We had a beautiful weekend here in Ohio, and I got to spend some quality time outdoors fiddling with the horses. On a down note, though, Cassie came up lame yesterday. Yesterday when Mike and I got home from a trip to Lowes, Cassie was laying down when we pulled into the driveway. When she got up she was limping on her front right and was breathing hard. Scared the crap out of me. The heavy breathing subsided (I think she must have just been warm and winded), but the limping continued. She didn’t want to put much weight on it. I cleaned her hoof out good and couldn’t find anything, but her lower tendon at the back of her leg felt like it was swollen. She has such big, thick legs, though, that I wasn’t sure.
She continued to lay down frequently to rest. Interestingly, Paige laid down with her a couple times. I NEVER see Paige lay down. I only caught her doing it once or twice in her stall, but I have never seen her laying down outside like that. She’s totally sound, though, so I guess she’s just doing it since Cassie is doing it. Cassie has been Paige’s teacher in a lot of ways, which is what I was hoping for.
So I called my wonderful vet this morning and he agreed to come by this evening to check her out. Mike checked on her a few times during the day, and it was more of the same. Poor Mike, though, at one point Cassie was laid out flat in the sunshine and Mike thought she was dead. He went out and walked around with her and Paige to make sure she was OK. Of course she was fine other than the limp–she was just enjoying the sunshine.
Doc tested her hoof and said it was fine, then felt her tendons and guess what–I was right! Her tendon is swollen, and he suspects that she just twisted it or overextended it. He gave me some bute to give her for the next week, which I’m very glad for because I hated seeing how uncomfortable she was. I’m also running cold water on it once a day to try to bring the swelling down. Then I’m supposed to call him back after the bute is gone and let him know how she’s doing.
Both girls got their spring vaccines, and he checked Cassie’s teeth and said he didn’t think they needed to be floated just yet. He’s going to check them again in the fall.
Huge sigh of relief from me. I worried about her all day. Hopefully she’ll be feeling better soon.
After Doc left and I doctored Cassie up, I got some cute photos of them while they were doing their favorite thing:
One of Cassie’s pretty, light-brown eyes:
Bright-eyed Paige:
What a mug:
I swear she’s getting lighter by the hour!!
Cassie just had her feet trimmed less than two weeks ago and they’re already getting long again! Her right leg is the bum one right now (wet from the cold water):
Expansive Backs:
Aaaannnndddd…drumroll please….Spring is here!!!
My first flowers of the season:
