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Snickers, the noodle-legged pinto

14K views 169 replies 12 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
So, I have decided to start this thread, in place of the previous one....Snickers and the mysterious hind-end saga. I've enjoyed posting many of her recent accomplishments, and found it no longer should remain under the topic of 'horse health'.

She has a hind-end issue, not yet firmly diagnosed. Lots of guesses. She is being treated for EPSM with diet and exercise. She tested neg for Type I, but is not out of the woods for Type II. However, before I have subject her to a muscle biopsy to rule that out, I decided to start with the diet and exercise treatment, as recommended by Dr. Beth Valentine, DVM, PHD.

Her problem has limited her, but now she has improved. I continue on this journey with my wonderful stock pinto, because I believe in her for what she does offer, even if it is not perfection in some peoples' eyes. Despite her dysfunction, she is one remarkable horse.

So, I will start this journal with where I ended my last thread....with a picture of her showing her resiliance in preparation for doing her first parade, when she just turned four a week ago.

 
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#3 ·
Today I rode Snickers with a huge human flag team flag. It was quite windy out today so it was perfect. I also had a 5 gallon jug on a rope that I pulled behind us. Not a care in the world. Tomorrow I will add a tarp to our ride.

I have also been riding Snickers at the trot for extended periods and even asking her to hold the trot where there is an incline, both up and down. After getting over my initial fear of 'her noodle legs are going to give out and we are going to fall', she actually carried me very well and kept on going!

While progress has been more subtle lately, I continue to see her using her legs differently while running off on her own with a new confidence in herself. I'm very happy.
 
#8 ·
Forgot....after our spooking lesson...I rode Snickers around the ranch on the inclines again. This time, instead of slowing her to a walk from a trot at all on those areas, I kept her going! She did great, her little noodles didn't give out like I thought they would and she kept going without hesitation.

I also has to be a firm mother today. Many of times, I have given into her when she wants to slow down to a walk because I always feel like she is handicapped and needs a rest. Well, with as well as she has been doing, I decided to give that excuse up today....and instead of 'begging' her to go forward after my 'ask' cue....I 'told' her to keep going forward with a pop of the crop behind my leg. She listened and didn't try to slow again unless asked. And wouldn't you know????.....when I had to pop her with the crop, she survived the whole event...lol.
 
#14 ·
Walked Snickers to parade practice with her 'gear' on.....her tarp, flag, plastic bags, 5 gallon oil jug and windmill all attached to her to carry about a mile down the road to the other ranch. We also walked around a roadside tack sale on the way. Not one spook. Everyone at parade practice is quite impressed with her. First parade is in three weeks!
 
#15 ·
I lunged Snickers today so I could see her legs in transitions. Her trot looks the same pretty much. It's in her canter that I am seeing much improvement! She is holding it without the evil faces. And, when she downward transitions to trot, it is really starting to look smoother. Every so often there is a little hiccup....but for the most part it really looks good. She is even running around the pasture more by herself without hesitation. Video soon!
 
#17 ·
She does look to be moving a lot better - it does seem as if she's now getting control of her back end as it looked sort of disunited before
Have to mention that both horses look fantastic - so shiny - all the extra oils must be benefiting their coats too
Have you noticed any increase in weight - they don't look overweight but just wondered
 
#19 ·
No increase in weight anyways...that's good. I am still working on getting them both to lose some weight. They have lost some. They are not as spongy in the ribs. I can feel them now and the outline of muscle that runs down the flanks??? Not sure what it is called. Before there was a little more padding there. Their hay has been cut waaaaay back, without worries, because many of times they still have some remaining in their bin, so they are not starving. They get pasture while I'm out there too. So, we keep chipping forward little by little.

I also noticed that when I hand walk her up and down some inclines, she doesn't seem to be knuckling over on those hinds like before either..yay!!
 
#21 ·
Here is an email from Dr. Valentine this morning:

Hi Lisa. Thanks for sharing all the great video news. I absolutely agree Snickers is looking much better. Since it is still early days she should be able to continue to improve for months. I look forward to following her progress!

Beth V
 
#23 ·
So, I had a blast today with Snickers. My daughter and her boyfriend came out to the ranch today for a cookout. We decided to take her dog for a walk on a trail and I decided to take Snickers with. I wanted to share these pictures and video showing just how aloof she is. I let her lead herself ahead of me, so I could see how she would handle the situation. She is a perfect horsie partner. She loved the dog and wanted to keep up with him So funny.



 
#28 ·
Rode Snickers at liberty again with the string. I have found that it is REALLY helping ME! I've become so comfortable riding this way with my seat and balance. I have also figured out that what I thought was 'sitting up straight' really wasn't at all before. It is also helping me not brace with the reins if I am off balance or scared. I didn't even realize I did it before. I feel in more control holding the string with one hand and figuring it out, than I did before letting go of the reins to hold onto the saddle during those times of fear. It's like now that I'm forced to give up that control, it's easier!

I think it is helping in teaching neck reining too. There are no distractions other than the pressure of the string on the neck and my leg/seat. It's going very well. So relaxing and like another type of, I'm gonna say it.....'bonding' experience.

Also noted Snickers running around in the pasture....absolutely none of the legs getting twisted up during canter or downward transitions...just a little popping in that right hind....maybe that is now the locking stifle part?
 
#30 ·
So I thought I'd share these two short videos. They are just of Snickers running around being silly. But you can in a couple spots where she slows from the canter to the trot and her legs are not all twisted up and/or bunny hopping. Like I said, she still has to seem like a little bit of a stifle lock up at times, but that's soooooo much better than her falling down and not being able to untangle her legs to function! As you can see, I have no problems with her wanting to run and play now.:)



 
#34 ·
Video will come eventually....we are not yet videogenic...lol.

However, today was good....she cantered 2-3 strides several times in the arena! Can't tell if she was anticipating the canter or being a brat when I would ask for the trot and she would instead do the hop like she was going to canter. We were both exhausted by the end of it all. I'm sure it was comical. But it was very successful.

I lunged her just on a lunge line in the arena with her tack on before riding just to remind her of the verbal cues. She was wonderfully smooth between transitions...so awesome.
 
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