Well, everyone said that's here are ups and downs with going bare foot and I was proudly thinking that I had not had any downs...or maybe I had but I viewed them as a great opportunity to learn.
Everything was going so well, we had had the odd canter on good ground and he was feeling much stronger and less footy on stoney ground.
My friend came for a ride and we were having a lovely time, until whilst walking along one of the paths Red walked up the side of the path, slipped and fell. He came straight down onto his off side, landing on my friends leg. Unfortunately, my friend broke her ankle. Red had a slight swelling on his knee, but otherwise seemed ok. However, 3 days later he was not quite as sound as he had been, I reduced his work back to walking, but he has gradually got lamer. Most disappointingly, he has started bending his knee again when standing in the yard (which he has not done for about 7months).
I am absolutely gutted :-(
I wanted to keep him walking as much as I could to keep his feet fit, but, although he is happy walking, he rests his off fore leg more after the walk. I tried lunging him in the school, only in walk, to keep him moving on a soft surface, he went crazy and spent more time in the air than on the ground. When he was trotting he was visibly lame (4/10) even on the left rein.
He has been on bute for the last week and although he is sounder trotting up, he is still resting his off fore when standing on the yard.
What to do?! On the plus side he is much less footy on the stones.
