Loving them means understanding as much as you can about them, and that includes understanding their ailments and sensitivities. No matter the particularities of each individual, I think how you love them happens the same. Not the way you love them, but how you love them. For me, the process of my love for each horse is always the same, is powered by the same engine. I might have loved one more and another less, by degrees, but how I love and have loved them is always the same. So you study whatever the matter is, pay close attention to what the vet says, sift through forums to learn about others' experience with similar problems or conditions. You get to thinking, having immersed yourself in self-education, that you know a lot. You know they are vulnerable, that's for sure, and eventually you get used to that idea, because you have to.
Every horse is different, and so will their maladies be. That's part of what makes them individuals. Now comes Saxony, and in short order I began to discover the vulnerabilities unique to her, so different from those of Scout and Dar. The first was the inherited crookedness of her front pasterns. Many hours reading about "offset" and "paddling," many more hours deciding what to pursue in hoof care for her. Along the way, smaller discoveries, like the fact that she still has her wolf teeth (at nine years) and is fussy about her mouth being touched.
(Sidebar: For some reason, I have a strong feeling that I should try her in a bitless bridle, and I don't know why. She doesn't resist the bit or evade it, but something tells me... I don't know.)
Here is the next thing I need to understand about Saxony:
My love runs the same; I'll learn all that I can to keep her well. But poor her. Eyes on Friday, and after that, Monday is dentist day, wolf teeth out and a float in time for spring.
3 comments:
If the eyes themselves don't look irritated and she's not "squinchy" with them, then it could just be a mild allergy or else blocked tear ducts.
With as many horses as I have, I've been down each of those roads Kate mentions as well as that of infection. Usually for mile allergy or blocked tear ducts the fluid coming from the eye will be a different color than that for the infection. The infected eye get a thick yellowy beige kind of gunk that builds up in the corners. There is also evidence of it across the eye both upper and lower lid but it doesn't normally have the thick gunky look until it congregates in the corners. The more progressed such an infection get, the area around the eye will swell and can even swell completely shut. Sounds like something horrible but is easily treated with opthamolitic ointment that can be purchased at most feed stores. Cases that do not respond to the usual ointment from the feed stores require a more specialized ointment the vets carry. In my experience that second ointment is not required often.
Sounds like you have a bunch of vet bills looming. That really sucks.
I think you will like a bitless on Saxony if you try it. Especially with the wolf teeth. I just can't recommend a specific kind right now. I use Dr. Cook's and loved it until recently. I know the halter worked well the other day! LOL!
I hope her eye is better now.
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