Chrome Update

Chrome's puncture wound on his hock is still draining and he finishes up his second round of antibiotics tomorrow so I called the vet once again. He said that the drainage is a good thing because it keeps the wound open so it can heal from the inside out. He said so long as Chrome is happily bearing weight on the leg that he is fine. It will just take time for such a puncture wound to heal. He wants me to put him on another week of antibiotics. I don't like having him on them for so long but the vet said that horses have been on this type of antibiotic for months and it won't hurt them so I'll trust him. I am going to get some probiotics though just to fend off any gut disturbances.

Does he look fat to you?

It's funny because as much as he hates his antibiotics (mixed with water in a syringe and squirted in his mouth like dewormer) he now practically shoves his head in my arms for his medicine because he knows he gets treats afterward to get the taste out of his mouth. It's so cute! Zeppelin is getting brave too because I can't help but give him treats too. :) I fear I'm teaching him bad habits though because he's giving Chrome ugly looks and sort of crowding me, but I'll take it. He's letting me pet him on both sides of his neck and I can move quickly around him without him spooking. I call that progress!!

I will get back to training soon. I guess I just needed a break. Dealing with my husband being sick as well as extra hours at work I'm just exhausted. I'll get motivated soon. I'm loving that it's staying light out until eight! And it's warm most days. It even gets up into the eighties Fahrenheit every once in a while. I just wish it was more consistent lol.

"Can't I eat in peace mom?"

Oh and before I forget, my adorable Friesian cross is finally growing some feathers!! Check it out below.

Not bad huh? I don't know if they will shed out or stick around. I'm not sure if he'll grow more either. I don't know what age purebred Friesians grow their feathers. Just thought I would mention it. I hope everyone is having a great week. :D

Belated Trim

Pictures in this post were taken January 17 2011. I haven't taken new pictures in a while and I hate posting without pictures so I found some I haven't posted before lol. :)

I haven't done any training or walking since Chrome hurt his leg. With my husband sick and me shouldering our combined workload along with overtime at my job I just haven't felt like doing much. Chrome is doing fantastic. He trots or gallops up for breakfast and supper. He was chasing the donkey the other day and jumped a brush pile so he wouldn't lose ground from the smaller, more agile longear. :) No limping or anything. The puncture wound is still there and draining, but it doesn't seem like as much. The drainage is still white and/or yellow at times. He started his second week's worth of antibiotics yesterday just to be on the safe side.

Anyway today Chrome had his trim. It was a week late because my farrier got really, really sick, but she's doing better so she came out. I was feeding/watering the poultry and cleaning out/refilling the duck's wading pool and completely forget to go get Chrome. While my farrier and her husband talked to mine I went out to the lease land to get my colt. He wouldn't come to me when I called for him but I don't really blame him, it was hot, it wasn't feeding time and I haven't been doing any fun training or walks, so I walked out to him. He wasn't too far out though.

On the way back to the house he was being balky. I finally convinced him to walk with me to the house. I just knew he was going to be a brat because it was hot and he wanted to graze. I was showing my farrier the work I'd taught him on picking up his hooves nicely and resting the toe of his rear hooves, but since we haven't worked on it in a week he did poorly. Oh well. She understands. However to my surprise and relief he did really well with his trims. He didn't want to pick up his hooves easily and he tried to pull away when his hooves were on the hoof stand (I haven't worked on that yet), but that's okay. He's young. :)
His feet are looking great! He had a couple of mild chips but the rasp took care of those. :) The flares are gone and the stretched white line is so close to being good again. No sign of thrush. His heels are slowly getting lower. She balanced him too. He has a tendency to grow longer on the outside (I think) due to mild toeing out (I think that's what's causing it). Anyway I've forgotten the details lol because I'm sooo tired. :)


The boy is shedding like crazy. The ticks are already out really bad too. I really need to get out and fly spray him more regularly. I use Ultrashield which has Permethrins in it and kills ticks. If you live in the south is it worth getting a Lyme vaccine? Both of my dogs have a tick disease called Ehrlichia. Something that I've been thinking about.


Anyway I guess that's all for now. I need to get back to training soon though because he acts better when we're working and using his brain lol. Hope everyone is having nice weather and fun rides. :)

Checking out the back of the pickup. :) Nice butt shot right? On that note . . .

The End

Update

I decided to take a break from training and blogging the past couple of days. Things are so stressful and getting worse by the minute (husband may get denied for long term disability for his back injury because of lazy doctor notes). We finally found a home for Sycamore (goat) because he isn't happy without companionship and I was looking for him out on the lease land. Chrome was following me around, trotting beside me with his neck arched. I don't know how I taught him to do that but it sure is cute. He was galloping around and being totally silly so the leg isn't bothering him at all! I felt bad for not clicker training. He wanted to so bad.

The swelling has gone down, but the puncture wound is draining white (occasionally yellow) . . . ooze (doesn't sound as gross as puss lol). I called the vet because the ooze was concerning me, but he said it isn't a big deal since he's still sound. He said if the wound is still oozing when we finish the antibiotics that we will extend it just to be on the safe side. So on the injury front things are the same (or hopefully getting better), just wish life in general would improve. Anyway sorry to be a downer. I'll be back in a few days. Everyone take care.