THANKS SO MUCH TO WENDY IN KY!

 

Serena is a 14 year old registered Arabian mare that I just took in.  She is an owner release..........the owner is moving out of state and Serena can not travel long distances.  Thank you Rhonda for thinking of Serena's well being and giving me the chance to help her.   Serena broke her leg about two years ago, and now has a severly contracted tendon.  She can not put her front right leg down.  The hoof on the right foot is also very long due to some problems stemming from the broken leg.  Serena broke the bone called the ulna.  That break has healed now, but the elbow may be fused.  I will be getting the elbow xrayed to see what is going on in there.  I have started her on Aniflex GL to help the tendons, and she has all the grass hay she wants, as well as getting a 12% sweetfeed and a vitamin/mineral supplement.  Serena gets around amazingly well on three legs!  Right now, my first goal is to trim the hoof, and get the tendon to relax enough that she can at least put the toe down to balance herself with.  If I can get that far, I know that I can probably get the leg to straighten even a little more with time.  Serena is a very sweet mare that loves to be pampered!  She nickers at me anytime I go outside where she can see me!  She loves to be brushed and petted, and just paid attention to.  Serena needs to gain a little weight, but I have to be careful not to let her gain too much, as her other three legs will not hold up to too much at this time.  The darker photos were taken on Dec. 6, 2004, and the brighter photos were taken on Dec. 12, 2004, after being here for a week.  I will try to continue to update on her as we learn to trust each other and work toward getting that leg straightened out.

 

Serena is now gaining enough weight that it shows!  Also, almost all of the rainrot is gone and she is starting to shed out to be a beautiful gray!  Here is a photo taken on April 15, 2005

 

Serena has been here almost 2 months now and is doing much better.  She is really starting to trust me more.  We are working with her leg daily now without much resistance from her.  She also has been seen by the farrier and he took about 3" off the right front hoof!  He says there is still quite a bit to go yet, but he doesn't want to rush it........we will do a little at a time.  He also was able to trim the left front hoof a litte to make her more comfortable.  Serena has started to gain a little weight as well.  She recently received a very nice gift, too!  A nice winter blanket was donated to her by Waters Tack.  Here are a couple of new photos of her in her new outfit!  Oh, look closely at the front right hoof and notice how it looks much better now!

 

Serena is now undergoing "weight therapy".  We have been putting weights on her leg just above the hoof to stretch the tendons and straighten the leg.  IT'S WORKING!!  While she eats, I can push her hoof to the ground!  It is only just touching with the toe, but that's a good start!  We will contiue with the weights and maybe soon we can start declining the amount of weight instead of increasing it.