hobbyhorse23
Well-Known Member
I'm endlessly amazed by the things I hadn't even realized were RELATED to his locking stifles that are now getting better. Kody's always preferred the left lead- so what, most horses have a preferred lead and it's often the left one.
Well, now that he's had his hind legs fixed all of a sudden he's picking up the right lead 50% of the time on a straight line when we get to running around in-hand. He no longer cross-leads and is becoming much more balanced at the canter. Okay, so difficulty cantering is a hallmark of locking stifles so maybe I should have anticipated that. BUT!
Mr. Kody has gained 10lbs of muscle in his hindquarters since March. His chiropractor is absolutely amazed at the changes in his rear end.
Kody has always had the biggest swivel in his hind legs with each stride. Now he walks much straighter.
His hind hooves have completely changed their wear pattern and no longer require frequent trimming to keep them correct.
He figured out last week that he could actually kick at flies on his belly! Oh, happy horse.
Holding the cart back down hills is now easy for him and his legs no longer spontaneously give out under him.
I've noticed he seems much less cowhocked and actually stands straighter and I couldn't figure out why except that maybe he wasn't trying to protect those joints anymore. In reading Disneyhorse's reply to the person with a newly cowhocked yearling I had an epiphany- Kody's finally got enough muscle back there to hold himself straight.
I'm just AMAZED by all the changes in him and every one for the better. He's even back to resting his hind legs again which they aren't supposed to be able to do after the surgery so I think I can live with the fact that he lays down at the drop of a hat now. Oh wait...he did that before! *LOL*
For those who are considering this surgery, I can't urge you enough to do it. I still don't think a horse who has it done is ready to go back to work within days as we're almost four months out now and I still see some fading restriction in his abilities but then again Kody apparently had even more problems than we realized and has had to rebuild his entire hind end. That takes time! Still, I'd give your horse six months before expecting them to be truly and completely like it never happened. It's so worth it though!! Even being conservative they should be back to competing fully in three months so you won't miss much.
I think of the emails I've gotten from people who are going to have this done now because of Kody and feel like he and I have made a difference that matters. If even ONE HORSE has a better life because of this I think it's wonderful. I still cry happy tears when I think of Shadow (how's he doing, anyway??)
Please, please, breed responsibly.
If you have a horse with this problem don't even risk passing it on. Geld them, get their legs fixed and make a wonderful performance horse out of them. Let them be someone's best friend. But don't allow this awful condition to be passed on! It's great that the fix is so easy but no horse should have to be surgically altered so they can walk.
Whether it truly is genetic or not, to me it's not worth the risk with so many good horses out there that don't have the problem. I saw what Kody went through and wouldn't wish that on any horse even temporarily.
Thank you again to my LB family for giving me the courage to have this procedure done. It's made all the difference.
Leia
Mr. Kody has gained 10lbs of muscle in his hindquarters since March. His chiropractor is absolutely amazed at the changes in his rear end.
Kody has always had the biggest swivel in his hind legs with each stride. Now he walks much straighter.
His hind hooves have completely changed their wear pattern and no longer require frequent trimming to keep them correct.
He figured out last week that he could actually kick at flies on his belly! Oh, happy horse.
Holding the cart back down hills is now easy for him and his legs no longer spontaneously give out under him.
I've noticed he seems much less cowhocked and actually stands straighter and I couldn't figure out why except that maybe he wasn't trying to protect those joints anymore. In reading Disneyhorse's reply to the person with a newly cowhocked yearling I had an epiphany- Kody's finally got enough muscle back there to hold himself straight.
I'm just AMAZED by all the changes in him and every one for the better. He's even back to resting his hind legs again which they aren't supposed to be able to do after the surgery so I think I can live with the fact that he lays down at the drop of a hat now. Oh wait...he did that before! *LOL*
For those who are considering this surgery, I can't urge you enough to do it. I still don't think a horse who has it done is ready to go back to work within days as we're almost four months out now and I still see some fading restriction in his abilities but then again Kody apparently had even more problems than we realized and has had to rebuild his entire hind end. That takes time! Still, I'd give your horse six months before expecting them to be truly and completely like it never happened. It's so worth it though!! Even being conservative they should be back to competing fully in three months so you won't miss much.
I think of the emails I've gotten from people who are going to have this done now because of Kody and feel like he and I have made a difference that matters. If even ONE HORSE has a better life because of this I think it's wonderful. I still cry happy tears when I think of Shadow (how's he doing, anyway??)
Please, please, breed responsibly.
Thank you again to my LB family for giving me the courage to have this procedure done. It's made all the difference.
Leia