by xena_n_joss » Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:26 pm
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Id just like to make the point that having a bone chip in the hock area does not limit the horse to walk or hacking. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Xena just had 3 large bone chips removed, 2 were as long as your pinky finger and 1 was the size of your thumb. But they were located just on the very tip of the hock. And luckily she made a good recovery and the bone calcified amazingly and fast and healthy. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#She is sound and we were told by our surgeon and our vet that it would not affect her potential for eventing and jumping. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Though the situation may be different depending on where on the hock they are located and how long they have been there. Alot of horses can do fine with them left in. But a horse for serious competition would most definitely need it removed. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#But on top of that... I agree with the others, that unless the horse is spectacular and your vet says it can have full recovery I would look for something else. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#But just remember.... we are lucky now that we do have such advanced medical care for our horses. There was an event horse (the name escapes me right now) that had an actual tumour in one of his joints. They were told that he would never be sound and would always be too sore and they should just put him down. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#But guess what? They went through with the operations and neccessary recovery and the horse evented the very next summer successfully. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
When something goes wrong in a show, it's actually the best time because you learn from it. You ask yourself 'what can I do better?' When everything goes OK, you don't ask yourself that question --- ANKY