Why the long face, Lyle?
I know you're not yourself. I've known since Thanksgiving. Remember that day? When I adjusted your cinch and you turned and lashed out with your hind leg like you wanted to kill me? I apologized, thinking I had pulled it too tight or too fast, then we had a great ride. But you lashed out again later when I picked out your feet. You wouldn't even let me brush you. That was not the Lyle I know and love. Something was wrong, and I couldn't get on the phone with our vet fast enough.
"So, Doc, what could make Lyle suddenly sour?"
Could be ulcers, could be lower back pain, could be sand in his gut, could be...and the list goes on and on. We came up with a plan to start knocking things off the list one by one. And over the course of the last six weeks, we've determined it's not ulcers, it's not sand, and it's not any pain that previcox might ease.
So what it is, little buddy? What's making you grumpy? We all know you're not yourself...just ask Deets!
The vet was pleasantly surprised when he saw you on Tuesday. He couldn't believe how smoothly you moved, despite your foundered feet. I was a little worried when he asked me to ride you right there in the parking lot. Thanks for not getting western and embarassing me.
You weren't too happy when he was examining your lower back, though. So the next step in our plan is a visit to the chiropractor. And we're not ruling out behavioral issues either...you're a smart one, and we wouldn't be surprised if you've figured out that acting grumpy gets you out of working.
We'll get to the bottom of your issues sooner or later. In the meantime, Doc says to start riding you again - we may have to make whatever is bugging you bug you some more in order to figure out what it is. Now if he could just prescribe us some warmer weather...
POOR Lyle! Well, poor Carson too! What a mess with Lyle not acting like himself and you having to try and figure it out through trial and error. Hope this all gets worked out soon, AND hope your weather warms up too. I still see patches of snow in the background!
ReplyDeleteOh, the chiro may just do wonders. I never was much a believer myself until my Hank had a visit from the bone cracker. Or, he's just too smart for his own good. Here's to a less cranky Lyle.
ReplyDeleteSweet Lyle! I hope the chiropractor helps him out. I didn't even know there was such a thing for horses!
ReplyDeletePoor Lyle. I know a mare that did this. She had a rib out of alignment from twisting around running in her paddock, bucking etc.
ReplyDeleteLyle may be too smart for his own good. I hope that's all it is.
ReplyDeleteOh Lyle... poor baby. Hope you guys figure it out soon. I hate to think of him hurting...
ReplyDeleteChiro is a great idea. Though, I knew a horse once, Brucie was her name (that may have been the problem right there, who names a mare Bruci?e.) She would limp whenever she saw you coming out into the pasture to get her. It got her out of being ridden, until we figured it out. Then, we just saddled up, she gave it up, and we had lovely rides.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, by the way. I think I'm going to enjoy it.
We have had miracles performed by our chiropractor here - Keil Bay's left pelvis rotated out and we first thought he was in early stages of colic, he had an arthritic hock, or he had done some odd injury.
ReplyDeleteChiro came, did adjustment, Keil Bay emitted a HUGE sigh of relief, and he was FINE. It rotated out a few more times over the next two months, but less and less each time, and she kept fixing it. As his muscles developed around that joint again, the fix stayed. He is now moving better than ever, w/o Adequan, which I had started before she adjusted him.
He now bellies up to the stall door if the chiro's truck drives up - he LOVES her dearly. He wants to be adjusted even when he doesn't need it, LOL!
That's just one story here - there are more! Here's hoping Lyle's adjustment puts things back to normal for him so you can get back to work!
You be extra careful riding out there! I won't go into the details of my ill-fated ride a few years ago. Of course, that's cuz I can't remember it(maybe it's for the best). Thank heavens someone found me driving down the road - w/o my boots cuz I had blisters on my feet & a wack on my head. But I had put the horse up and my dog was w/ me. Just one of those freak things. Be Safe. And it's for selfish reason too-I would really miss morning coffee with you and your gang!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are getting the chiropractor soon; it's amazing the difference it makes in even one treatment. In my experience, one is usually enough unless it's a really chronic problem. I usually get Beamer done after breeding season because of the strain on his lumbar area, especially when his short-backed self has to breed tall mares.
ReplyDeleteOh Lyle, no games, but no pain either. I hope relief is in site!!!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with my face, Mom, I think it's your lense...
ReplyDeletePlease take pictures if you have a chiro come out.
ReplyDeleteThe very idea of adjusting a horse seems impossible to me. I don't know how they'd relax enough to let any work be done on them. The size issue is something else all together.
