Behind the Bit

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Saddle pads are fair game, and a Harv update Posted: 12 Mar 2010 01:46 PM PST Our Red and Black kitkas love saddle pads. This black pad has been used more by the cats than Harv. Speaking of  Harv -- I'm a little worried. In late February, Harv seemed a little off when I rode him.  I gave him time off to feel better, but the next week he was worse. The farrier came out to check for a bad nail or abscess but he didn't react to hoof testers or taps to the nail holes. Thinking the tincture of time would a) reveal a deep, brewing abscess and b) heal any soft tissue injuries, I chose to wait a bit before calling a vet. Harv has never been this lame before, and  as of today, March 12, he is still  lame.  The vet is coming Monday to do a workup.  The symptoms... Nods irregularly/stiffens to show lameness on the left front (or right hind, I suppose). No heat, no swelling, no signs of injury. Sound at the walk -- even walking down an incline he takes nice long strides. Fine on sharp turns at the walk. On the lunge he is worse travelling to the right, which is odd if it is the left front that is bothering him.  He really wants to canter rather than trot, which makes it hard to evaluate him. His hind legs really don't look bad, fairly fluid and even.  On the plus side, he seems comfortable and "in character" (otherwise the vet would have been out sooner).  On the down side, I really don't like him showing this level of lameness for three weeks.   Oh, one more thing.  Bob said he found text messages from C. Everett Koop on Harv's Blackberry.  I don't know if this is good or bad. Wish us luck.

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