From racing to riding... the training diary of an off the track Standardbred

Friday, July 22, 2011

The Lame Game.

So Mr. Jet decided to bang up his knee on Monday. At first, I didn't really think much of it. All I saw was a small cut (not even a cut, just the hair was removed) on his right front knee. I trotted him out and he looked fine to me. Tuesday rolls around and the knee is swollen, with no heat. I trotted him out on a straightaway and again, he looked sound. Wednesday the knee is still swollen, no heat and he is still sound.

Thursday, a little less swollen, no heat. I lunged him a bit to see him go both directions in the morning. To the right (his bad way) he was completely fine. To the left, he looked slightly off on him...left front...what the heck Jet?! I felt that leg up and down and there is no heat, swelling, or anything.

Throughout all of this, I have been hosing his leg ATLEAST 2x a day for 20-25 min each time then putting Like Ice on it. Thursday I hosed both legs a few times during the day then lunged him again at night. He looked almost perfectly sound in both directions and only showed a shortness of stride around sharp turns in his left front. There has been no head bobbing, ouchiness on any types of terrain, lack of putting weight on it or anything like that. I attempted to give him a bit of bute but the fella can smell it from a mile away and won't eat anything with bute in it. I tried mixing it with grain, apples, carrots, maple syrup....nothing worked.

I am praying he will be fine tomorrow. We have a show *planned* for Sunday but if he isn't better by tomorrow, I will call it off. It isn't a big show anyways (just a few w/t classes) so its not much to fret over. If he is sound tomorrow, I will let him have that day off because the heat index will be around 110 degrees (he has had since Monday off but is the type of horse that doesn't have to be worked every. single. day.) then ride him Saturday and see how he feels undersaddle. If all is good, we will go to the show. If not, I won't be too upset over it.

I'll post again tomorrow with an update and a video if I can find the dang camera charger.