Back in the saddle again...

Yesterday was a big day! First time I've been on his back in over 2 months! The reason I'm able to walk him under saddle so early is because his incision site healed so impressively well and no hernias developed. He was such a good boy, I mounted up from the mounting block and he stood there until I asked him to walk. After being on some squirmy babies lately that was a really nice change! He didn't "sink" down like I thought he would, but he was very stiff and when we would stop he "parked out" some- his hind feet were out behind him and he was standing stretched out. I kept a hunter/ perched position the whole time to stay off his back and just like him mosey around. Laura got a video of the 3-5 minute "ride" so I'll post that here when I get it!

His back was a little sore today so I didn't get on him and rubbed some Absorbine Gel on his back. We're taking it slow, one day at a time!

Medical Recap...

May 12th- Severe colic, epiploic foramen entrapment & a twist in the small intestines. Surgery required, removed 15 ft of the small intestines and 2 "fatty" benign tumors from his stomach.

May 14th- Hand walked for the first time.

May 17- 19th- Has been discharged, but I wanted to keep him there a few extra days

May 23rd- Staples removed, trailer home to temporary home.

May 24th (morning) -Mild colic, refluxing leads us to believe it's an impaction. Trailer back to Auburn to be on the safe side. No more "signs" of colic, but has a "colic work- up" done. He is readmitted.

May 30th- Trailer home from Auburn back to SummerWind Farm, his forever home.

May 31st (evening) - Signs of "colic"- kicking at belly, off food, pawing, glazed eyes. Banamine is given a couple of times and also Bucospan is given to slow down the "over active" gut sounds.

June 1st- Back to Auburn for an endoscopy to check for ulcers; significant ulcers found and GastroGard is prescribed (full tube once a day). Bloodwork is normal except a high creatinine level that could be due to stress.

June 9th- First time off lead in paddock

June 11th- Bloodwork redrawn, creatinine level and all other bloodwork is normal. 1 forgotten staple is removed.

June 27th- GastroGard is reduced to 1/4 dose per day; the average dose.

June 29th- "Check-up" exam. 1 small, maybe nothing, indention found near incision site that could be a hernia. Given green light to walk him undersaddle.

Note: The vets and I all agree that it is not necessary to take Lester back to Auburn to scope him and see how the ulcers are doing. It's just not worth the stress of taking him off food for 24 hours. Omeprazole (GastroGard or UlcerGard) is 100% proven to cure Equine ulcers and he is doing so well on it.

Hidden Picture...Can you spot the deer?

Can you find the deer in the picture?? (hint: look where the white and brown fence meet) Horrible pic of "Deer Abbey", but hey, I got one, OK. Laura said "get ready, she's going to jump the fence"- stupid me took "this" picture and when she DID jump the fence the camera was still processing "this" pic and I missed the jump shot:-x Sorry I missed to opportunity to show you how athletic Lester's deer really is. Limo and Spooky got to course her out of the field, so that was pretty amusing.

Well the "bump" turned out to be a bug bite and it is gone now! Yeah!!! Now I slather his belly in Swat fly lotion so there will be no more questioning... It was an uneventful weekend- gotta LOVE and TREASURE those! Lester got to herd his big gelding, "Fella" around so he was happy:-) And we brought the horses in last night a little before 9PM since it was The 4th of July and the neighbors are firecracker happy...

Saddle up...

It was a big weekend for Lester. He got to have a buddy in his paddock, Fella. It could not have been more uneventful. Lester went one way and Fella went the other. In fact I didn't even get a pic of them together until the following morning...because they were so far apart. Due to the horrible storms we have had every night they have done some running around :-x More than I would like. I don't know if Less has developed a hernia or if it's just a fly bite??? See below.
I have been given the "green" light to walk him under saddle. Dr. Olsen came out Friday and said his incision site looked great, he only has one tiny indention spot that may or may not be a hernia- I was told to "watch it", he also listened to his gut sounds which sounded great.
So I put the saddle on him Saturday (pic was taken after he had walked around a bit- I never tighten his girth while he is tied) . He did the "Wedding march" as usual- one leg forward-pause, other leg forward- pause. His steps were really short, but he did not seem that uncomfortable, but I could see a "this feels different" look on him. I will do this several times before actually getting on him- for both he and myself! I think it's a big enough step for now just to see him tacked up again:-) Isn't he handsome?!

The Bump

What does this look like to you? Is it hernia or a bug bite? It's not mushy and there isn't an indention, it's a solid hard bump.
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