Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've followed a few blogs that showcased a healing wound, so I totally get it if these photos gross you out. If no one wants to see these photos, I can choose a different way to share his progress. By now, I am quite desensitized to the images myself, so there's nothing left but a clinical fascination. You might not feel that way however. As I post these photos today, I am shocked by how much the wound has healed! It looks to be half the size that it was a month ago. At this rate, Dr. Tolley's projected ten week healing time might not be that far off. I emailed the last photo to Dr. Tolley on Friday. He felt comfortable saying that it didn't appear to need further debridement (at this moment anyway). So for now, I am to keep wrapping as directed (every other day) with the white lotion, a fluid astringent preparation made of lead acetate, zinc sulfate, and water.
There is another product that he suggested I try, a hydrophilic foam pad made by Kendall. The pads are a couple of dollars each and would require two at a time (for now) to cover the length of the wound. I decided against this course for now since the white lotion is working really well. If the wound continues to heal well without more proud flesh developing, I might switch to the foam pads as he thinks they might promote quicker healing. If they work, I am willing to pay for them as they are far cheaper than the calcium alginate pads we tried a week or two ago. Overall, the time I've spent bandaging Izzy's leg has been quite productive. He's learned a lot and has had time to get comfortable in his home before being asked to work. In no time at all he'll be ready to saddle and start his new life.
Sandy
2/7/2015 11:39:31 pm
WOW! It is looking so much better! Great job both developing your bond with him AND tending to his wound! 2/8/2015 02:23:35 am
The thing, Sandy, is that he is a real trooper, or Soldier, as my pal KG calls him. If he had fussed over the bandages, our relationship might not be gong so well. :0)
Dom
2/8/2015 01:22:33 am
Looking good! 2/8/2015 02:24:11 am
To my complete surprise, it IS looking pretty good. :0) 2/8/2015 02:27:30 am
I am glad someone else finds the process interesting, Paola. I hate to see graphic photos used just for their shock value. That's why I've tried to limit mine. I also avoided showing the debridement as it was really gross. And since I couldn't really see anything other than flowing blood, I decided to skip photographing that part.
Val
2/8/2015 05:48:44 am
It seems like the was a big jump in the process around four weeks. He is looking good! 2/9/2015 09:52:10 am
That's what I thought! Hopefully he'll keep having those big healing jumps. :0) 2/9/2015 09:53:23 am
HAHA! I feel like I am taking one for the team. Knowledge is definitely power, and it sometimes works as a shield as well. If you know a lot about something, you'll never need to use it. :0) 2/8/2015 08:07:45 am
This is healing shockingly well! I was so pessimistic when I first saw the injury because it is huge and terrifying! However, I'm glad you have progression pictures because we can really see how well it is doing. 2/9/2015 09:56:35 am
I was horrified when I first saw it, but I wasn't too worried since my vet seemed pretty nonchalant about the severity of the wound, and he's a guy who likes to lay out the worst case scenario. He doesn't sugar coat things so when he said ten week or so, I kind of freaked out at first, but then realized that he would have told me straight out if this was career ending or a ten year process. 2/9/2015 09:58:52 am
I am taking pictures more than weekly, mostly so I can gauge any subtle changes, especially for the worse, but it's a more dramatic change to see weekly photos.
CindyA
2/9/2015 01:56:38 am
That looks AMAZING!! So glad you chose to bring him home and nurse him back yourself, a training barn probably wouldn't have gone the extra miles needed (even if it was a "good" barn)! Just don't let up and one day you will look at it and the realization will sink in that he's fully healed and you can ride again!! 2/9/2015 10:03:24 am
Not that I am the best at anything, but I trust my own care more than that of anyone else. My boys come second only after my husband, and he totally gets it if they need to come first for a bit. There's no chance that I'll slack and let those bandage go. :0)
I showed this post to my almost-a-surgeon husband who let out a loud "HOLY SHIT!" It's always hard to rattle the surgeons, so thanks ... :) 2/10/2015 10:31:00 am
I've heard from several MDs and have had the same response. :0) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI 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. About Speedy GSpeedy 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.
About IzzyIzzy 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.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
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
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