Enlightened Equitation or Natural Horsemanship??

[Kerry's Partner]

Mike/Sarah,

You may wish to move this.

Kerry had something akin to what I called "mad mare syndrome" at the end of Nov. Sue Carnell came to see us and gave Kerry the time of her life - and also btw got rid of all of her pent up frustrations.

Whilst Kerry, Sue and I were in Kerry's stable. Kerry demonstrated quite well her "new" behaviour of trying to bite me (and she doesn't do that I say unless she has a problem - she's normally an angel unless she really has a problem).

Sue showed me how to move close to Kerry rather than move away and whilst doing so identified a very sensitive spot on Kerry's "cheek".

Kerry has been likened to a very mareish mare by others yet I would disagree with this and I think Sue would too. Yes she's very very clever and sensitive in an emotional way but NOT in a physical/stamina way - I've always suspected she has a high threshold for pain (due to her background before I owned her).

Anyway, I had Kerry's ovaries scanned - nothing. The vet also rasped her teeth. I have tried to get a firsthand account of what the vet found in Kerry's mouth to no avail. Kerry was worse after her teeth were rasped for a week or two and then the sensitive spot Sue found didn't create a reaction in Kerry when I felt it.

Today she was seen by a "qualified" dentist who suspects she has an abscess which I can feel under her lower jaw. It is of no surprise to me (but I could kick myself a thousand times over) to find it is quite likely to be beneath the tooth lying just where Sue identified Kerry was really tender. It is also no surprise to me to find that, again, I/we were right yet were supposedly wrong. BUT it also makes me so angry with the world.

Kerry will be seen tomorrow again by the dentist with vet. The dentist thinks she may need to be hospitalised to be x-rayed and have a tooth extracted.

SO, my messages are i) to those of you who doubt your gut feeling (however inexperienced you feel you may be) - DON'T. And ii) enlightened equitation is a holistic thing which imo can't be beaten.

Sandra

[Wally]

You can study all your life, it isn't enough if you do not have, and listen to your deepest feelings.

Vets are only human, so are the "experts" they might not always be tuned to your horse in the way you are.

In my experience horses are not nasty, awkward creatures, on the whole they want to co-operate. If they won't there must be a good reason.

Stop kicking yourself, the likey cause is not identified, not all horses have the luxury of an owner who pursues problems with gut instinct.

I don't like the description marish, it doesn't describe anything definate, any evasion, or attempt to communicate by reluctance to co-operate can be shoved under this name and ignored.

[Kerry's Partner]

Well, the differential diagnosis is:

1) abscess (but less likely)

2) fractured jaw

3) something more sinister

[FRED]

Hi Sandra, Im sure every one on the message board is hopping that Kerry is going to be OK and will soon be well again. We all have fingers crossed!

Doe's Kerry spend more time in stable these days, I know some may laugh, but I Am convinced that horse who have to be stabled more during winter get fed up and have slight personality or mood change not for the better.
I don't know enough to be more help, fingers crossed.
Fred

[ros]

What's a differential diagnosis? And how soon will you know for sure?

[Mossy]

Hi
A differential diagnosis is when you think the cause is one thing but there are alternative possibilties which you have yet to rule out. The alternatives are the differential diagnoses. Not explained very well but i have been up since half five and only just had breakfast!!! Don't ask why!!!

[cvb]

so what are the next steps ? Will they x-ray to try and get a better diagnosis ?

(By the way my sisters horse had a fractured jaw from a kick that then got infected. He ended up at Edinburgh Vet School. That was a few years ago and he is still with us :D although an aging veteran (32). He was already retired at the time so I can't comment on what effect it would have had on riding/bridles etc, but it does not seem to have affected anything else.)

[Sarah]

Ooh Sandra, Poor Kerry!

It just goes to show that mum does know best when it comes to seeign that all isn't quite right with her horse.

Please keep us informed on how you get on and do give Kerry a big hug (but not near her jaw!) from all of us.

Sarah

[Kerry's Partner]

I will Sarah.

Thank you everyone. She has to be left for another week - to see if an abcsess does develop but I don't think it will - have to say I hope I'm wrong in some ways. Then she'll have to go in for x-rays etc. I expect.

Sandra

[Speedy]

My friends horse broke her jaw in the field! She came in with a lump and soreness - she went down the same route as you and it was finally x-rayed in Newmarket. She had to have a period of time off work as she couldn't wear a bridle until it healed, but recovered completely. Best of luck xx

[Kerry's Partner]

Thanks Speedy, that's really good to know. I expect Kerry will have to go on a little journey to be x-rayed etc.

It's just frustrating because whilst she wasn't right at the end of Nov. she has just got so much better - in all ways since then. She looked like a dream when I watched Eraldo ride her yesterday - she's not in ANY way in discomfort, and she's going so well for me too. Like I posted recently she's really beginning to engage her hindquarters and look really really special (as if she didn't already!!) - my Welsh Cob. Her shoulder in and travers are really impressive too - given that it's not that long since Sue first taught her it all and she's had to develop all the right bits to do it all even better.

Eraldo, Sam, Sue and I all think this is not new - it might be new on old but it's not new. So, apart from that dreaded third option of something more sinister I feel much less worried. I know she's OK at the mo - I just want her to stay that way.