Paths Less Travelled Still Lead to Winding Roads

 Captain's Log, June 23 2021

After a pretty turbulent 36 hours, I took the plunge and submitted hairs for PSSM1 testing for Dani. She came to join me for the next leg of my horse loving journey in early February. She was slick and shiny. Neither of those helped her go from pampered indoor pony to getting her near show ready arse kicked outside in the Ontario winter. Unfortunately, even putting her into a stall wasn't an option because there were none available. She survived, introduced herself to the lead horse Chip and that was that. 

After several months of treating her for suspected arthritis, thrush, navicular. Earlier this month she was diagnosed with fibrotic myopathy. I had Lauri Rusk-EMT extraordinaire-do several rounds of laser on her and we were really pleased with how her hamstrings were responding. I've lost track of how much I've spent since I got her on different modalities, but it would have added nicely to bumping up my budget on an 'uncomplicated horse'. 

Something called to me about Dani, so here we are. From my initial thoughts that she was a little gimpy from being kept in a stall and having limited turnout, to arthritis in her hocks and possibly thrush (which she could very well still have) and navicular to the recent realisation that she may in fact have PSSM 1 or 2 (or forbid both)

So today it was day one of our -hopefully-road to rehab, at least so she's comfortable and maybe I can get her to where we can trail ride, or walk about. 10 min in hand walk followed by some stationary target work in the arena. 

Below is a list of possible symptoms. Some are not necessarily present because she is not in work. 

SYMPTOMS:

 Tying up, unwilling to move forward, sweating

 Muscle twitches and fasciculations, muscle cramping on shoulders, sides, butt, and even face

 Unable to stand for the farrier weak behind not able to pull leg forward to the hoof stand 

(she's also not thrilled with having her front feet done) 

Parking out as if to urinate, but then not urinating

 Rubbing  haunches on the fence all the time-her tail head is often ruffled but I don't see her rubbing it, although man she loves a good ass scratch

 Wanting to roll immediately after saddle comes off or even before

 Biting at girth when being saddled, fear of the saddle

 Swishing tail and general tightness under saddle  she is not thrilled with the saddling process. 

 Difficulty bending in one or both directions we haven't progressed that far to see.

Difficult picking up lead and or cross firing  She cross fires, and prefers her left lead.

Difficulty collecting and engaging hind end again, with such limited riding, who knows?

 Diagnosed with stifle lameness, locking stifle but sometimes cannot find cause

 Chronic sore back she has shown signs of this.

 Sensitive to grooming

 Holding tail stiffly to one side or straight out with kink

Heavy on the forehand, tripping, falling down, or dragging hind toes