Firecracker's Face...

[desperatehorsewife]

Here's what we're dealing with here, with our new adoptee:



I'd noticed a faint smell, but couldn't locate where it was coming from until we had a rain storm and the pus began washing down behind her ear. I fashioned a squeeze chute out of panels and managed to get the halter unbuckled. It was stuck to the side of her face, though, and didn't drop off until some time that night.

She went on antibiotics for a week and I left her pretty much alone (aside from going into the stall to feed or clean) so that she wasn't under any more unnecessary stress.

Before the wound surfaced (we're not sure if it was something pre-existing that was irritated by the halter, or just the halter, or a bump on the noggin sometime after loading...), I'd been able to get my hand up to the poll, but now she won't let me anywhere near it. Understandable, of course, but it sure would be nice to know if it was fear or if she's still sensitive and feeling pain.

In the past I've been able to get halters off horses long before this point, but I had a rehab horse here at the same time, not to mention bitterly cold rains and snow, so things slowed down to a crawl outside. Plus, she'd aborted her foal, so I wanted to just give her some space. Now I get to learn how to start one without a halter

[kigerfan]

I bet part of it is very sensitive, kind of like when you hurt yourself and it's healing, but you have that uneasy sensitive feeling about it for a while and you're very protective of it.

[nrly]

could be both pain and sensitivity, but now that the infection is gone( hopefully) the pressure is released, and the pain will subside. To me I put this in the same as the pain from a very painful in grown toenail. that has gone and gotten infected, you remove the ingrown part, the infection is released and gone, but for days you still have some type of pain in that toe ,but as time goes bye it gets better, you know you had a toe problem, but you really don't feel the pain. get my drift. give the horse time, care, and comfort and she will come around.

[DianneC]

You might check out Kicking Back Ranch for ideas. Good luck with her, I'll bet you do well.

[desperatehorsewife]

I'm sure at this point it's still sensitive. I'm going to felt over the top of the headstall we bought for her to give it more padding when it's time to start riding; probably do the same with the halter. Or just sheepskin. Rough spot to have scar tissue... No clue how it'll heal up.

On a good note, yesterday she let me get up to the right side and do a bit more touching than she has in the past week or so

[nrly]

she knows you are there to help her and not hurt her in time she will be so loyal to you. have had the vet look at it. are you doing antibiotics.
nola

[desperatehorsewife]

She was on feed through antibiotics for a week when I finally figured out what the smell was.

Unfortunately, vets here are less than enthusiastic about treating mustangs; seems they had a few to deal with that folks didn't do much with and it left a rather bad taste in their mouths. But I do keep a close eye on my horses and call at the drop of a hat for armchair diagnosis So far, so good. I think she's just sensitive and a bit fearful of that area for now.

Since I don't smell anything anymore, and as she's eating and drinking and doing her fair share to fill the wheelbarrow, I'm thinking we're doing okay. She's also lively enough for me not to be worried about her not feeling well...giving me behind the back snarky mare dirty looks

[DianneC]

Its almost as though she pulled back so hard it opened the skin up or hit her head on something getting into the chute. I've seen things like this on horses that have had a halter on for years but that's not the case here. If she did she probably pulled some vertebrae out of alignment and she is hurting that way. If she stays sensitive maybe a chiropractor would be helpful, once she's gentled.

[desperatehorsewife]

Dianne, I've heard there's a good chiropractor down in Skagit county, would you happen to know his name? My (people) chiropractor went to some demo of his and was very impressed by the immediate results he was getting with the horses.

Nothing else seems to bother her, though, aside from being sensitive to that immediate area. Right side is more protected than left, and I can work my hand up to the freeze mark under her mane on the left, so it appears more than anything to be the injury itself that she's concerned about.

Don't know that she's ever going to turn into a horse my daughter will enjoy riding...especially this summer like she'd hoped. Could be I'll have to steal her away and turn her into a cow pony

[DianneC]

Sorry, missed your post. No, I don't know the one in Skagit. I use Dr. DeLeuw at Pilchuck in Snohomish. Hannah Evergreen is somewhere near by there too. You could ask Mt. Vernon vets if they know.

[desperatehorsewife]

I may do that. I'm up in Whatcom...wonder if the clinic up here knows of anyone? Or if they're even open to the idea. I think she's going to need one, though. I try to massage her withers and she feels like she's got a couple knots there. It's the only place she really enjoys being rubbed.

I've managed to rub on her cheeks the past couple of days, though, which is a nice break through. She's a spooky one, though; much more than any of the others that I've had.

[DianneC]

Have you ever done clicker training? I had a mare who was abused by a trainer and would roundpen all day rather than accept the bridle. Three 1/2 hour sessions and she was fine with it. Its not for every horse but in sticky situations like you have where there is not an easy release it can work wonders. It might be good to start her on it so that the chiropractor can work with her. If you are interested I can start a thread with links.

[desperatehorsewife]

I'm not sure it'd work with her, but I'd still be interested in learning more for future horses.

From what I understand, it's food based motivation, isn't it? I'd work great for Jet, but FC refuses to eat out of my hands, even a grain pan, so I'm not sure I'd get the quick response like with some horses.

Thankfully, I'm not round penning that long, although she's no where near a catchable horse. Using the long rope, I can get her to face up and get it on her within a couple minutes and slip it on in halter fashion. I try to keep her standing quietly, but she's a mover, lol! Has a real hard time with being still, although she's figuring out whoa.

I had the rope halter on her yesterday, but that took a bit of time; 30 minutes, I'd say. Still, it got done. I've got ice on the ground right now, hopefully it'll warm up and melt before long so I can work with her a bit more at it today.

[JoanMRK]

Good luck Tracey, she does sound sensitive... good for your cow pony idea!

By the way, I've had a chiro come out and do a horse I crashed on (we both went down) and there was an amazing difference after a few adjusts. It only makes sense that they can be "out" just as much as us.

[desperatehorsewife]

I think Dianne was right about her hitting it hard; stepping on the lead as it was dragging and splitting the skin. It seems to be healing up from what I can tell. She let me get my hand up there briefly this afternoon and the old hair is coming off in clumps while new hair is there beneath it. No scarring that I can see. Of course she's still a mess of winter hair and mane, so it's hard to get a real good look as she's not that patient.

Did get the halter on this afternoon and actually tied on the side this time. Yesterday it was just on, over the nose, then off again. She's wearing it right now (no lead) to help her get used to the feel of something on her face without it being me. I'll take it off in a couple of hours after it's bounced around on her nose a bit.