Clue, 07/03/09

The following is a flatwork video of Clue, my 2003 American Quarter Horse mare. For those unfamiliar with her story, I've been working on rehabilitating her from compensatory laminitis with the guidance of professionals for over two years, and I ask that you please check out her playlist to see her progress. She had sunk/rotated in her right front, and now wears Epona Shoes on both front hooves. We've worked hard to get to where we are, and trust me--when you see more recent videos of her (especially if you know the odds when a horse has serious sinking/rotation)--you'll be amazed.

At this time, we were still working to improve her overall balance (esp. at the canter). She has always been more comfortable on her right lead, and that much hasn't changed. Her left lead looks "heavier" because she's less balanced. I look a little wiggly through the midsection on left lead because I have to try to relax my muscles to really go with the wobbly motion on that lead, and inevitably I let the wrong muscles relax (back and core). All things considered, I've seen consistent, dramatic improvement from the first time I asked her to canter since we've been back to under saddle work. She is comfortable doing simple changes, even from right-to-left lead. At the time of the video I was also reintroducing her to ground pole work at the walk, trot, and canter, and she was very enthusiastic to have an obstacle to play with.

She is still a young horse, which is easy to forget sometimes after all she's been through. On July 14 (video to be up soon), she gave me one strong reminder when I found myself on the ground with a fractured ankle. The only one of us who's come up lame any time recently is ME, haha. :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• quarter
• horse
• mare
• compensatory
• laminitis
• rehabilitation
• recovery
• walk
• trot
• canter

[acrodancer908]

sooo u own clue and duncan??

[dragonfly1030]

Yes. :) Btw, love the horse you have as the background for your channel. I'm a little partial to paints.  :)

[KCSComet]

Mel, Everytime I see a new Clue video, I'm amazed at the miricle that kept her alive for you, and how you siezed the moment and is spending the time to bring her back to her former glory. We learned yesterday my thoroughbred has to be put down, due to slicing a major artery and the coffin bone near his fetlock joint. I prayed that some miricle might happen like it did with clue, but no such luck.

Anyway, excellent job with her! She's lovely! :]

[dragonfly1030]

Oh my God, I just saw your comment (inundated with other emails), and I am SO sorry to hear this. You showed mercy where you had to, but making that choice is far from easy. My condolences and my heart go out to you.

[HondaThoru]

I like the little lame pun at the end. Great to see she is improving so much under the saddle. Im sure in time shell be even more comfortable again with her own body and her movements but all in all even if she doesnt become in as much work as she once was the fact she is still with you and is getting healthier and happier all the time is the most important thing.

[dragonfly1030]

Thank you! It is such a thrill every time I get to ride her. She never ceases to amaze me!

[dragonfly1030]

Thank you :)

[dragonfly1030]

Thanks! Good question! They're to protect her from clipping her Epona shoes with her hind hooves, as otherwise (even though they're glued and nailed), she could probably hit one hard enough to knock it off.

[dragonfly1030]

Thanks! I agree--what I've noticed is that she "dishes" less in the front (swinging her legs out and around at the canter), which I think is a product of Daisy's hard work doing corrective trimming on those hooves.

[Live4theponies]

You look amazing. :)