1000% Done

I've had a really hard time writing any posts for the last week because I am so fucking bummed out about horses right now I could cry and formulating coherent, non-whiney sentences is difficult.

First it was colic surgery for Yankee (goodbye all the dollars. Literally. All.)

Then shoe issues for MONTHS with B (more dollars spent on and insane number of farrier visits, lameness, not riding)

Then after a few successful and fun shows, B got a clogged tear duct (surprisingly expensive vet visit).

Then, he lacerated his hock.

Then, his knee.

And now, punctured his foot.

I can't. I really can't.

These last four injuries happened within 8 days of each other. I wasn't really freaking out, more just in denial that this was actually possible for one horse to do in such a short period of time...and how?? 

I know, I know, it really could be worse and I've been there with Yankee. I thought for sure he was dead. But he didn't die and here we are.

But god DAMMIT I am bummed out. 

This latest injury is pretty rotten. The tear duct, hock and knee were healing  well and showing no signs of lasting issue and we were enjoying our light hacks around, looking forward to rated show in November. Now, he's stuck in a stall for WEEKS.

I got a text from the barn staff last week saying he came in with a cut pastern, swollen leg and was unable to walk. Like, at all (still true).

GREAT.

Once I finally got to leave work to tend to The Princess, the swelling had gone down significantly, but it was pretty obvious which leg was hurting. He literally was holding it up, looking at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Not the offending pastern cut that the barn staff originally thought. Cool and tight tendons was a sigh of relief. All I need is a tendon injury right now...BUT, what I did find I thought was an abscess since it was bleeding and B wouldn't put weight on it. I soaked, wrapped and left his foot for my saint of a farrier to examine the next day thinking it would be easy enough and clear up quickly.

Upon further examination though, farrier deemed it a puncture wound...which is much more difficult and risky to care for. The leg swelling must've been from the cut, which went down immediately and was not in any relation to the foot injury. It looks like he stepped on a large, sharp rock, indenting the sole and creating what look like a cracked crater. He also noted that a shod horse would have gotten the same injury since shoes barely lift the foot off the ground high enough to avoid large fucking rocks of death. UGH. Considering B is not weight bearing at this time, he runs the risk of hurting his RF leg as well as infection in the LF. The vet is concerned about foreign bodies, but the farrier thinks everything is out of there and we just need to let it heal on its own and keep it clean. Which is easier said than done, since he has to be wrapped at least once daily, keep his stall as clean as possible and keep him inside. This horse does not do inside well at all and I am worried about him losing his mind.

Minus the wound, that is one gorgeous TB foot

Jesus fucking christ B. 

B looks as miserable as I feel, and he is literally depressed. To make matters worse, I was gone all weekend and couldn't tend to him myself and had to have barn staff change his bandage and try to soak his foot (which he does not like). They sent me regular updates, with no changes. I did get one video of him flipping his shit during turnout because he was stuck inside when everyone else was leaving him. He was literally spin hopping in his stall since he can't use that leg...it was ridiculous. He  also still can't put weight on it today and he looks miserable.

I really shouldn't be surprised at all by this. My life is a literal shitstorm and it seems when things are finally going right, something like this happens. I am incredibly bummed out that our winter season most likely won't be a thing, unless a miracle happens, and yet again B gets one year older without any competition time. Not to mention the horrible pain he's in/dying of boredom being stuck in a stall. I am 1000% done with this at the moment and I'm having a hard time with feelings and frustrations. I really feel like I need to give this whole riding thing up right about now.

I'm having a hard time writing without constantly sounding like I'm complaining, so I'll sign off with the conclusion of that update. 

My poor little love