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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Hoof Drama

2/11/2020

 
On Thursday afternoon, I clipped a lot of Speedy's fetlock hair in preparation for this weekend's upcoming show. I spent a lot of time looking at his feet while I hacked away at all those feathers. Afterwards, I gave him a pretty good work out. The next afternoon, while doing my daily "check," I saw this.
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How in the world?
I groaned out loud, and my stomach rolled unpleasantly. I needed a second pair of eyes, so I immediately texted the ranch owner. She came out and looked at it with me. It was definitely not there the afternoon before, and in fact, it looked old. We both stood there poking it and tossing out ideas. Maybe he ...  He could have ...  What if he ...  Neither of us had ever seen anything like it.

I jogged him out. He was sound. I carved at it with a hoof pick. It collapsed in a bit more. All the while, Speedy stood there half asleep, occasionally checking for treats as I rested his hoof on my thigh. Nothing I did elicited any kind of pin response, and Speedy's not particularly stoic. 

Our best diagnosis was that it might have been an old abscess that never surfaced. That didn't ring true though as he hadn't been unsound. And with Speedy, abscesses have hurt enough to make him really lame. Our other thought was that he whacked it some time ago, forming a bruise. It could also be something completely different. Whatever it was, we surmised that during our ride the day before, his hoof must have flexed enough to weaken the damaged part of the hoof which then flaked away.
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Internet image.
My most immediate concern was that the hole might be deep enough to have gone through the hoof wall into the sensitive lamina. As we studied Speedy's hoof, we did some very rudimentary measurements and determined that the hole was probably still within the horn of the hoof. Just to be on the safe side, I flushed the hole with Betadine solution which would help reduce the risk of infection. It was just after 5:00 which meant  my vet's office was closed for the day. Since Speedy wasn't in any pain, I decided to wait until the next morning before calling the vet.
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The next day.
The next morning, the hole looked less ragged. I decided to ride before calling the vet. I wanted to see if I felt anything that was Not Quite Right (NQR). We had a great ride, and the next day, Speedy gave me the best third Level work he's ever done. 

Needless to say, I haven't called the vet yet. It seems that whatever it was, it resolved itself long ago, and today I am just looking at the remnants. My farrier is due in early March. I'll let him tell me what he thinks it was.
Nicole
2/11/2020 05:27:23 am

Dottie did something similar new years 2019. She was not off at all. It took a awhile to grow out.

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/14/2020 06:34:49 am

It hasn't changed, and I am desperate to know what caused it. He's still sound though! I am hoping that a friend of mine's husband (he's a farrier) will be out to look at it this weekend.

Jamie
2/11/2020 07:52:10 am

Good grief... why do we like horses again?? lol! fingers crossed that he's just sloughing off old damage..

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/14/2020 06:35:38 am

I don't know! It still looks like whatever it was, happened a while a ago. It's definitely not getting worse though.

lytha
2/11/2020 10:41:05 am

This is fascinating to me cuz you said that in Cali you have, generally, better hoof health due to the arid footing.

And I must tell you about the time Baasha stepped on a nail that went directly through his frog, deeply, and he was not lame at all.

WTH. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this now.

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/14/2020 06:37:32 am

Yes, we generally do see hooves that are more structurally sound. I am not sure what caused this. It might have something to do with his Cushing's disease, but I am also thinking he simply whacked it in play. He loves to kick out when he and Izzy and playing games over the fence. Punctures are one of my worst equine fears. Amazing that Baasha wasn't lame!


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
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    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
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    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
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