I blame the lack of activity in this blog on a number of factors, mostly involving being busy at work and unparalleled levels of crapness. Also, we've had some ups and downs which hopefully are now put to bed at least for a while.
Tigre wasn't quite right for a couple of weeks in his right hind stifle, just as we were rocking along very nicely. He's back on form now and back in work; we've got some catching up to do but it's so nice to be riding him again.
Also, Gualter came in with a fat fetlock last Sunday evening, absolutely hopping lame. Quick call to the vet and we established with some flexions that it was not a fracture (argh the very thought) and could wait for Monday morning for callout. It's one of those fundamental rules of horse keeping that these things always happen at the weekend. Come Monday there was too much swelling for the vet to see what was what so she left us with a course of bute and vowed to return on Thursday. I'm so glad we put in that all weather rubber area because the stables are really too small for him and mum and he needed to be on restricted turnout, so it was ideal for that.
On Thursdsy the swelling was down but not as much as hoped, so he was given further course of bute and another week on restricted turnout, which meant everyone coming in and a really messy shelter to deal with every morning. However, the swelling was going down steadily and today he got the all clear to go out again, so the vet and I stood and watched as the four of them tore it up around the field to the theme tune of James Brown "I feel good". Hoping there will be no further problems from it - fingers crossed.
We're all set for winter now, with deliveries of haylage, bedding and feed over the last few days, and the corresponding drainage of the bank account. Still, record cheap vet fallout today - £36!
