parts on TV. We dodged most of a bullet this week, but we still got grazed. 


I am supposed to go to another Christian Schacht clinic this Saturday and Sunday, but Sydney is a teeny tiny bit lame so the clinic is still a maybe. It's a very strong maybe, but a maybe none-the-less.

My farrier, for whom I have the utmost respect, was out on Tuesday afternoon. He re-shod both boys, but he made a few changes on Sydney's feet. In an effort to continue to work on Sydney's heels, my farrier used a bigger, wider shoe that required slightly bigger nails.

Right after the shoeing, I hopped on Sydney for a ten minute ride. He felt fine, but by the next afternoon (Wednesday) he was grade three lame on the right front. I immediately put in a call to my farrier and gave Sydney some bute in a second dinner (he'd already eaten), which he refused to eat.

My farrier asked that I check on him early Thursday morning to see how he looked. I get to work around 6:30 a.m. so my barn visit was particularly early. Sydney proved to be even lamer than the night before. I left my farrier a text along with some very sad-faced emoticons. Not long after, he called to say he was coming into town to have a look.

Later that morning, my farrier checked back with me and dejectedly shared that he had found a "hot nail." He was horrified and very apologetic. He pulled the shoe, treated the affected nail hole with a solution to deter an infection, and replaced the slightly smaller shoe from before. When I checked on Sydney later that afternoon, he trotted off at nearly 99% sound. Whew!

My farrier works hard to continue his education (he's an AFA Journeyman Certified Farrier) and provide the best hoof care possible for his equine clients. Misplaced nails happen. My farrier shared that Sydney never flinched while being shod. No blood flowed, and he walked off sound after the shoeing. It was only after Sydney had stood around for a day that he started to show the tenderness.

Thankfully, he seems good to go for Saturday. He gets 2 and a half days to "recover," and he's getting bute for any inflammation; I called my vet and cleared it with him.  I'll be at the barn this afternoon to give Sydney one last check. If he trots off sound, we'll go. If he's even questionable, Speedy may be drafted back into service!

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