Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Yep. We qualified for the California Dressage Society's Central Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) on the very last day. It's this weekend. Like I said in an earlier post, I was fine with not having qualified. I had already decided that it was too expensive anyway, and my money would be better spent on Speedy's vet bill (I kid you not, that thing is STILL sitting on my credit card). And then I got a wild hair and threw caution out the window. I downloaded the premium and realized that entries had closed the day before. In for a penny, in for a pound, right? I filled out the entry, paid my late fee, and started packing (mentally anyway.) And then on Tuesday, Speedy trotted off lame. I shook my head in disbelief. It was hard to be too mad about it, especially since I had only just decided to go to the show a week before. I pulled his tack and got on the phone with the vet. The only way to get even part of the entry back, which was a hefty one, was with a letter from a veterinarian. Just as my call was answered, my farrier, who was not supposed to come on Tuesday, pulled up the driveway! I quickly explained to the office manager that Speedy was lame, but I was going to have the farrier take a look, and I'd call her back. My farrier put the hoof tester on the right front, and wham-o! Speedy flinched pretty hard. A quick flick with the hoof knife revealed a small abscess track. My farrier dug down until a bit of blood appeared, but the abscess didn't drain. He was certain that the infection was higher up near the heels. A summertime abscess here in the land of baking heat is not so common unless your horse has Cushing's Disease. Before this past winter, Speedy had never abscessed in his life. It was three abscesses in quick succession that suggested to my vet that we should test for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Speedy's numbers came back just above normal, so we started him on daily Pergolide (Prascend). My farrier was certain this abscess was related to Speedy's Cushing's Disease. After some back and forth discussion, we decided to pack the hoof with Numotizene and cross our fingers. My farrier said it just might drain in time for the show, but if it got worse, I was to call him so he could clean it out some more. Sadly, it didn't get any worse, but it hasn't improved either. Yesterday, I sent an email to the show secretary telling her that Speedy and I had to withdraw. I attached the letter my vet had provided. I'll get most of my entry fee back, but I may need it to pay for this damn abscess if it won't drain on its own.
I've already called my farrier and asked if he can come back out to dig deeper, but I haven't heard back from him. Hopefully this thing resolves over the weekend. I go back to work officially on Monday, so it's going to be a lot harder to get Speedy into the vet to deal with this. Hell's bells; it's always something. 8/9/2019 10:32:53 am
Well, darn it! What a bummer. I swear, Speedy knows when there’s a show!😩
Marlane
8/9/2019 03:24:29 pm
I am so sorry. But wondering how long it will take for the Prascend to take effect ! and I know it is expensive because I had my 32 year old on it and decided he was not benefiting form it so I stopped giving it to him. 8/18/2019 01:54:19 pm
Speedy's ACTH levels are pretty low. The only way to know if the Prascend is controlling his ACTH levels in to test again in the late winter/early spring. There is no cure for Cushing's Disease. The Prascend can only help reduce the number and severity of symptoms. If I only had to worry about slow shedding, I'd probably just let nature take its course. Speedy is only 15 though, and for an Arab, that's quite young. Since I want to ride and compete with him for years to come, I'm willing to try and help him live a longer and healthier life. Fingers crossed that this abscess was a bit of a fluke. 8/9/2019 04:33:18 pm
Epsom Salts and Green Epsom Salt Poultice are your best friend. Comments are closed.
|
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
|