Doc's Introduction
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Doc's Decision

Horse Anatomy Reference

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

Week 9, MONday
I have to admit that 10 days ago, I wouldn't have bet there would be a ninth week to Doc's journey back to soundness. Just a reminder that it's not the humans in charge here, it's the horse. For my part, I have promised him I'll help however I can as long as he wants to be helped.

A still-swollen right foreleg and an uneven front end at the trot notwithstanding, I'd say Doc is basically back where we were two weeks ago. He didn't want bodywork or ground exercises today, just wanted to move, so I started him out at liberty in the roundpen. He did some very nice transition work at halt, walk and trot, as well as showing some ornery behavior in the form of spinning around and cantering away instead of some of the downward transitions. Now that's the Doc I know!

After the warm-up at liberty, I put him on the short line for a bit of nagging about tracking up and tracking straight on the circle. To the right, it's not much of a problem for him. But to the left, his inside hind wants to track behind the right fore instead of the left and his right hip just slides right off the line. That's the side that is hardest for him to rock back onto, as well, without taking a step to the side with the right front.

Short-line work was a brief session because I don't want him on such a tight circle for very long, even though he only goes a dozen or fewer steps in any gait before being asked for a transition. Afterward I turned him loose to play a bit, and saw some very nice canter to the right, better than the left lead, in fact. Interesting. When we started out, right-lead canter was nearly impossible. Today it seemed easier for him to stretch out and move that way, instead of popping up in his habitual hobby-horse canter. Can't wait to see what Wednesday will have in store for us.

Week 9, WEDNESDAy
More of the engaged, playful Doc today. Nothing new in the work, but he was again opinionated and wanted to move. Rockbacks and transitions in hand, on the short line and at liberty. Then a little time for him to hang out on his own in the roundpen.

The right foreleg is still swollen -- probably about 1/3 what it was at the start when the vet first saw it -- and hard again this week instead of fluidy like last week.

Looks like the horses will be moving back into their remodeled digs today. I wonder whether that will have any affect on Doc's eating issues. He's still leaving most of his grain, even with the herbs removed, and generally not eating well.

Week 9, THURSDAy
Owner had her vet look at Doc's right foreleg again. This time he says it's definitely the suspensory and Doc should be rested. She's again considering the reality that Doc may not be able to work and may choose not to accept retirement. He's a challenging horse in many ways -- a real stoic who seems to prefer to work even when he's hurting. How does a humane and caring owner decide when enough is enough? I'm happy it's not my choice to make. I made a promise to Doc that I would help him feel as good as he can as long as he wants to, and that's what I'll do as long as I can do so.

I did a bit of groundwork, just releasing the throatlatch and letting the bend flow forward for a few steps in left bend, then right bend, then left, and so on. He likes this exercise -- drops his head (and sometimes other parts of his anatomy!) and gets sleepy-eyed as his focus turns inward. If he goes on straight stall rest, we can still do massage and some of the kinetic bodywork with less movement. I have another client horse on stall rest, so maybe it's time for me to focus on a regimen for owners whose horses are in this situation. Always a challenge to maintain some balance and flexibility in a confined horse, not to mention mental stability and good manners, but it can be done.

Week 9, SaturDAy
Stall rest for Doc for the next week or two, while his owner considers what to do. I'll check in with him several times a week to see whether he wants bodywork. Otherwise, just waiting to see what will happen and trusting that Doc will let people know what he wants. Owner has worked with an animal communicator for years, so has resources to help her determine what the horses want and need. She did share with me that Doc has told her multiple times, through the communicator, that when he can't do his work anymore, he's not really interested in being put out to pasture. He's one of those horses who doesn't want to stand around with nothing he finds important or interesting to do.