07/08/2021
// BRUNSWICK STREET //
12 months on - this ride today makes me so happy! Yes, this looks like a super ordinary green horse video - but hear me out! This guy’s been a slooooow burn 🔥 but so worthwhile to have him so relaxed and happy as he’s just the nicest person I’ve ever known 🦄
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THE JOURNEY SO FAR…
July last year, Donny arrived fresh off a truck from Darwin for a well-deserved spell post racing.
After a couple of months resting, he lightly started some retraining with the view to event him. Some behavioural issues led to exploring ulcers - and a gastroscope confirmed he did in fact have very painful grade 3 ulcers 😔.
After finishing a 3 month course of ulcer treatment, the symptoms quickly returned with a vengeance. A second gastroscope revealed severe pyloric disease - so an additional treatment of carafate was added in addition to ulcershield. Plus some additional management strategies.
Riding had also aggravated a huge unsightly sarcoid on Donny’s face where the bit ring sits. After trying different fits with no way to avoid rubbing, it was decided we treat his sarcoid with Xxterra cream. This meant another few months of no riding as the treatment causes a severe burn-like sore to kill the tumour.
So summer passed, still no riding. Finally the sarcoid healed - a third gastroscope showed the ulcers had healed. Donny started work 🎉 started gaining strength, had weekly local outings for exposure and a riding club rally as his first “atmosphere”.
Just as we finally started to make some progress, he suddenly went very lame after a shoeing. 😭
Nerve blocks indicated feet as an issue, so off he went for some corrective farriery. Just as we were expecting to see improvement, he THEN contracted Ross River Fever and spent many weeks very flat with post-viral symptoms (I know, right - like how much bad luck…?!)
So here we are, August a year on. Though the lameness had improved dramatically in the past weeks, he still hasn’t been perfect - and RRV is known to cause ongoing issues with the hoof laminae. Our visit last week the vet suggested some heart bars to support his crushed heels - and Donny has made a dramatic improvement. The vet insisted - he needs to be worked! So after months and months off, here he is - absolutely trying his heart out to do good. Previously he’s always been quite stressed about upward transitions and not balanced enough to pick up correct canter leads. So this is just so good!
Fingers crossed the last year is behind us and we can go onward and upward from here. But to anyone else out there feeling defeated - sometimes chipping away, perseverance and patience pays off.
🐎 Donny’s fussy mouth approves of his Bombers Bit expertly fitted by Gary Mudgway
