Lake's Accident

I decided to write for a minute before I go up to the barn this morning because overnight there is this sensation of hope that really builds when you start to convince yourself that in the morning the horse will show marked improvement and that the worst is behind you.

I'm still soaking in that hope a little longer before I go out.

Sunday morning Lake was not resting on the leg as much but did still place it down. Continue bute and stall rest though at this point he was distressed to see Whisper and Spot go out and he hop-paced his stall a lot.

Sunday at lunch Lake looked much worse. He was not using the leg at all. There was mild swelling right at the elbow. I called the vet out for an emergency consult.

Within the first 3 minutes of evaluating the leg the vet began to ask me ownership questions. Was I the sole owner and decision maker? Was there a contract? Who had stakes in the horse other than me? My heart dropped and a lump came up in my throat.

There were a lot of words coming out of his mouth to me, Radial Nerve Paralysis... can't for sure say break in elbow but I'm leaning that way.... year to longer recovery IF they recover and the other legs don't break down as they heal... never achieve normal movement again... elbow fractures are not treated in horses, they just don't heal

It hits me that the snickers colored horse with his head smooshed in my stomach may have just ended his life with a simple kick.

The vet didn't have xray equipment on his on-call truck on a Sunday and if he did and it was a break there would be nothing to do but put him down. It is possible that muscle swelling, not a break, has compromised the nerve and anti-inflammatories and diuretics would begin to resolve it quickly if that were the case.

We loaded him with heavy doses and the vet left me with more. The plan : treat him like it's best case scenario, hope there is significant change in the next 2 days, go from there with x-rays

Lake is comfortable, he's happy eating and wanting to pull at my clothes. I brought Whisper back in to be with him through this so he's got a friend near-by.

My first call was to my great friend, Amy so I could get the news out with a lot of the tears so I was ready for my next call, to Lake's owner/trainer in Kentucky who sent him here. Everyone was supportive and hopeful.

Late last night I went out to give Lake his last round of meds for the day and found him laying in the stall. I spoke quietly trying to get him to stay there while I treated him but he insisted on getting up. I couldn't watch and instead just listened to the struggle until his nose brushed into my neck looking for love. He just has to be better.