An Introduction...

In Spring 2012 I felt that the world was at our feet. I was on the edge about to get everything I had wanted and dreamed of for so long after years of heartbreak and disappointment. I was making plans, part of a strong team that had great potential. I should have realised that horses are the world's best grounders...!

 

A few short months later I had come crashing down from my high and was looking at a chronically lame horse. I have owned Buddy for two years and he truly is my horse of a lifetime. I trust him implicitly and we make a brilliant team. He came into my life as a wobbly, immature 4yo and to replace my old horse, Legend, who I had PTS due to navicular and hind leg issues.

 

In August 2012 Buddy started looking slightly short on turns in the school whilst ridden. I hadn't been entirely happy with his feet for a while, but had total trust in my farrier who rebuffed any queries I had. It was only when we moved yards and the YO made a comment about his feet that I started to think I shouldn't be trusting my farrier at all. Anyway, pretty convinced it was just his feet that needed rebalancing, I got the opinion of another farrier and my vet. They agreed that he had 'shocking' foot confirmation and felt this was the cause of his lameness. My vet wanted him sorted immediately but new farrier was going on honeymoon so we called around and luckily another local farrier said I could box to his house and he would do him for me at home. He put him in graduated egg bars and immediatey Buddy looked more comfortable. Brilliant.

 

However, it was not meant to be so simple and Buddy remained slightly off after another cycle of shoeing so off we went to horsepital for further ivestigations. My vet believed it wouldn't be anything serious and had faith it was collateral ligament damage and would come right in time. Nerve blocking was positive to the back of the foot and so we x-rayed to see what was going on. Unfortunately both front feet showed pedal oestitis and his left fore also showed changes to the Navicular bone. The vet's prognosis was poor to guarded and, if we got lucky, Buddy may return to light dressage on a surface.

 

I was utterly devastated but managed to hold it together until I got Buddy safely on the lorry. At that point I drove down the road and the door broke on my lorry and it finished me off!! I broke down, totally hysterical, and my husband had to come and rescue me. So much for being a strong woman...