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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Sidelined Again - Part 2

2/15/2019

 
Holy smokes, was I ever touched by all of your comments and prayers about Speedy's recent injury! Thank you for that. On Monday, I was so angry, at who I don't know, and frustrated that I knew if I had tried to write about it, I would have simply spewed fire and brimstone. While I am still very disappointed and quite worried - things don't always heal as smoothly as we would like, I am no longer angry. I've settled into my usual workmanlike attitude. I have a job to do, so I am just going to crank it out. WIth that ...

Yesterday we left off with Speedy sutured and bandaged. I was discouraged by the injury, but with a plan in place, I decided to just move forward. It was what it was, but this too would pass. I wanted to hang out at the barn for a while to make sure that Speedy was okay, so I saddled up Izzy. 
Picture
From our last lesson.
I could hear Speedy calling as I rode, but that's pretty typical. He hates to be left behind. I worried a little bit that he might bang up his newly bandaged leg, but he had seemed quiet enough as I led Izzy away.

After our ride, I walked Izzy back toward his gate. My heart stopped. Blood was pouring down Speedy's other front leg, and hunks of hair were clinging to the bottom of the gate. Up until that point, we had been puzzled at how he had cut himself the first time. We had searched for any sign of hair or blood, but nothing was found. Now I knew. In addition, the first bandage was blood soaked and sagging. I was certain Speedy had ripped open the sutures.
Picture
The left front.
I quickly pushed Izzy into his paddock, keeping his halter in hand for Speedy. As I tearfully placed the halter on Speedy, I frantically placed a call to the ranch owner. Speedy was dancing in hand, his marbles having been lost an hour earlier. I dragged him over to the hose and quickly began flushing the wound with cold water. I needed to see how deep it actually was.

My heart had already sunk so many times that morning that I simply quit thinking straight or logically. I had enough sense to snap a photo and send it to my vet, but from that point on, I was either sobbing while hyperventilating, or just sobbing. Just how much can one person take?

I called the vet again and was put straight through to the office manager. She urged me to take a breath and assured me that both vets would look at the photo immediately. I was still sobbing.

By this point the ranch owner had joined me and reassured me that it didn't look as bad as I feared. The bleeding quickly slowed to a trickle - which was probably mostly water by that point anyway. As I weeped incoherently into the phone, I handed it to her and she explained what we were seeing.

​Both vets confirmed that it could be stapled closed if I wanted, or I could just as easily wrap it as I had the other one. Both wounds would heal in a similar time frame.
Picture
Two days later Speedy was sporting three bandaged legs. I am half way waiting for him to injure the fourth one to ease my OCD.
With the ranch owner's help, I slowly calmed down and carefully removed the first bandage. To my relief, there was no additional damage, just some seeping of blood. With Speedy protesting, I rewrapped that wound and then bandaged the new one. By the time we finished, Speedy had been stuffed full of candy, and now had three freshly bandaged legs.

On Wednesday, I removed all of the bandages in order of severity; I did the hind leg first. To my surprise, the wound had scabbed over and looked mostly healed. That leg was off my worry list.
Picture
Monday
Picture
Wednesday
​
The less-injured front leg looked remarkably better, prayer is a powerful thing. Even though the wound looked nearly knit together, I decided to re-bandage it anyway.
Picture
Monday
Picture
Wednesday
Feeling a bit encouraged by the progress of the first two wounds, I slowly unwrapped the final leg. Since I had stepped out of the treatment bay as the wound was being stitched, I didn't see it freshly sutured. I did see it flayed open however, so when I had a chance to closely exam Dr. Tolley's work, I was of course grossed out. After getting over my ew response, I closely examined the stitches and felt amazement at what he was able to repair.
Picture
Monday
Picture
Wednesday
Since Tuesday morning, I've been at the barn twice daily to give Speedy his antibiotics. If I was grateful for last weekend's three-day weekend, I am even more so this weekend. Driving out there twice a day has made this a long couple of days. I'll give Speedy the final dose of antibiotics on Monday afternoon.

I am also re-wrapping every other day. Today is a re-wrap day, so I am optimistic that things will have continued to improve. It might even be that the front leg without the stitches might be healed enough to stop bandaging. My fingers are crossed.
Picture
So I can tell which one is which.
I am deeply disappointed, but my emotions are firmly in check. I haven't cried since Tuesday, and I am already moving on. Speedy's life is going to suck for a month or so, but then we'll be back at it. 

​Have a great weekend!
Kathy link
2/15/2019 06:17:36 am

Let me know if I can help. I’m just down the road👍🏻❤️😊

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/15/2019 12:17:08 pm

You know I will.

Jamie
2/15/2019 07:42:41 am

Please don't beat yourself up for crying or getting upset, anyone would be & releasing your tension & emotions is important.

That said, BAD Speedy!! is he on any sort of calming supplement to help with the rampant idiocy? I'm so sorry, I really sympathize with you.. :(

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/15/2019 12:18:54 pm

He's actually a mellow guy. We've just had some changes that have stressed him out a bit. The ranch owner is working with me to alter his environment a bit. I'll definitely write a blog post about it.

Jamie
2/15/2019 03:44:21 pm

Oh, I gotcha.... Poor guy! Poor you more, but stress injuring is a not cool hobby... :S

Karen T
2/15/2019 11:49:23 am

Well you handled this just about the same way ANY of us would. Horses, man.

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/15/2019 12:19:45 pm

Occasionally I wonder if they're worth it. I can still answer yes, but check back with me next week. :0)

Patti Strauch, DVM link
2/16/2019 09:02:32 am

Speedy. Take care of yourself! No more self destruction! For those of us who follow several blogs, our moods rise & fall with the bloggers’ mishaps. We want to read show results , see pretty satin, not the opposite!

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/18/2019 05:40:54 am

Agreed! I am all in if he is! :0)

Gina Meronek
2/17/2019 09:44:35 pm

You poor thing, it's only natural to have to release with a good cry or three after something that scary and frustrating. Sometimes I think the horses who need the most care end up with the people that can care for them, but on the flip side I wish they'd stop proving what great owners they have! Will be sending good thoughts your way and hope Speedy heals like his name.

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/18/2019 05:44:11 am

Thank you for that, Gina. I've been wondering "why" he's had such a difficult past few months.

I don't believe that God gives us these challenges, but I do believe that there are lessons to be learned from them. Maybe it is as you said; Speedy has been placed in my care because somehow I am uniquely able to care for him. Looking at it that way puts the situation in a more positive light. Thank you!


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.
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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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    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.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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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
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    • 2016
    • 2015
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