Black and I headed up to Tryon one last time before we move home this weekend and it was bittersweet. We stopped by Dr. Woodiman's for one last chiro appointment and said our goodbyes. It was great to see her one last time but hard to say goodbye. Dr. Woodiman has been adjusting Black since I bought him and Black loves her as much as I do! We also said goodbye to Amy. It was a lot harder saying goodbye than I was expecting...
We then headed to Tryon Equine for one last ultrasound and check. Dr. Boone flexed him all the way around and he flexed sound on his right front! Pretty exciting! He was extremly stiff in his hocks to the flexions so we went ahead and had his hocks injected- he was due anyway I just didn't want to inject them when he was just sitting in a stall. She also lounged him on the soft ground and he was sound to the right but a little light on his right front to the left. Dr. Boone explained that it is possible that because he was stiffer in his right hock, he is compensating with his left front and so making it appear that his right front is lighter. Or because it is his right outside suspensory branch, and when working with it on the outside it is still bothering him. So injecting his hocks will help us narrow that down. She was also really happy with the ultrasound. While there isn't complete uniformity (and probably never will be), it is getting denser and denser so that is a good and exciting thing! Dr. Boone said that with a tear this bad, we should be very happy with where we are at 6 months since his injury. Black will continue doing his 3 x 4 minute trot sets and then 3 x 5's for a total of 4 weeks and then we will get to canter! Still no turnout.... which will be difficult. Black's reaching his breaking point which I don't blame him at all. I'm thinking when we move home, I'm going to set up a round pen stall that I can move around near the field where the others are turned out. He's been so good but I have a feeling he's going to break soon and I don't want him to hurt himself when that happens! From what Dr. Boone says, these next 6 weeks or so will be pretty critical because adding a canter and keeping him sound is a big step. So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! Dr. Boone reminded me that tears this bad can take 8, 10, or 12 months to completely heal but we are certainly on the right track. It's hard to believe it's been 6 months that Black has been off and in some ways it feels like its flown by but the thought that we could only be half way there is a little scary. I'm prepared to take my time because Black's well-being is absolutely my first concern but it doesn't mean I don't miss competing and jumping my horse. So please keep Black and I in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to fight for our sanity and as we make the trip back up to Maryland this weekend. Thank you all!
