The fillies had a big week. Dr. Young was out on Wednesday to give vaccinations and then she had to come back on Thursday for Dakota's ankle.
Last week Dakota had a small spot on the inside of her right ankle that was a little infected. Dr. Young thought it would be okay if we just washed it with some Betadine and kept an eye on it. It didn't look bad at all until Thursday morning. When we went to feed she was not putting any weight on that leg. Her ankle was really swollen and hot to the touch. Dr. Young came back to take a look. Dakota had a temperature of 102.6, which indicated an infection. The swollen area was kind of squishy, too. She cleaned the area again, then put some antibiotic directly on it. Then she began to apply a pressure bandage. This had several layers to it including a heavy piece of cotton batting, vet wrap and a self-adhesive bandage. She also gave her a shot of Banamine for the pain and began her on oral antibiotics. Dakota was on stall rest or hand walking until Saturday and she had Banamine twice a day until Friday and then once a day on Saturday and today.
There were a lot of layers to her bandage!
We were able to unwrap the ankle on Saturday morning. We've learned that if you want Dakota to do anything food is her thing. When Dr. Young was wrapping the leg she ate a pan of oats and never struggled, so we thought we'd try it when unwrapping the leg, and it worked. The ankle was back to normal size and the wound area looked really good. It's about the size of a dime. We turned the girls out together on Saturday and Sunday for some light exercise in the dry lot they "share" with Harold the Horse until we get our other lots finished.
On Sunday morning there was a very small amount of swelling and Dr. Young said to keep up the antibiotics and if she would stand for it to give her a water bath for about five-minutes. We will have to try that on Monday but it looked really good when we put them in their stalls at evening chore time.
The fillies are becoming really gentle with our daily handling. We are taking their halters off in their stalls. They still aren't sure about having them put back on but we don't have to chase them around the stalls! Both really like to have their heads scratched.
Since we don't have their lots finished we hand walk them and let them graze for 15 - 30 minutes every day (plus turn out time in a dry lot). On Friday I was scratching Faith's rear and she decided she didn't like it. She gave a little kick and when I moved away I think I startled her because she gave another kick and that one landed on the back of my thigh. It left a pretty good bruise.
On Sunday morning there was a very small amount of swelling and Dr. Young said to keep up the antibiotics and if she would stand for it to give her a water bath for about five-minutes. We will have to try that on Monday but it looked really good when we put them in their stalls at evening chore time.
The fillies are becoming really gentle with our daily handling. We are taking their halters off in their stalls. They still aren't sure about having them put back on but we don't have to chase them around the stalls! Both really like to have their heads scratched.
Since we don't have their lots finished we hand walk them and let them graze for 15 - 30 minutes every day (plus turn out time in a dry lot). On Friday I was scratching Faith's rear and she decided she didn't like it. She gave a little kick and when I moved away I think I startled her because she gave another kick and that one landed on the back of my thigh. It left a pretty good bruise.
Faith went off her feed for a few days but has begun to eat with a full appetite again. She has some stall buddies that join her for naps, and I guess she thinks getting up to eat takes too much energy.
Photo by Leah Ried Photography
Last weekend I ran my barrel horse, Dunny, at a local jackpot. We hadn't entered a jackpot or show since our State Fair in early August. It was a double show and I carried my time over from the first. This is my first year to ride Dunny and my goal was to place in the Youth 2D at a jackpot and I reached that, only I was 3rd in the Youth 1D for the first show and 2nd in the Youth 1D for the second show! I was also only 1.1 second off the fastest open time for the day. Not bad for a 22-year old semi-retired for 10 years barrel horse! Our season is starting to wind down and I had a really great year, I can't wait until next spring when I get to start entering again.