This Spring, BG and I had spent quite a bit of time at the nearby ranch, using their wonderful facilities, reminding her of her groundwork and getting BG ready for riding again.

And then she slipped very badly in her field.

It wasn’t wet… she was just running down hill for breakfast, and her front right shot out from under her and she splayed all 4 legs.

I was horrified.  She looked shocked, and broken.

But, BG rolled over and shook her head, sat up, and then got up.

Phew, I thought… that looked bad.

Then she stood very still for a very long time… then she walked a bit.

But a few hours later when I checked on her, her whole body seized.  She could hardly move.  She looked very perplexed and sweaty.

I called the vet.

THE VET.

Nothing was broken and no muscles were ruptured.  Nothing was swollen.  The vet thought she had probably tweaked ‘everything’ and if nothing became swollen (which it didn’t), she would probably recover.  He didn’t think she’d be rideable after that kind of a wreck, but maybe.  He gave me a med program to manage her pain.

After about a month, BG could walk much better, but her back was really sore, and her buttock area was untouchable.

After another month, she looked normal when she walked, but she was still sore to the touch.

After yet another month, she wasn’t sore to the touch.

I let two more months pass (and it was too hot to ride, anyway…).

I WISH I HAD MY THERAPLATE.

Well, now that the weather is better, I’ve been taking BG out and showering her with affection, treats and groomings, to see if any part of her was sore.

She didn’t appear to have any issues.  I could touch anywhere.  Yay!

So today, I took her to the nearby ranch to ride.

When we arrived today, we started with groundwork…  All was good.

I decided to lean over her across the saddle to see how that went.  On her left side, no issue.  On her right side – not so great.  But that is her off side, so …

And then I swung my leg over.

For about one minute, she tried… and then her ears went back and she started to fret and sweat.

BG is not a horse that frets or sweats.

She was trying to escape.

Hmmmmm.  I had my friend come over and stand at her head while we walked.

No dice.  BG was getting more upset and sweaty by the minute.

Sweat = pain (of some type, mental or physical).

So, I got off.

Immediately, she settled, her ears came forward and she was fine.

I kept thinking that I wish I had my Theraplate.

MY OLD TYMEY VET

I called my vet.  He said that he’d be happy to come over and spend my money… but he’d rather save me money and just say…that she has no fractures and she can walk well and she defends herself, she eats and is generally happy… most likely weight on her back is the issue.  She probably doesn’t feel the same as she did previously with a rider, and most likely with her instant sweats, she doesn’t have the strength in those muscles/tendons/ligaments and she is in pain with a rider.  And even with an MRI, any soft tissue injury would just need to mend, if it will mend.  So, he said that I could spend a lot of money figuring this out and using all kinds of rehab treatments, or just turn her out and let time heal her, if she can heal any further.

His final words were:  “Listen to your horse.  She’ll let you know when she’s healed.  But, don’t get your hopes up as she may never come back from that severe of a splay injury.  Ride someone else.  You have enough of them.”

Sigh.

This breaks my heart because I always kept BG on the back burner, thinking I’d ride her when Finn was done.  BG is so calm and so smart… so logical.  I’m sad that such a good-minded horse won’t be my riding horse.

But, she doesn’t have to have a job to live here.  She just has to be happy.  And she is.

Onward.

I’ll ride Finn and now I will focus on Annie.