This message is from: laurie with <livingi...@q.com>
interesting discussions. the vet's description of ringbone is pretty much what my vet told me when i had oz X-rayed. i know this was starting a couple of years back. i wonder if there could be a correlation between overweight and the ringbone. i think in people with bad knees (like mine, both replaced) and weight. it all puts more stress on their joints. as far as his case, the vet told the barn manager, that keeping moving is the best thing for him. not hard riding, but schlepping around kiddos in lessons would be fine, or my wandering around the farm with him. the weight issue is part of it, and he is at a very good weight now. between his muzzle, and the lessons, he is healthier looking than ever. his feet look very good, and i am amazed at how much larger they are now than before we started shoeing with the ringbone in mind. as far as salt, the first riding instructor i had was very much into natural remedies and healing, and highly suggested redmond salt, even the blocks of it that were chipped off and larger block of it. if oz is in the mood for salt, he has in the past eaten to the point of peeing a lot, but this is something he does frequently. i can almost always count on him to pee just after we get into the arena to ride. it's kind of joke with us. right now we are dealing with heat/humidity, as isso, most of the nation. 101 is predicted for tomorrow. yesterday when i went to the barn in the morning, i found oz eating standing out in the sun. his muzzle was off, which is good, because i think it restricts their breathing in some cases. however, even without it, he was breathing hard. i hosed him down for quite some time and then was lucky enough there was an empty stall, where i put him in with a fan. later in the day he was a lot better, but stayed in overnight. today he went out for a little while, but they brought him in about noon, hosed him down and let him stay inside. the owner has very nicely allowed me to keep him indoors until it cools down. it doesn't seem to bother the other outside boarders like it does him. i also spoke to her yesterday about moving him, since i felt he wasn't always riding sound, and she (and all the kids there) is so fond of him, she gave me the option of keeping him there without increasing my costs or charging me for lessons i won't take. she totally took me by surprise, and i am pleased. i didn't want to leave my best friend and the others friends there. half of the riding aspect for us is the social one, and there are several of us "mature" women who regularly ride there in the morning. so we are staying put, and i can stop stressing out quite so much. laurie with livingi...@q.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
