Tom has laminitis.
I rode Tom on Monday before Farrier was due and what a horrible session, bucking, not going forward. I thought he was being naughty and full of himself. He was in fact trying to tell me enough is enough, Mum my feet are fricking sore, get off me. I of course did not listen and rode for nearly an hour. When the Farrier arrived, he did his feet and proceeded to tell me about the bacteria and something about laminitis and that I should now be considering putting Tom to sleep. Devistated, guilt, were just a few of the emotions running through. I was instructed not to ride him and get his feet seen to again in four weeks.
On Tuesday, hubby visited Tiriana at the bank and mentioned my Tom. I had to go and see her on Wednesday to sign papers and started talking about Tom. Then she told me about her Ellie, whom she recently lost to Colic and how she was able to communicate with her, even though she was away in Auckland. Her story was amazing so I asked if she could do this with Tom. Friday evening we sa down with him and had the most amazing session of talking, relaxing, chillin out etc. Tom responded really well, giving us the 'Chew Sign' and yawning as well.
He communicated that his feet were really sore, but he is not really to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Farrier has already removed back shoes on Monday, but Tom also wanted the front ones off as well but did not want Farrier to look at his feet again. As it happend, Tiriana had a Barefoot Trimmer booked for Saturday morning, someone I knew of but had never met. Lucky for Tom, she had a space. She looked at his feet and from the front on view did not appear to be too bad, until she looked at his sole. This horse has Laminitis was her response. He needs boots and pads.
Hoo rah, we finally have a clear answer to the problem that has probably been there for a long time. Laminitis is treatable, if we have caught it in time. Tom as a pair of Old Mac Boots on his front feet which help ease the pressure as they have pads that support his soles. His feet have collapsed and you can actually see the grove just below his coronet which indicate that something recently has triggered this Laminitis event.
Lynne is quite confident that there is only a slim chance that we will not be able to save Tom. She said in relation to his feet rotting that as soon as we can get the blood flowing again then his feet with start to grow, as ts all abut have his feet trimmed correctly. This is where the boots help. It is also about having a correct trim that will help him the best. Going barefoot goes against everything I have been told about Toms feet, but with the boots on, once he gets better, then he can be ridden in them, although once his sole are not so close to the ground then who knows. It will be a long process, but if I can get his feet better then we can decide about our future.
At the moment he hates being ridden due to the pain. Riding will be his decision and I will continue to try and communicate with him once we are on our own.
I rode Tom on Monday before Farrier was due and what a horrible session, bucking, not going forward. I thought he was being naughty and full of himself. He was in fact trying to tell me enough is enough, Mum my feet are fricking sore, get off me. I of course did not listen and rode for nearly an hour. When the Farrier arrived, he did his feet and proceeded to tell me about the bacteria and something about laminitis and that I should now be considering putting Tom to sleep. Devistated, guilt, were just a few of the emotions running through. I was instructed not to ride him and get his feet seen to again in four weeks.
On Tuesday, hubby visited Tiriana at the bank and mentioned my Tom. I had to go and see her on Wednesday to sign papers and started talking about Tom. Then she told me about her Ellie, whom she recently lost to Colic and how she was able to communicate with her, even though she was away in Auckland. Her story was amazing so I asked if she could do this with Tom. Friday evening we sa down with him and had the most amazing session of talking, relaxing, chillin out etc. Tom responded really well, giving us the 'Chew Sign' and yawning as well.
He communicated that his feet were really sore, but he is not really to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Farrier has already removed back shoes on Monday, but Tom also wanted the front ones off as well but did not want Farrier to look at his feet again. As it happend, Tiriana had a Barefoot Trimmer booked for Saturday morning, someone I knew of but had never met. Lucky for Tom, she had a space. She looked at his feet and from the front on view did not appear to be too bad, until she looked at his sole. This horse has Laminitis was her response. He needs boots and pads.
Hoo rah, we finally have a clear answer to the problem that has probably been there for a long time. Laminitis is treatable, if we have caught it in time. Tom as a pair of Old Mac Boots on his front feet which help ease the pressure as they have pads that support his soles. His feet have collapsed and you can actually see the grove just below his coronet which indicate that something recently has triggered this Laminitis event.
Lynne is quite confident that there is only a slim chance that we will not be able to save Tom. She said in relation to his feet rotting that as soon as we can get the blood flowing again then his feet with start to grow, as ts all abut have his feet trimmed correctly. This is where the boots help. It is also about having a correct trim that will help him the best. Going barefoot goes against everything I have been told about Toms feet, but with the boots on, once he gets better, then he can be ridden in them, although once his sole are not so close to the ground then who knows. It will be a long process, but if I can get his feet better then we can decide about our future.
At the moment he hates being ridden due to the pain. Riding will be his decision and I will continue to try and communicate with him once we are on our own.
When I left him tonight, he seemed bright and alert. Above are some photos taken today. How can I not do everything possible to save such a gorgeous horse!!
Ainsleigh has very kindly offered me her Princess Antrika to ride as she has George and Little Rusty. So I can still get out and about on a beautiful Gingernut.
Ainsleigh has very kindly offered me her Princess Antrika to ride as she has George and Little Rusty. So I can still get out and about on a beautiful Gingernut.
