Doc's Introduction
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Doc's Decision

Horse Anatomy Reference

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Doc's Life or Death Decision
A Rehab with a deadline

Week 8, MONday
Well, I'm not the only person who has noticed a change in Doc. A visitor who has known Doc for years but hasn't seen him in four months said she sees something different about him and his energy feels different to her. It's hard to describe, but to me there's just something about the eyes -- less sparkle, a bit of a dullness. Is it a look of resignation?

Today I just wanted Doc to show me what he wanted to do. At liberty in the round pen, he was happy to go around either direction at walk and trot. No interest in cantering. The gaits both looked pretty uneven, but in general not that much worse than when we started this hopeful little journey two months ago. He had some pretty nice moments of balance and his body at rest has some good points. But while he was moving he was also was working his mouth, pulling back his lips and making faces that I generally interpret as a pain response. And there's a very subtle head-bob that wasn't there before. It also looks to me like he has lost muscle mass in his left shoulder and his hindquarters just in the past week. I got a big sigh and lick and chew when I got under that shoulderblade to massage and hit the magic acupressure point that gave him a nice endorphin release.

I realized while talking through some of my observations of Doc that one of the biggest changes in Doc last week was that he was absolutely compliant with my every request. And while that may sound nice, it's not really him. He usually has a few comments of his own to make and suggestions. Instead he just went along -- whatever.

Week 8, THURSDAy
Had a somewhat depressing talk yesterday with Doc's owner about her observations of his increased lameness and other issues. She has found him extra clingy with her and his equine neighbor, a mare he is very attached to. He's also completely stopped eating his grain with supplements and herbs, which is unusual as he is generally quite a chowhound. And he has developed a snotty nose (though she noted several of the horses who moved into the barn during construction on the outdoor pens have been coughing). I didn't see Doc for two days, and was expecting more of the same low energy and disinterest I experienced Monday and last week. If he came out lame and droopy like he was Monday, I was ready to concur with the owner that maybe he was ready to give up.

Instead, Doc was much brighter looking and he left his stall with more enthusiasm. He wasn't any sounder starting out and the head-bob is still there, but he was brighter and much more inclined to work. Back to the basics, then. Rock back to go forward in hand, then just a bit of work on the short line. When I support him to be straight on the circle, the hind end looks much sounder and the front shows less concussion, of course, because he isn't so much on the forehand. I did get a couple of head-toss "editorial comments" -- nice to see him expressing an opinion. Walk and trot transitions at liberty just a couple of rounds each direction -- not pretty, but he seemed happy enough to do the work.

The right leg felt puffy with fluid instead of hard as a rock -- maybe something's finally moving through. And he demanded grass, pulling me toward the small lawn near the roundpen after he worked. That seems like a good sign!

Week 8, FRIday
More of the same type of work we did yesterday. A bit of suppling work in-hand to keep Doc's spine swinging and transitions, transitions, transitions on the short line. No poles until that right fore clears up. It's still puffy instead of hard today, so I think the movement is helping it. I just don't want too much concussion. He seems to have no interest in cantering, which I think is just as well for now.

Even so, his energy seems to be holding up today, much like yesterday. He's just feisty enough on the short line when I remind him his shoulder stays on the line instead of falling in. And he doesn't have that vacant look in his eyes or the droopy lip that worried me.

Driving home I ponder what's going on with this complicated and fascinating horse. Could he just have been a bit depressed at moving into a strange stall? He still had his girlfriend next door, but when he's inside the stall with walls solid from the ground up about four feet, he can't hang out with her quite the same as he could in a pipe pen. It also occurs to me that he may not be laying down in the stall, because his right side hasn't been covered with shavings in the past few days the way it usually is. Because the stall is just a temporary home, the bedding is minimal. Maybe it's not as comfortable as his usual cushy bed, or maybe he doesn't want to lay down inside those solid walls where he can't see.

Week 8, SATURday
Saw Doc just in passing today, being led by his young rider to graze. He got groomed and walked a bit today, but not ridden. He looked as pleased as he could be to spend time with his friend, though. Not at all like a horse who is ready to give up.