Monday, May 05, 2008

Hope for Cahlibur!!!


As some of you know Travis has not been able to ride Cahlibur for quite some time. A couple of years ago while gathering cattle, Cahlibur tripped and broke the tip off of both coffin bones. Because of this he came up lame and he has been stable bound with short periods of time in a turn out pen or arena so that he could relieve some of his energy.

Cahlibur is an easy keeper and only has to look at food to gain 50lbs! So it has been a battle to keep him from beefing out. Knowing the extra weight would not help his lameness. After moving to Texas, were he has a bigger pen to walk around in and eating grass hay for a couple of months, he has lost most of his extra pounds.

Saturday TnT took him to a specialist that lives 3 hours away. After taking x-rays, the veterinarian suggested two courses of action. The first is to inject ethanol into the area to dissolve the calcified buildup and therefore aleviate the pain or the second course would be to operate cleaning out the buildup and fusing the bones in the effected area together with a plate and screws (like my back). The percentage rate of the second course is considerably higher with the only set back of at least a year of rest so that Cahlibur can recover.

Travis opted for the operation and will be taking Cahlibur back for his 10 day stay. When Cahlibur comes home he will have a cast on and will resume his stall rest. In the meantime Travis is riding Oakley (my Quarter Horse).

The rest of the herd is doing great and everyone enjoyed the thunder, lightening and rain last night!!!


Click Here to Visit BLOG VILLAGE


MnC's Disclaimer: At no time is excessive force, cruelty or brutality used when training the horses pictured in this blog. Reinforcing pats and firm gentleness, along with calmness from the trainers, encourage the horses to do as they are asked.

5 comments:

Sharon Lynne said...

Hope Cahlibur does well. Poor guy. It sounds hopeful...

Sorry you have a bad back too.

How fun to have thunder and lightening!

Here in southern California, the temperature has been swinging. --a few days of 90 degrees then a few days of 68 degrees. It seems that Spring and Summer are fighting.

Rising Rainbow said...

I hope this surgery and recovery time goes well. He looks like a nice horse.

Unknown said...

Thanks Ladies! Cahlibur is a gentle giant and we don't want to see him hurting anymore. The built up cartilage needs to be removed.

Anonymous said...

always a tough gig with horses.. but so awesome.. you have a plan of action... that should definitely make all of you feel better (including said equine! ):)

blessings
happy trails
grp in montana

Anonymous said...

Wonderful looking horse! Will be very interested in knowing how the surgery goes and that he is free from pain.

Summitt For Circuit City's new "FireDog"!

Blog Carnivals...

Blog Village Quarterly Carnival
Fall Fest
October 29, 2007 England goes GONZO Carnival BLOG VILLAGE Carnival: Recreation