Feeling Better

 

This post isn’t really about me, but yes, I’m feeling better, too. The knee is still swollen and weak and I’m still wearing my brace, but I can walk short distances without my crutch now. Thanks for all the well wishes. You all are awesome!

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So today, Apache had her vet visit and floating appointment. Everything went well and she did great. Even when she knew something was up, she was easily calmed. She’s such a good girl.

Ranchman John drove me up to the barn, but after the vet arrived, we remembered we had no electricity up there due to a gopher chewing the lines, so we had to head back down to the house for the vet visit because the Power Float requires an electric outlet.

I had forgotten that several chickens, two roosters and a hen had gotten out when I went in to feed them this morning. I was able to get the hen back into the coop, but the roosters were enjoying their freedom too much and I didn’t think it was a big deal for them to be out so I left them to their own devices.

But the coop is beside the house, so we had to deal with flapping, squawking roosters blasting out of the bushes, at least until the Power Float turned on, because the sound scared the roosters away.

Apache was so good and only startled in place anyway. Even with all the wind smacking the plastic feed bags that I zip-tied to the chicken coop wire to protect the chickens from some of the wind, Apache didn’t get her panties in a bunch. She was a very good girl with all the new sights, smells and sounds.

And she was very patient, too. Her Float took more than 30 minutes because her mouth was such a mess. In comparison, Baby Doll’s dental floats never took longer than 10 mins because they were just simple maintenance. Poor Apache she had just about everything going on with her ouchie teeth.

Apache had:

                               Ramps

   

 

                              Waves

                            Trans Ridges

                           Enamel Points

                   

                          Caudal (rear) Hooks

                          Rostral (frontal) Hooks

My vet, who is also a licensed Performance Equine Dentist invited me to reach in and feel all these abnormalities and I was surprised at how sharp and uncomfortable they felt to my hand……I could not even imagine having all that discomfort in my mouth for years, like poor Apache had to endure.

I could feel the rear hook, and it was very sharp, but it was the frontal hook that I could see as well as touch, and I was floored. That frontal hook had even caused a small ulcer in her mouth, which had toughened up with scar tissue.

Check out that frontal hook jutting down in the upper right side of this picture!

 

My vet told me that monstrosity could have easily caused Apache to rear when her previous owner bitted her in the single-jointed Tom Thumb and used force on her mouth to get her to cooperate. I think I would have reared to the moon to get away from that kind of pain myself.

Apache doesn’t have canine or wolf teeth, but this diagram shows the pressure that would have pushed against her sensitive teeth and that frontal hook by a harsh bit and rider.

 

Here’s a diagram of the frontal hook. Can you imagine what a metal bit hitting that might feel like?

 

And then try to imagine what Apache must have felt like when her previous owner ignored her display of pain and just slapped a tie-down on her instead and still rode her in the same bit in the same harsh way, except now using a crop, too.

I swear….I just don’t get people sometimes. I really truly don’t.

This is the only ‘After’ photo that turned out because my camera refused to focus. But it shows the points smoothed out and that horrible frontal hook significantly diminished.

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I’m really looking forward to trying the Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridle on her. I can only imagine how much she will appreciate it. She’ll probably be confused at first because of what she’s been used to for so long, but I think she deserves a break. She’s already shown me that she will move off seat and legs alone, and the more Jax and I rode her the less she needed any kicking to make her move forward. Our last ride, just a squeeze and she went. Maybe it’s too soon to think about, but I hope she appreciates all these new changes and becomes a true willing partner for me and my family. She has such a big heart and deserves a good life.

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So after the teeth floating, my vet pulled a Coggins for me to not only check Apache’s health, but to prepare for the upcoming ACTHA CTC Trail Ride I am registered to ride in with Apache (!!!!whooohooo!!!!!!).

The vet seemed surprised when I presented him with a fresh sample of Apache’s poo so he could do a fecal exam. This way he can tell me, what type, if any, worms or pests might be infecting her system. Once I know what she might have, I can deal with the specific pests without creating resistance from blindly deworming. I’m also interested in using diatomaceous earth as a natural dewormer, as several other horse owners I know have had great success with it. (Thanks Dan & Betty!)

After turning poor Apache into an equine pin-cushion giving her all of her vaccinations: rhino virus, strangles, influenza, rabies, West Nile, Tetanus, and Encephalomyelitis, my vet presented me with the bill for his services and I had my own pin cushion moment…………with my bank account now $436.61 lighter. (eeek!)

But it’s all worth it if Apache feels 100% better.