Back to the drawing board

After a couple good months after his coffin joint injection and Tildren, Hampton's soundness started to rapidly decline again. 

So I decided to take him to Rood n Riddle Equine Hospital for a second opinion, and also because it's one of the top clinics in the country.

Thanks to covid, I was banished to the truck for 2+ hours while Hamp was in the clinic. I spotted him a couple of times being walked in between buildings. I was like a nervous helicopter parent. It drove me nuts to not know what was going on, and to ask questions.

Spotted! A porkchop

To pass the time I watched other cases come and go. it is a BUSY place. Horses and vans in and out constantly. Many mamas and babies, young fit racehorses and one especially gruesome case where a horse had gashed its side so bad you could see pink intestine peeking out. Yikes. Once we have a covid vaccine, and tours are back open, I encourage everyone to tour Rood n Riddle (and the other equine hospitals in Lexington!). It is truly impressive.

Lots of babehs coming out of surgery!

Eventually the doctor called me. "Your boy is really lame," were the first words out of his mouth.

On a straight line he was a 2/5 lame at the trot. And a 3/5 on a tight left circle.

He "blocked beautifully" to the foot according to the doctor, and was sound. So the problem is in he foot, which is what we had been thinking all along.

He got brand new XRays of both front feet. They were actually pretty good. The vet even said he did not think Hampton was a true navicular horse. This is when I started to get conflicting information as our normal lameness vet had told me he was. Does he have some changes? Yes. But this vet did not think they were alarming, and did not think shoeing was an issue. He thought he was shod appropriately. (This was GOOD news)

getting released!

So we've been treating Hamp as a navicular horse for TWO YEARS. Is he or isn't he?

So ... they ended up injected his navicular bursa. If he does not improve in 10-14 days, then the vet recommended an MRI (OF FUCKING COURSE) because it would then be suspicious of a soft tissue (tendon or ligament) injury in the foot. So you wouldn't be able to see it via ultrasound or XRay.

I'm just trying to process this information. I'm not really sure what to make of it. Have I been working him on a torn ligament for TWO YEARS??? Is he just an odd case and only shows navicular symptoms in one foot? (most horses will be lame in both feet). 

That was a long day

Should I go ahead with an MRI? Besides the outrageous cost, the general anesthesia is a risk on its own. It's a big deal. And for what? Basically information, and to hopefully have a plan. I wish there was a standing MRI within a few hours drive. 

A soft issue injury in the foot (like a collateral ligament) would mean at least 6 months off. It's a very guarded prognosis for return to full work. But I'd also like know if it's an injury he cannot come back from, because then I won't put him through the stall rest and rehab. He can go be turned out and be a pasture puff. .... (worst case scenario though. Hi anxiety!)

So for now we wait and see.

View from the truck