Please check back next month.

   I have not reported on the progress of this colt in a while but it's all good with his rehabilitation. I will backtrack a moment to fill in new readers.

   Late September I was given a two year old gelding that could hardly walk. I wondered at my sanity in taking him in but knew I was the only hope for him at the time. Quite the looker and a horse that loved attention, he would almost fall over if one pushed on his hindquarters and every muscle in his body was rigid with pain.

   Months before this happening, he had high hopes pinned on his racing career and was Breeders Cup nominated. While in training, he cast in his stall and the next morning was crippled. The damage of having his muscles and nerves compressed by his bodyweight, as well as him struggling for hours, was horrendous. His x-rays were clear but the veterinarians diagnosed EPM and a neck injury. Watching the former speed demon gallop was pitiful, after his injury his limbs were discombobulated. His front feet were abcessing when I got him and walking was an ordeal for him.

   I started with a program of full bodywork sessions with him every week and daily passive stretching. Though I could get his back to relax and begin to relieve his pain, I needed to get his front feet comfortable as he was in so much pain he looked as if he was foundering.

   I had his feet x-rayed to confirm that it was not founder. I had run into Soft Ride boots(soft-ride.com) earlier that year and ordered a pair for him. The relief was immediate and he was able to get around much easier.

   As time went on, Sam got to the point he could trot around in his boots. He looked like the gawky teenager with big sneakers on, and as he healed his mischievous and affectionate personality began to surface. He had not offered to run yet but I took him over to Retama Equestrian Center in December to show off his recovery. I was ponying him off my mare when I turned him loose in the area. Unbelievably, he tossed his head and took off at a run! It was still discombobulated but much better than we had seen before. His recovery program changed to round pen work, to trotting ground poles and I stayed with the weekly sessions of myofascial release and spinal reflex analysis. The stretches were a challenge for him, as in September he could barely pick up his hind feet and now I was asking him to extend the hind feet back. I know the stretches hurt him some, but he was game for it and attempted to do what I asked.

   He gave me my own setbacks - he is a colt and he was determined to impale himself on things as well as get kicked by my other horses. For a month, we had regular trips to Retama Equine Hospital for stitches. Sam was feeling better and was able to get into trouble!

   As we got into February, I started to ride him on a regular basis. It did not matter to him if he was ridden English or Western, he took everything in stride. Our rides were just trail riding but I asked him to go on uneven ground, to trot long distance and asked him for a good two hours of exercise at a time. His recovery then accelerated at an amazing rate! He has become straighter in the front as he tended to toe out with one foot.

   I believe in another six months, Sam will be completely sound. He is a fun horse to ride and bombproof on the trail, which is to say a lot for a three year old Thoroughbred. His trot is so very smooth and easy to sit. I am pleased I took on the challenge of Sam, he has taught me quite a bit about what wonders regular bodywork can bring around. Would he have got better being put on pasture? I do not believe so and I'm sure the muscles are healing the way they should, as well as having an acceleration in the healing.

   I did get a pretty cool horse out of the deal!