Fernando came today to give Cook a work over (concerning her buck-y canter and that knot on her fetlock).

Fernando looks at the fetlock knot and determines it’s a kick or a bang and the “least of my problems”.

So moves on to “back soreness” tests. She registers from left to right diagonal. Another words: she’s back sore.

So onto flexions tests. On the right hock, she scores a 1 and 2 on the ankle and hock respectively. On the left hock, she scores a 2 and 3 respectively. (postive numbers are bad… sound horses are negative)

He wants to see me ride her so we tack up and head down to the ring. I was a lil on the nervous side cause 1 - Cook hadn’t been worked for 8 days, 2 - it was rainy/muddy outside (cook ain’t a fan of inclement weather) and 3 - Fernando is a GOOD rider. Not exactly someone I wanna look like a shom’ron in front of or worse, get thrown off my horse in the mud in front of. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. Cook was pretty damn good. She was FRESH!! HOT!! But it could have been much much worse. I was more worried cornering in the mud, thinking ‘please don’t fall and slip, cantering in the mud’. So the good part was she showed the off-ness I was talking about. Meredith said I did fine so that made me feel better.

Fernando takes X rays and will get back to me when he develops them. The severity will determine the treatment. It will definitely be the next level of treatment, either adequan or injections. I don’t really want to go to injections (essentially numbing the pain part so she doesn’t feel it… means that the joint will still deteoriate) but I may not have a choice.

I expected this. I know Cook like the back of my hand. I spend the most time with her, riding time, down time, feed time, hang out time… I KNOW her. I KNOW it was not behavioral. It makes me feel better that our vet has confirmed it and that we can now do something about it towards trying to find a medical solution.

I love that mare.

Here is a pic that Eric snapped today. I’m hugging on Cook.