Uh oh. The mysteries of animal illness. *indrawn breath* We're all here for you Linda & Lyle. Let's hope the problem is a minor one that's easily remedied. In the meantime, watch out for that hind leg. We don't want to be reading about your medical problem next.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet he just needs and adjustment. Our chiropractor is a miracle worker. Hope Lyle's can help him. I'm sure he'd never do anything to ever get out of work on purpose...or would he!
ReplyDeleteAw, poor Lyle. Is it possible it is a stifle injury? Our Mustang mare sustained one and now she is a beautiful pasture ornament. It took me some months to finally figure it out. Yup, tried the chiro but didn't do any good. She doesn't limp at all unless she is playing too hard and then there is some favoring on the back right. If Lyle is faking it, darn, he is good!!!! He sure is a handsome fellow.
ReplyDeleteI've had real good luck with chiro treatments for many of my horses. Hope that does the trick. But, it's good to hear he's been OK'd to ride!
ReplyDeletePoor Lyle! Hope the chiro helps - it's done a lot for my horses. My Noble started to have generalized soreness a couple of months ago, and it turned out he had low thyroid and also was starting to be insulin resistant - we treated both and he's back to normal and if anything livelier than he used to be. Good luck with getting things fixed!
ReplyDeletePoor buddy, Lyle. You've checked teeth right? I mean (gulp, the $$$) with an equine dentist? They are AMAZING and I know when I have a tooth problem and am meaner than hell. Most vets tolerate dentistry because they have to, but an actual equine dentist loves their field and can remedy lots of things that look like they might originate elsewhere. Good luck to ya both.
ReplyDeletePoor Lyle. But he is stylin' in his furry winter coat.
ReplyDeleteAww, what a sad face. I have used chiropractors many times on my horses and have always had great success. Hopefully they can figure out what is going on with him and get him back to his old self.
ReplyDeleteHe's such a handsome fella! Hopefully he doesn't realized how good looking he is.
ReplyDeleteOh and ... I can't fathom how a chiro would adjust a horse. If you can, please take pics!
ReplyDeleteWow...I've loved reading all your positive experiences with chiropractors. I will definitely try to take pictures. I'm trying to convince her to come to us - looks like it might happen mid next week.
ReplyDeleteSandy, Lyle's teeth were done two weeks before all this started and Doc rechecked them yesterday, thinking one might wiggling, but all was well in there.
That was very interesting to me on all the positive experiences with chiropractors. I know cattle can end up with back problems too but not sure if there can be adjustments for them. We had never thought of it
ReplyDeleteOh those eyes ... hope so much this gets sorted out. I would like to see a chiropractor work on a horse though - fascinating. Beautiful Lyle: get well soon!
ReplyDeleteEven though I've never been around horses much, I love your blog! The photos and stories are amazing. I had no idea there were chiropractors for horses, but it does make sense. I hope Lyle feels much better very soon! Tell Deets to stay off his back...
ReplyDeleteNancy in Iowa
I hope it's something easily fixed, because oh, how I know about issues...
ReplyDeleteHope the chiro helps! In the meantime, please wear your hardhat. I (selfishly) would hate to be without your daily posts!
ReplyDeleteCan i come with you? i could use an adjustment!
ReplyDeleteI knew a lady some years back that did massage for horses only. She was always busy and very much in demand for race horses and horses in competitions. I guess she was a horse whisperer in a sense and they loved her treatments.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well with Lyle. It's important to listen to what he is saying otherwise one day it will be very loud and clear.
Best always, Sandra
Sorry to hear that Lyle is feeling ouchey! I wonder what could be the cause...sounds like you have a good beginning to sorting out the problem. It is great that we know our horses so well, that we know when their behavior changes and they hurt or are not happy. I hope Lyle is back to his old self soon!
ReplyDeletePoor boy. I hope the chiro does help.
ReplyDeleteMy horse swears by double carrot rations. Maybe it'll cheer him up a little.
Poor Lyle...! What a great idea to get the Chiro there...! Better for Lyle and for you too! I pray sh/she can help dear Lyle...!
ReplyDeleteHugs Lyle.....Big Big Hugs!
Don't you wish you could speak horse? Poor Lyle! I hope that he feels better soon. Do you give him a glucosamine/chondrotin/msm supplement? It helps Silk a lot when it's cold. There are some that also include things to not upset the tummy. It's all a delicate balance, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteHow old was Lyle? You captured his beauty (and comical face) so well.
Sharon