DOC: After three months of rest and turnout, Doc had his first follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday. His meniscal ligament injury looks substantially better. Overall, including the ultrasound and the lameness exam, Dr. Blauner thought he looked 70% better.
Doc's attitude over the past three months has been amazing. Many times horses, and athletes, go through a period of depression following a severe injury, but not Doc. He has been the first horse every time I go in the barn to have his head over his door looking at me expectantly as if he was saying, "What are we doing today?" He has gotten regular groomings and I have used the cold laser and Right Spot Infrared Pads on him virtually every day. The laser we have owned for ten years and I have used it on myself and the horses with promising results with every severe injury I have encountered. The Right Spot pads are a new addition. While I was at Rolex, Right Spot was allowing competitors to use their products. When Doc got injured they very generously gave me two pads for Doc, asking only that I give them feedback as to how the pads help us during Doc's rehab period.
Right Spot Infrared Pads are a relatively new product on the market. They radiate energy into the soft tissue of the horse, penatrating to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. They improve circulation and can be used on a maintenance level or in the case of Doc to help heal an injury, reducing scar tissue. Ligaments do not have a high blood flow, so using a product like this during rehab helps to promote faster healing. Their website is www.equinerightspot.com.
Doc is now allowed back under saddle at the walk. He will tack-walk for one month and then we will go from there. I am very pleased with his progress so far.
JET: Last weekend Jet ran intermediate at the Maryland Horse Trials. He jumped clean and cleverly on cross country, the phase where he is most reliable. His dressage was steady but not spectacular and we received a score in the 40's. In stadium he had one rail down. I was the most pleased with his stadium round because when he moved up to intermediate two months ago it seemed that the rails were falling like rain. I took him to Anne Kursinski for a lesson last week and she was a big help, showing me how to get him to relax and use himself better while on a course. Jet is now qualified for the Fair Hill CIC** that will be in Elkton, MD in October. I plan to do dressage and jumper shows with him during August and run him in a few more horse trials in September as a final prep before Fair Hill. I am so pleased with how grown up Jet is becoming. He is only eight years old and he has had to step into big shoes with Doc being injured.
MONTE: Monte did the training level class at the Maryland Horse Trials and finished on his dressage score of 37.5. We placed sixth out of twenty entries in the class. I was happy with the result, but I still plan to keep Monte at training level for a few more months. He has the ability to win a class, and I want to make sure he is solid at training level before moving up. His coordination and maturity continue to develop, and I want to challenge him without pushing him out of his current range. Last month Ginette Michelet, who was herself a two star event rider, came to visit Monte. She now preps horses for the track and she was the one who I bought Monte through. Monte was bred in Kentucky to race, and when he arrived at Ginette's farm as a three-year-old she took one look at him and said, "This horse is never going to make it at the track, but he might make a darn nice event horse." Ginette holds a special place in her heart for Monte and she was very excited to see his progress.
Brian and I are boarding our plane to California for my ICP seminar. More later!
Ashley
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