The saga of Circe

Life with Circe, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1527" align="alignleft" width="225"] The red-head[/caption] Circe's been lame for about 3 weeks now. It started with right front lameness and a suspected bruise. She was taken out of work while i waited for it to heal or abscess. It did neither. My farrier came out and Circe came off the hoof testers pretty hard but it was all over sore. It was time for the redhead to get shoes (clips, pads, magic cushion). We did that and hoped with a day or two she would be better. She wasn't. The day after the shoes went on a lump appeared on the inside of her right leg, below the knee. There was heat along with swelling. Ice, poultice, wrap for a couple days. No change in her lameness. I was…
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You give me fever

Life with Circe, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1488" align="alignleft" width="300"] I no feel well mom[/caption] I got the call from my friend Stacy who was doing evening feedings and turn out at my barn while Sammy was out of town. Circe was off her food. She hadn't really touched her hay, drank very little water and was picking at her grain aka ration balancer. She seemed really "mellow" and Stacy who knows Circe was concerned. I asked a ton of questions including. 1. How much poop? only 2.5. piles and she was in all day 2. Gut sounds?  low gurgling on both sides but faint I called the vet. Not something i wanted to do being as it was Saturday night (I could hear the money flying from my wallet as i made the call) I…
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Magic

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_1412" align="alignleft" width="225"] Lead rope fun waiting on the Doc[/caption] Since Miss Jezebel is back in work 4 days a week i wanted to have Dr Jim come out and give her the once over. Hes the chiro, acupuncture, vet, bio-mechanic guy i had come out and and who diagnosed her with the ulcers and all that jazz back in March. The idea is I want to be sure that any tude i get from Jez is in the mind and not the body. Its not fair to get after a horse too hard who's in pain. So i had Dr Jim come out. I was lucky he has other clients at my facility (of course he does its a high performance barn and hes the best) So I…
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This and that

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB
[caption id="attachment_1237" align="alignleft" width="300"] Finally standing at the block[/caption] When the vet came out to chip the girls i had her to an evaluation on their body conditions, i spoke to her about the constant heat cycles, their separation anxiety and we discussed the spring grass and if i should be worried about it. Heat cycles: Circe is in almost constant heat. Jez isn't as bad she was in for 9 days went out no big deal, though 9 days is a little long for her. I'm keeping an eye on it for now as its spring and the first heat can be intense. If it doesn't even out by summer though i might have to re-address it. Circe is super cranky and though i haven't chalked up her tude…
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Almost like spring

Barn tales
[caption id="attachment_1076" align="alignleft" width="292"] Good Morning ponies![/caption] I had to meet the vet early in the morning. So i was up before the sun. Just routine stuff like the remainder of their spring shots and micro chipping. There was a SNAFU on the chips but that will be corrected in the next couple of days. I'm getting them chipped before they move into the new place. I read all the horror stories about stolen or missing horses and one of the big things is positive identification of your animal. Photos are not proof positive. A tattoo number on your coggins can be helpful but not all law enforcement agencies will go with that if who ever has your horse tries to claim its their horse. Microchips however are solid proof.…
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Paradigm shift

Barn tales, Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
Its been a rough week. Weather, sucks, blah blah blah. Its not just the weather though. I've been stressing out about the baby Bo and all things horse. Waking up at 4am fretting and worrying. Yeah, thats going over well in my house </sarcasm.  In an attempt to try to get all my horsey ducks in a row. My trainer gave me the name of the chiropractor (actually a vet, chiropractor, acupuncturist, horse bio-mechanic guy) she uses, he sounded pretty good. When I researched him up I saw he has a lot good feedback from people I respect. I watched a video of him working on a horse and I thought he might be a good fit for us. I called expecting to get his service and leave a message,…
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Attack plan: Step one

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_971" align="alignleft" width="225"] Derp[/caption] I have a multi pronged attack plan to figure out/deal with Jezebels acting out issues. Vet, Chiro, Saddle fitter, training. Yesterday I had the vet out. The plan was to give Jez the once over and see if there were any physical issues that could be the cause of her, kicking out, bucking, rearing and all around bad attitude when working. It was the first time the new vet was going to evaluate her. We went over her history with the right hind and what issues she  currently having so that Dr. L could get the full story. Then we went to the lunge. The ring was an icy, slushy, snowy mess but i was determined to get her out there on the lunge. Which…
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The switch

Barn tales, Vet
[caption id="attachment_960" align="alignleft" width="300"] Horse Doctor?[/caption] When I first got Jezebel I used the vet at the barn i boarded her at. 3 days after bringing her home.. abscess. I liked the vet well enough and the BM really encouraged us to use the vet she wanted us to use. I had pretty much no resources so i used that vet. I liked him and his Jr. associate who's husband i later took lessons with. They eventually moved out of state and my vet brought in a new associate who I liked very much. A seasoned horse person as well as being a vet. She was young, enthusiastic and had a very keen eye for lameness which i found very helpful being as my horse was injured with a long…
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Ground work day

Life with Circe, Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training
[caption id="attachment_918" align="alignleft" width="225"] Have you met my horse "spooks-a-lot" ?[/caption] It was ground work day and by that i mean lunging. I'm still a little sore so i didn't want to ride and well riding Jezebel is on the back burner for right now aways. When i went to pull the girls from the field all of the horses were on the cow side of the field. They share the field with two beef cattle (Suzy and Jenny) there are gates separating the two areas but they are open 24/7 and they all mingle. The cows have their own run in but not today, today they horses had taken it over. All 9 of them were on the cow side invading the cows space. As i walked up i…
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Cleared

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Vet
[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignleft" width="300"] Trotted at the vet check[/caption] Its been 6 long months. Six very long months since i was tossed off Jez and taken to the ER, Six very long months since Jez was diagnosed with a suspensory injury. Stall rest, limited turnout restricted movement, ultra sounds and shock waves but finally my beautiful wonderful girl has been cleared by the vet. What that means is shes healed, and can go back into work and back with the herd for regular turn out. Back into work thats easy, all it costs is money. I hired a trainer to work with her and restart her. Remind her shes a riding horse and be the first on on the wild beasts back. The turn out, thats more of a challenge.…
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