I need the best of the best. Truck and trailer were side swiped today and knocked off the road. Horse initially was fine and no obvious trauma. Decided to go on with the show. Arrived at Swan Lake for the Derby and warmed up perfectly and even kept with our normal 5-6 fences and go. One of the warmup fences I had to collect up because someone walked in front of us and caught us both off guard. Cleaned up then went into the ring. All was good then picked up the canter and had a great first fence. Coming over, hind end never properly followed and stayed kinda tucked up. I didn’t know this or feel it. I noticed it when watching the video. Cantered away fine. Got hoppy in the change then even more wonky. Made it over fence two and was about to takeoff and would go over fence three. Tried two more times and then excused myself. Cantered a lap in the warmup and then walked for about 15. Was able to jump a couple more and was okay, but didn’t feel like his normal self. He had intermittent thumps then progressed to 1-2 hours worth, but resolved. Most likely due to his sympathetic response…despite being cool as a cucumber. Got off and cooled out. We got home and his SI and upper flank has swelling, but was sound when turned out and was his normal self. Vet didn’t want to see him and said to bute and robaxin him for 24-48 hours then go from there. This horse DOES NOT STOP, DOES NOT GET HOPPY OR WONKY. He’s the happiest, go lucky, jump through fire for you mom horse. Does anyone have any advice or an action plan? We’ve already got an email to the company of the driver that struck us, horse’s insurance broker and will be calling USAA tomorrow. I don’t want to Mickey Mouse around with repetitive things on the farm and then have to go repeat them with a specialist. I’d rather go big and get him the best for the dollar.
He’s in NJ, but I would consider Dr. Brendan Furlong. The diagnostics available and the doctors on staff are second to none.
Okay while I definitely understand where you’re coming from as I am known to jump to the absolute worse case scenario when it comes to my horse. But, I think you need to take a deep breath and hold on just a bit before panicking. I know it’s hard to do when our horses are involved!
Think about what happened to him during the accident. I assume you hit the brakes or moved sideways fast? Even if your trailer was ok and the hoses not hit, I’m sure he tensed his whole body up hard during the impact and braced. So every muscle was braced. His body is probably just sore! I’d follow your vet’s advice. Do the bute and the robaxin and give him time off to heal! If anything, I’d call in an appointment with a chiropractor and a gentle massage and other body work and let him rest! I assume the other drivers insurance will cover those costs.
So my advice is to have a stiff drink or two and let him have time. Good luck.
Well then go to New Bolton or Morven Park.
Rood and Riddle are the best I know. Virginia Equine Imaging Center are great as well but $$
VEI - Kent Allen and Cricket Bedford are some of the best in the nation. Personally, I use Joe Davis at Piedmont who has been a fabulous and creative lameness vet for me over the years.
Tim Ober is in Virginia, but for one horse you’ll have to trailer to him (Gordonsville).
The go to sport Vets in this area, Unionville Pa, Both of which I have used for an SI condition, Kissing Spine, mysterious lameness in general;
Dr. Kevin Keane who was Amateur Eventer of the year a a few years ago. The go to PPE vet and genera Sports vet to the “stars” and the poor and nameless
Sports Medicine Associates 610-869-4000
I also think highly as do many others of Dr. Elizabeth Davidson who is with the New Bolton Center, 610 444-5800. She is a H/J rider also. She is a wiz at figuring out the “mysteries”. Diagnosed and got things sorted out with some horses that others were stumped on. New Bolton has a very nice In-door if the horse needs to be “blocked and rode”.
Both are a JOY to work with. Good luck.
Dr. Adams at Leesburg or Dr. Allen at VEI
Thanks, everyone! He’s lame at the walk in the LH today. He also won’t eat his bute or robaxin…ugh!!! So now to get creative on that part and start a plan to figure out the rest. Would chiropractic be worth looking into or go straight to lameness? I’m a little hesitant to go to Morven right now since they took in the horse with EHV-1. I know it went to ISO, but still freaks me out to be anywhere close despite their awesome decontamination procedures.
Dr. Kathryn Papp Hillcrest Meadow Equine Harrisburg PA
Best Lameness vet EVER!
To get him to eat the drugs add a little bit of molasses to it. I would just syringe the drugs to make sure he got them. If you want to flavor them just add some molasses or a squirt of the water flavoring stuff.
I wouldn’t do chiro until a vet exam and then jump to a lameness exam. Horse is probably just very sore every where and needs a few weeks off to let his body heal.
Dr. Kevin Keane in Cochranville PA. Our barn is 10 miles from Morven and all the great vets in VA but we still travel 3 hours to up to PA to see Dr Keane. That should tell you something.
I was able to dissolve everything into a syringe with hot water this afternoon. He was very sore to palpate over the left hip/SI, but wasn’t crippled lame. He actually galloped up to me in the field, but took one trot step then walked right away. He’s off both meds as we have an appointment first thing Tuesday at Piedmont to get the ball rolling with a lameness exam. If I don’t get answers…then I think it’s straight to New Bolton since we need to consult with Dr. Parente regarding an airway issue that he originally did on him 4 years ago. I’ll keep everyone posted and I just hope he doesn’t get worse between now and then. Fingers crossed!
I would definitely get him to a clinic (although I might take Act Natural and your vet’s advice first). That way you will be able to get lots of different eyes on him. I am only familiar with New Bolton, but I am sure that others closer to you have posted good suggestions. Good luck and I am sorry for your experience. It must have been terrifying!
I beg to differ BIG TIME
IMO this is what everyone should have in their horse meds cabinet. The grip and plunger design makes it much easier to hold and get into the back of an unruly horse’s mouth. The rounded tip keeps from “scratching” soft mouth tissue and you can “tickle” the back of their tongue to make/help them swallow.
The plastic dosing syringes work but are PITA and really don’t do a good job of things. Especially with unruly horses. I don’t play hide the med in a treat game. Silly and they can easily spit/drop.
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Get a proper diagnosis before you start any chiropractic work.
You have been given a list of outstandingly well recommended practices.
We’re set up to start with lameness exam and then preparing to stay for a bone scan as a worse case scenario. I work a 24 hour shift, so I am unable to put eyes on him…but my barn owner said he galloped up for breakfast and did not appear to be lame. I still would rather error on the side of caution and just get the workup done. Things would be so much easier if they could talk and tell us exactly what hurts. I’m not one to jump on the bubble wrap bandwagon, but I think going straight to a higher level of care given the situation is the best decision for him. I’ve never been in a trailer accident and I hope I’m never in one again, but being hit by a driver going 45 mph give or take can take a toll on the body. I see it all the time at work given my profession and horses have a lot more that can go wrong. I’ve had tons of luck using the big dosing syringes when having to give meds. I’ve had two on supportive round the clock care for neurological issues for 3 months then 30 days for bastard strangles. He normally eats meds no problems, but he’s an ulcer prone guy and I’m sure he didn’t want any parts due to that.
I second Dr. Elizabeth Davidson at New Bolton. She is a fantastic problem solver with the really tough and tricky cases…and a super nice person on top of being an excellent diagnostician. Being at New Bolton gives you access to the technology for imaging if needed too. We’ve had two super complex cases with her…she’s my go to for sports med issues.
