130. Assessing Lameness...

Tomorrow i have a Chiropractor coming to see Spice just to check her over as she is still lame in trot (although thankfully not to the same scale she was) and she also hasn't had her back checked since last October so i thought it would be a good idea. I am still convinced that it is her hoof which is causing the lameness although my farrier wasn't so it will be interesting to see if we get any closer to finding out what is. In a way i hope it is her hoof as i know it will just be a matter of time until the hoof grows out and that hopefully any lameness will then subside.

Each day that goes by, i see a slight improvement in her movement and for at least the past two days she has been far more lively and alert indicating i think that she is on the mend.

I am due to stop her danilon (painkiller) in a couple of days time so i only hope that her high spirits remain and are not simply due to the painkiller.

I am so eager to start doing things with her again. I can't help but feel we have taken a few steps backwards in view of the fact that we haven't done anything for so long so i imagine i will have to start gently and go over some old stuff with her.

The first thing i will definitely do is make sure i have hoof boots which fit her. So far, i have purchased Easy boot gloves for her hind hooves and will hopefully be getting some Renegades for her front hooves. This way at least i can start going hacking with her again which is something i am desperate to do.

However, before i start hacking her out again i will have to get her fit again - as although she hasn't put on any weight (in fact she's lost it if anything) she has lost muscle tone - especially around her top line so hopefully i will get to use our new passoa soon.

I am currently feeding her Speedi Beet and Happy hoof which seems to be agreeing with her but i would like her to gain some weight so might look for a feed slightly more calorific but still low in sugar if that exists!