Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Izzy's Leg: Update 10

4/5/2015

 
Izzy went to the vet hospital on Friday for his *vaccinations, which also gave Dr. Tolley a chance to see the wound without me having to schedule (and pay for) an extra trip to the vet. Before he looked at the wound though, we discussed Izzy's over-all health. While Dr. Tolley has seen Izzy a few times this year already, those visits were more about wound care rather than over-all care. I had some questions.
Picture
A shot in the thigh ...
My first concern was Izzy's weight. As Izzy's activity level has increased, he has lost some weight. Both Dr. Tolley and I pegged him as a 4.5 on the Henneke Body Condition Scale, which is too thin. I like my horses to be closer to a 6. Dr. Tolley felt that Izzy could gain 150 pounds without anyone even kind of suggesting he was fleshy.
Picture
The Henneke Body Condition Scale
I had discussed increasing his hay ration a few times with my barn owner, but no real changes were made until this week. Dr. Tolley confirmed that Izzy should be getting at least twenty-five to thirty pounds of alfalfa a day. He also recommended three pounds of beet pulp mixed with another two pounds of rice bran, which I was already doing.

Dr. Tolley also put the weight tape on, but I forgot to get the reading - darn it! Rudy, BVH's handler, also pulled out a measuring stick to verify my initial measurement of 16'3 hands. Dr. Tolley read it at 16'3 and a quarter. Unfortunately, Izzy might still grow a bit. He'll be seven in May, but I know Arabs can grow until they're eight. I don't need a 17-hand horse, but Dr. Tolley told me to be prepared!
Once we had finished taking care of Izzy's weight, feeding changes, vaccinations, and other little issues (what's that divot in his neck from?), we moved on to his leg. Saturday marked the end of week 12, and the wound is almost healed. Even though it has taken a few weeks longer than Dr. Tolley originally predicted, it looks very good.

In fact, Dr. Tolley said it looked so good that I could quit wrapping it now if I wanted to. While that sounded great, I didn't want to just quit cold turkey. Instead, I asked if I could wrap it one more week with the little medicated pads (soaked in a saline solution) that we had tried a few months ago. Dr. Tolley felt that was a great compromise. 

Before we left the hospital, I re-wrapped Izzy's leg as before, but instead of a telfa pad soaked in White Lotion, I substituted a medicated foam pad soaked with saline solution (to create a wet dressing). I have three foam pads left, one of which will be used today.
Picture
January 10, 2015
Picture
April 1, 2015
So that's where we stand: one more week of wrapping. There will probably be a tiny bit of open wound remaining however, so Dr. Tolley suggested I use Aluminum Bandage Spray. Heres the thing, he said I'll only need to use it once. Once? He felt that a one-time application should protect the wound for long enough for it to finish closing on its own.

Once the real bandages come off, Dr. Tolley did confirm that polo wraps would be a good idea for all turn out and riding as the new skin is delicate. He also said that in a year, I'll have to look very closely to find the scar. That was the best thing I've heard in a long time.
I'll have at least one more update, maybe two. Stay tuned!


* Eastern & Western Encephalitis, Tetnus, Flu/Rhino, Strangles (BVH's Core Vaccines)
Jodi link
4/5/2015 12:42:25 am

I'm so glad that he's almost all healed up!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/5/2015 01:18:23 am

Me (and my checkbook) too!

Cathryn K link
4/5/2015 02:46:46 am

This is such an exciting update! His leg looks so much better.

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/5/2015 09:45:13 am

Thanks, Cathryn! I am pretty happy about it. :0)

jenj
4/5/2015 11:13:37 am

Wow, looking GREAT! And only one more week of wrapping! Awesome!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/6/2015 09:34:22 am

I am SO happy about it. :0)

Tracy link
4/6/2015 04:22:26 am

The wound is looking really good!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/6/2015 09:35:22 am

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I probably wouldn't believe it had healed so well! :0)

emma link
4/6/2015 05:24:36 am

so exciting that it's almost completely healed!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/6/2015 09:36:10 am

It definitely calls for a woot woot!

Amanda link
4/7/2015 01:20:24 am

AAH! Awesome! Wow, that looks so fantastic!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/8/2015 10:27:10 pm

Better and better every day!!!! :0)


Comments are closed.

    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.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2023 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    2023 Show Schedule
    TBD

    ​2023 Completed …
    Pending

    2023 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    Qualifying Training Level
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
    Score 1:
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    Archives
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home