The NQR Rabbit Hole: Carmen Update

 I'm sure you're wondering where Carmen is in all this. After all, she also went to the show yet I've been quiet.  That's because things went a little differently than I planned.  

When I last wrote about Carmen she was sound and we were heading to the show. Like I said she's become such a solid horse- loading, settling in and just being easy. After I rode Quaid on Friday I got her ready and we went into the ring. And she felt so good. She was forward but listening and almost too sharp, making me back off more and more until I found the right amount of pressure. Jane was really happy and said that was the best, most rhythmic we've been. 

On Saturday our ride was late afternoon. Our warm up was pretty good and I felt like we were in a good place. I was riding Second level tests 2 & 3. There was a lot to like about both our tests. She was listening and tried really hard. The judge did not think so and we scored in the low 50's for both. I was a bit miffed and confused. Then someone sent me a video of our second test. Carmen was being super good but there was very little push from behind. Which I had noticed when I ride. I'm not going to share the video. But it's not awful just a horse that looked tired.  Even though our warm up was not long or hard. 

I paid for some pro photos

While I do think that the score was a bit harsh I do get where the judge was coming from and I'm not mad. 

The next day I walked Carmen around and she seemed happy. I noticed that she hadn't seemed to have laid down over night which is not like her. When it was time for our warm up I got her ready. I walked her around for a bit and then asked for a trot. 

Uh oh. 

I could feel that she was off right away. I told Jane and I tried to trot again. She was definitely lame. 

fuck. 

I hopped off and went to scratch. I was upset. Not that I had to scratch but that she was lame again. Fortunately, Paula was there to help and she helped strip their stalls so I could get Carmen home. I went all over her and could not find any heat or any swelling. She let me touch everywhere without complaint. 

Monday morning I called the vet and arranged an appointment for her to come and do a full work up. The appointment was Friday. In the meantime I bought some electrolytes because I wondered if she had sweated so much and was muscle sore because of low electrolytes.  Still not sure if she needed them but they are not going to hurt. 

looking good here

In the meantime I gave her some NSAIDS and let her be all week. Friday morning the vet arrived and she took a full history of what was going on. She studied the video of the class and noted what I did: she wasn't really pushing from behind and looked not-lame but not quite right either. She then did an incredibly thorough lameness evaluation.   She used hoof testers and noted sore heels on both fronts- more on her right than left.  She was fine for palpations of her legs. And by fine, I mean Carmen fine which means she was a bit 'wtf are you doing and why? '

After watching me lunge her and walk/trot her on straight lines the vet did some flexion tests. At first it looked like it was her right hind: it was stepping wide and she was less willing to be flexed and trotted unsound on being let go. I am familiar with flexion tests but she did ones I hadn't seen before: she would pick up the hind leg from the opposite side and stretch it under the belly.  When she picked up the left hind and stretched it Carmen relaxed into it and seemed to really enjoy it. 

 When she picked up the right she was tighter. But as soon as I trotted off she was really lame on her right front.   And she stayed lame. 

So with that information the vet did a nerve block of her right front by the fetlock. Carmen was 100% fine with the needles. Although I did get a little side eye "are you seeing this right now? Oh cookies, I guess it's okay".   We then went back to check how she moved and she was sound. Okay, now we identified the right foot it was time for x-rays. 

pretty photo to break up the wall of text

I was sure we were going to need to sedate her for x-rays. The vet thought we should try first. It was hilarious getting Carmen to stand on blocks. I put the first one under her right fore. 

Me: Okay, put your foot right here. 

Carmen: oops, there's something in the way. Let me put it here. 

Me: No, it's fine. I want you to stand on the block. 

Carmen: that can't possibly be right. Here, let me show you. 

Me: I'm serious. Right here. 

Carmen: *sigh* okay but I'm not sure this is a good idea. If I fall I'm holding you responsible. 

After that she stood on blocks with both front feet while the vet took many many shots. 

Here's what they showed: Carmen's angles look great. Her soles are a nice thickness. But there were some arthitic changes in her navicular (maybe) and her pastern joint (definitely). The vet thinks that her off and on again soundness are from her heels being sore and the changes. Her back is also quite sore which is a saddle fit and possibly from trying to compensate for her front being sore. 

FYI she also drew blood to check her thyroid and for Lyme. 

And we have a plan: right now she's not being ridden. Farrier comes this week to put on shoes to support her heels. I have her on a short course of previcox. I was already working on getting her a new saddle so that will proceed. Once that is in place she can start light rides and work up her fitness and to work. 

 Also, Carmen is getting really heavy because she's not been in regular work. I'm adjusting her feed and hay to help her lose some weight until I can get her working again. I'm really hopeful I won't have to go to a grazing muzzle. But I will if I have to.  I'm probably oversharing all this but if it helps someone who's also dealing with things not being right but not clearly wrong it's worth it. Even if it doesn't, writing it out helps me and it's not like I'm ever selling Carmen. 

I"m remarkably calm about all of this. It feels good to have a diagnosis and a plan. I would hate to retire her now that she's become so rideable and a solid partner but I will see where we get to.  The important part is that she feels comfortable and happy. 

I'd hate to give this up, but 
there are worse things