| While examining the chestnut boy I noticed a small hole | | | | A couple weeks went by as I continued to work with |
| under his chin in the middle of his left jawbone that | | | | him, clean his wound and apply antibiotics daily, but |
| appeared to be a draining abscess. I pointed out the | | | | neither his attitude nor wound was improving. And in |
| abscess to the new owner and she advised that her | | | | fact the hole in his jaw was starting to widen and |
| veterinarian had examined it the week prior, He | | | | more pus matter draining regardless of my efforts. I |
| assured her that it was simply a puncture wound and it | | | | felt around the wound and knew this wasn't a simple |
| would heal. | | | | puncture wound or abscess it had to be a bone |
| The gelding was a new purchase by a lovely kind | | | | infection. Now, I needed to convince the gelding's |
| hearted woman that wanted a nice trail horse for her | | | | owner to allow my vet, who I trust implicitly, to examine |
| family. He was a big chestnut Quarter horse about | | | | him even though she had her vet out weeks before. I |
| five years old who had extensive training in reining and | | | | prepared by calling my vet first and had the |
| cutting. The new owner wanted a natural | | | | opportunity to chat with him personally. He agreed that |
| horsemanship foundation established before she took | | | | it sounded like an infection in the bone, but felt it was a |
| him home, so he arrived at my barn for a three month | | | | bad tooth, not a puncture wound and suggested an |
| program to include trail training. | | | | x-ray. I hadn't thought about a bad tooth. It took my |
| When a new horse arrives at my barn I always | | | | breath away to imagine how long this horse must |
| perform a thorough examination for injuries and watch | | | | have been in pain to now have an infection coming out |
| closely for any mysterious swellings or soreness that | | | | through the jaw bone under the chin. My heart sank |
| may arise in the first twenty-four hours as a result of | | | | with the thought. |
| transportation. While examining the chestnut boy I | | | | With this information I made the phone call to the |
| noticed a small hole under his chin in the middle of his | | | | owner. She was more than happy to have my vet |
| left jawbone that appeared to be a draining abscess. I | | | | check and was deeply concerned about her horse |
| pointed out the abscess to the new owner and she | | | | being in pain. My vet visited that afternoon and |
| advised that her veterinarian had examined it the | | | | confirmed that a lower molar tooth was completely |
| week prior, He assured her that it was simply a | | | | infected beyond repair and the tooth next to it badly |
| puncture wound and it would heal. I felt around the | | | | infected, but possibly salvageable. Based on the level |
| area and mentioned that it appeared to be in the jaw | | | | of deterioration and the infection in the jaw bone my |
| bone since there was no mass or soft squishy tissue | | | | vet said that the tooth had probably been infected for |
| to pinch or squeeze. I advised the owner that I would | | | | at least two years... |
| care for the wound, but expressed my concern that | | | | I was flooded with emotions of pity, guilt and |
| this did not seem to be a mere puncture wound. | | | | compassion for this horse. It all made sense now. His |
| I began the gelding's training over the next couple days | | | | behavior, his aloofness, his agitation, his mouthiness; he |
| assessing what he knew by applying the Three | | | | was just trying to tell me "I hurt". I wrapped my arms |
| Foundations and Five Fundamentals that translate | | | | around the horse's neck and tears welled up as I |
| under saddle for a safer ride. He seemed very well | | | | asked his forgiveness for not recognizing his pain |
| trained and easy to teach, but overall listless and quick | | | | sooner. What a tolerant and forgiving boy. This horse |
| to agitate with pinny ears and a swishy tail. I also noted | | | | chose to tolerate people and our continued requests |
| he was very mouthy and did not improve with | | | | for performance while he stuffed his pain and put up |
| correction. He was constantly nibbling and nipping at | | | | with us. The previous owner sold him because "he just |
| me when grooming, working with his feet, bonding and | | | | wouldn't perform" to optimum level as a reining and |
| flexing - basically whenever I was in close proximity. | | | | cutting horse. No wonder! How well would you |
| The boy was also moody and not making a bonding | | | | perform if you had a toothache for two years? |
| connection with an attitude of "performing only | | | | It was a privilege to take care of him during his |
| because I have to" instead of willingly participating with | | | | recovery which bonded us deeply. He was a |
| me. I was a bit stumped searching for techniques that | | | | completely different horse with a sparkle in his eye |
| would invoke his willingness for a relationship, but he | | | | and a desire to please. And wow was he a wonderful |
| maintained a ho-hum duplicitous attitude. He certainly | | | | ride. We were on the trails in no time running freely |
| was not an unkind horse in any way, just something | | | | through the woods and swimming in the creek. As I |
| wasn't right and he was seemingly unhappy... | | | | always say Problems are not always training issues. |