Having a run of horrible luck (graphic photos) - RIDING AGAIN!!!, Vids posted Oct 7/19!!

[quinta]

Glad to see some good news from your farm amid all of the other sh*t news. Your care of this wound has been exemplary - I can't imagine many of us would have been able to do the same. 85 days is a loooong time...

Go Finn! Go Deanna!

[VBOpie]

I am so happy for you both. I know it has been a long road, but this outcome is worth it.

[DJR]

Day 87 post-injury: JUBILATION!

Today, I put Finn back under tack. I just wanted to see how he managed. He was foot perfect, so I hopped on. Again, he was foot perfect!

We did w/t/c on the longe line first, then when I got on I just walked him around. I could initially see that his gait was “off” when on the longe line at the trot, but it seemed to improve over the brief time I worked him. It only makes sense; there is undoubtedly scar tissue that will have to be sorted out as he regains mobility & strength in that shoulder.

He was AWESOME from a brain point of view. What 5 yr old do you know that has 3 months off after a devastating injury, then just goes back to work as though he never missed a beat?! I adore this horse.

Photo evidence ...

In the tack: first time in 3 months!

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I *love* this view!!

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Riding!!

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[Moutaineer]

Super! What a good boy!

[Flight]

That's so good!!

[StraightForward]

That is great to see; onward and upward!

[acheyarcher]

a big sweet kiss on that nose, what a good Boy! You have a true heart horse here and I am so pleased for all your achievements.

What a beautiful day to celebrate.

[Chisamba]

How lovely! i was so worried for you that it was going to be scarring and unsoundness, what a great job you did nursing him back to health

[DJR]

How lovely! i was so worried for you that it was going to be scarring and unsoundness, what a great job you did nursing him back to health

Thanks!

He is very slightly off in that shoulder when I first trot him on the longe line, particularly when that shoulder is on the outside of the circle (right rein). However, it goes away within 1-2 minutes. My daughter took a video of me riding him from yesterday, first time I trotted him under saddle, and he looked (and felt) super. I'll post that video once I get it uploaded to Youtube.

[DJR]

Here are some videos showing his movement on his first two days back in the tack since his injury.

This was on Day 87 post-injury, first day back under tack, longeing. You can see he is very slightly off at first, but then warms out of it.
https://youtu.be/sAD9s0Qt7IU

This was from yesterday, Day 88 post-injury, and the first time I trotted him under saddle. I'm SO happy with how he looked and felt!
https://youtu.be/tFabF6Lm7YM

My lovely boy!

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[Chisamba]

i think i noticed a little stiffness when the shoulder was to the outside in the under saddle video, i bet once the scar tissue gets looser it will be go away

[DJR]

i think i noticed a little stiffness when the shoulder was to the outside in the under saddle video, i bet once the scar tissue gets looser it will be go away

Yes, exactly. I have a veterinary chiropractor coming to see him again at the end of next week. I'm doing scar massage daily, too. I'm pretty sure it will improve over time, but will probably always need special attention and be prone to stiffening up in future.

(I added new video just above this post.)

[Kelo]

Yay for riding again!

[Flight]

Pretty amazing really!

[piedmontfields]

Wow. That is great to see, and yes Finn is an awesome, good-brained and lovely young horse! I agree on the shoulder tightness and will be very interested to see how it evolves. Really good job, MD DVM! (I think I forgot the PhD! )

[DJR]

Wow. That is great to see, and yes Finn is an awesome, good-brained and lovely young horse! I agree on the shoulder tightness and will be very interested to see how it evolves. Really good job, MD DVM! (I think I forgot the PhD! )

LOL, I don’t have a PhD. I do have a graduate-level degree called a DVSc (Doctor of Veterinary Science) which is a combined graduate program and a residency program. The graduate program requires that one conducts their own prospective research project, write a thesis and defend it. The residency program is 3 yrs long and in a variety of disciplines (mine was in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine & Pathology). So it’s not quite a PhD, but definitely more than a Masters.

Thanks!!!

[Kyra's Mom]

.

Finn looks fantastic. You did well by him. I think you both are smiling.

Susan

[Dapple Field]

Great news about Finn, but what is even better is that your daughter videos you while riding her horse! She has come a long ways.

[DJR]

Great news about Finn, but what is even better is that your daughter videos you while riding her horse! She has come a long ways.

That's so true. Her riding (and her maturity) has grown in leaps & bounds this year!

[LeoApp]

This is so fantastic! You have such a great horse there. I am so glad he is sound after his ordeal. He has the kind of mind all horse owners dream of.