I got some devestating news today from my vet. Star has degenerative joint disease in her left hock and possibly/likely in her left hip. He offered me joint injections and said they would keep her comfortable for a while.
At this point she's eating and drinking, but she is no longer comfortable trotting in hand with me while I run (I was training for a 5k in May, and she was going with me). She is somewhat active in the pasture, she still runs and plays a bit. I have some hard decisions to make with her, as we've exhausted all treatment options except joint injections at this point. And, even if we inject the hock, she still has a hip problem to deal with. I'm going into hermitage for the weekend, it breaks my heart to see her hurt. She's head bobbing lame today. She can't stomp flies. I've alternated between being angry and crying all day. Please remember her in your thoughts. I love this horse and I just don't want to have to deal with this at all. Steph -- "Brutality begins where skill ends." "Correctly understood, work at the lunge line is indispensable for rider and horse from the very beginning through the highest levels." Von Niendorff
