Steady On

 So I'm sure you all wondering how Carmen is doing. Fear not, gentle reader, I have not forgotten about her.  When I last told you about her, she had been off after fooling around in her paddock. She then recovered and seemed to be fine. I took her to the lesson the same day I took Quaid. 

It was neat when I took her out after Quaid's ride. She seemed quite excited to be taken out. And she was amazing in our lesson. It is really neat to be able to take her out and feel completely safe on her. 

The wind had really picked up and the arena was making lots of noises. Carmen worried a few times but totally trusted me when I said it was fine.  We struggled a bit with the counter canter, she was drop to trot and pick up the other lead. Jane had me bring her back to walk and then ask again. We just kept building towards being balanced on the circle on her 'off' lead. It was a struggle and she felt like she was just trying to tell me that it was wrong and she was going to fix it. 

 Here's a brief clip of our turn on the haunches. I love that she didn't try to barge through. 

It was such a great lesson and she felt perfectly sound.  I rode her that week and she was fine.  Then 2 days later (Friday) I got her ready and she was unsound again.  She was really resistant to weight bearing on her left hind again. This time I called the vet. We talked and we both figured it was her stifle. I made an appointment to bring in her in on Monday for a full exam. In the meantime I was to ice or cold hose her stifle, give her Bute and restrict her turn out. 

Not going to lie, I was really worried. The next morning I iced her leg even though it wasn't swollen or hot and gave her more Bute. But she was 3 legged lame. I told myself not to worry about it until I knew what was going on. I went about my day. 

I came home later in the afternoon and when I brought her in she was walking 100% sound.  I brought her in and picked up her hoof and found a small hole.  Could it be that simple?   I decided to not give her Bute Sunday and see if she was still good. She was and has been 100% ever since. 

What I think is that she's had an abscess brewing off and on since April. I think the running around a few weeks earlier exacerbated it and the Bute knocked it back. It grew again and finally worked its way out. 

At least that's my working theory. If she comes up lame again I will rebook the vet appointment no matter how she seems.  

We head off property again tomorrow for lessons. Our last ones before the show next week. (next week?! how? Why? What have I done? It's fine, everything is fine).  

Carmen: hang on, I've got this