2
weeks ago, when 'Lillian' and I were taking out 'Luke' and 'Mr F', we
had to cut our ride short due to 'Mr F' being quite notably lame. I know
by now that 'Mr F' hasn't a high pain threshold (unlike 'PL' who
marches on no matter what!) but I decided it be wiser to turn back home.
I
admit I am no good at guessing which leg is the problem leg, although I
could just make out that there was a diagonal issue. It's a tricky one
to guess which leg is the culprit if the lameness is only very slight.
At first I thought it was his front right / back left but then I figured
that he was putting weight on the front right so that meant the actual
issue was on his front left!
Admitedly,
I wouldn't do well if I'd be a lion having to eye up animals' movements
for picking the best prey ... I probably would land up very hungry and
line up for the zoo where I'd be fed ...
Exacmining
his hooves also didn't return any results. He didn't seem sensitive nor
where there any suspicious holes, or smelly spots and his frogs were
ok, too. Perhaps it was that hoof again with the crack which has been
there now for 2 years, more or less prominant, depending on season.#
Then of course there is the thought of arthritis, 'Mr F' being 23 years of age could make this a possibilty.
As
always, when things aren't right we sometimes may not be looking in the
right places. As I was having my dinner I was pondering what changes I
made recently to 'Mr F's environment. I coudn't not think of anything
... oh wait! Garlic! Just over 3 weeks ago I have started giving him
garlic granuals, hoping it would help with the flies, circulation and
hopefully make him a smelly host for the lice he tends to attract in
winter.
I suddenly recalled a conversation I had with the barefoot trimmer lady that mentioned to me some time ago that her horse (mare) had an allregic reaction to garlic. And so I was wondering if perhaps the garlic was perhaps causing a mild reaction in 'Mr F's body.
He
seemed a little less 'cheery' - althought at the time I put it down to
the heat (we had some quite hot weather for more than a week). When
'Neill' came to treat 'Mr F' just over a month ago, he mentioned a tight
area in 'Mr F's digestive system which was partly cause for 'Mr F's
stiffness.
Perhaps
the garlic was affecting some of the bacteria in 'Mr F's stomach and he
was feeling discomfort, which then manifests itself in discomfort when
moving.
I
took him off the garlic straight away, just to see if it would make a
change. On our evening walks I noticed that after 3 days he was a little
better but still stumbeling quite a lot and feeling discomfort still.
When
the barefoot lady came to sort out his feet, we both could not find
anything wrong with his feet nor his legs. His puls seemed fine in all
his feet, perhaps the one with the crack in the hoof was a little
stronger.
After
'Mr F' has had his hooves trimmed, he seemed to walk a little better
again. This is often the case even though there are only 5-6 weeks in
between trimms. The heels on his back hooves are very low even though I
don't ride him without hoof boots. We also discussed the garlic and she
did mention that she had just had 4 cases of horses going mildly lame;
and these horses had been on feed were the manufacturer decided to add
garlic to the forumla without mentioning it on the package.
I
know many people feed their horses garlic and it has of course great
healing properties. I myself consume large amounts of it because I like
it.
But
with regard to the horse, the debate is still an open one. I don't
have to time to type it all up here but you can have a read for
yourselves if you are interested, start here or go and google. :)
It's
now been just over a week since 'Mr F' is off the garlic and he seems
now fine again. I have not yet ridden him but we have been out for
strolls in the woods going up and down the steep slopes and he seemed
ok, back to his usual mobility.
I will try and take him out at the weekend at some point.
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