When You Knew It All Along...

When Sailor's issues undersaddle started last October, I was scared- scared because I knew most likely what it was, and scared for what it meant for our future. I did saddle fittings, a new saddle, chiropractic work, hock injections. All because I knew it was ruling things out, and would be things I ultimately needed to continue after Sailor's diagnosis.

Back in May- I pointed out to my chiropractor his weird vertebrae. It was out of alignment; she put reduced it, and recommended working long and low to build his topline. If the vertebrae gave him no more trouble, we were good to go.

So that month, we started walking for 30 minutes a day 5-6 days a week, then the next week walking 10-15, trotting 10, walking 10-15. By the last week of June, we were walking for 10, trotting for 15, cantering both directions, and cooling out on the buckle out of the ring. I jumped him over 2 cross-rails. We took a lesson and he was the best he had ever been.

Then he fell apart again- never rearing or behavior like before, but inverted at the trot, defiant when asked to get round, tense and guarded at the walk. So I had the vet out again, who recommended this time we go to Hagyard's and get him worked up.

So we did. And the vet saw what had stumped us all- a sound horse with a great topline, mild back pain, decent saddle fit, but a horse with a switch: perfect on the lunge line one direction, dangerous in the other direction.

And on X-rays? Kissing spine everywhere.

So we've injected his back. Put him on a calming supplement. Started a Bute/Robaxin taper. Adding in Shockwave. Starting him in a Pessoa while re-teaching him how to lunge because he's become a rank creature. And hoping for the best. The diagnosis could not have come a worse time (but is there ever a good time?) with me having to leave town for 5 days in mid-July for a wedding, so I'll be limiting my merry-making so I can make the 45-60 minute commute back and forth daily to continue his PT.

The veterinarian thinks if we can get him under control, he can go back to being a 2'9"-3' horse. I think he will never be the 1.10m jumper I purchased him to be.

My goal now is to get him happy, comfortable, and trained to see where he will take me. I've always said that if he will not be a 1.10m horse, that's okay- but he needs a job, especially while I have Candy in retirement.

 I'm not optimistic, and I see retirement or euthanasia-if the pain gets too bad- in his near future, and it breaks my heart since this little peanut means the world to me.