PHEW!
Took Milo out to Sound Equine today for a lameness exam, turns out he only had an abscess! That I can deal with!! It blew out today too, pretty deep, but should heal up fine.

Using Rio for the rodeo this weekend, no way Im pushing Milo into doing it. Anyway, a quick update. We hauled out to the rodeo grounds last night and had a practice. A little more mellow today, no practice, a barrel race tonight but nothing for the cowgirls to do. Im working 2:30-7:30 tonight, then plenty of time to re-do Milo's duct tape boot, and head back out to the rodeo.

Milo backed up into a T Post a few days ago, and sustained minor superficial cuts on his hind legs. I rode him in the rodeo practice that same weekend and he was perfectly fine. I checked on him Monday night and he was really lame on his right hind leg. Sure enough, it was worse on Tuesday when I checked on it again. No rodeo this weekend which is disappointing because we've been working so hard for the past 4 months to get ready for the rodeo...and a week before he's lame.

Theres no heat, no swelling, and no obvious signs of the problem, but he wont put weight on it. We're hauling him to Sound Equine Friday morning for a lameness exam. So hopefully they will find something just minor going on that we can easily care for. In the meantime Im using a friends horse named Rio that rode in the pattern last year. I met him for the first time yesterday and he will work alright. Its just disappointing.

Well to update, the Chiro/Masseuse played hooky on our scheduled appt last friday...and the sweat spots are still a total mystery.

But today the rodeo flag/drill team cowgirls were in the Viking Fest Parade in little ole Poulsbo WA. I was mildly concerned about the fact that I didnt have any quietex for my 4 year old gelding....but he proved me wrong today in my doubts of his sanity. He yelled for friends and such, but as we waited around for nearly 4 hours he sure was calm. He just watched the floats, trucks, and band kids walk by and make noise. He was doing better than some of the horses on drugs haha.

After a successful day not only having fun, but also reseeding my faith in Milo, I am sitting at home rubbing Aloe Vera on my very tender shoulders!

Well when I went to the barn to see Milo the swelling wasnt there anymore. The vet still came out and checked him over, did the floating (which went very well). And I asked him about his odd sweat spots, and the fact that they are bilateral, he suggested having the chiropractor come out. He said it may be a something with the nervous system.

So next on the to do list is get the chiro out here asap. Dr. Hill also mentioned that he should be on some minerals, such as Horse Guard. So that will be the next sum of money to spend. Plus my mom on my case about car insurance....

And Im dying to get a new digital camera after mine broke a few months back. It was a a horse show one day perfectly fine, I go to use it and it doesnt work. Now Im been stealing my mom's camera. Ugh.

Hope everyone else's finances are doing well!

The past week I've noticed a "sweat spot" as it appears to be, on Milo's shoulder blade, so right at the base of his neck. Its been there every day the past week or so and Im getting a bit concerned.

I then come to the barn today, pull him out of turnout/pasture, and from his left ear down along his jawline is puffy or "swollen". It didnt seem to be causing any pain, but it was expelling heat. I immediately called the vet, who I was already needing to contact about a float. So Dr. Hill is coming out tomorrow to float him, and see whats going on.

Milo got his shots April 12 so it seems a little too wide in time for anything to have arose from that. It doesnt appear to be any type of choke either. Maybe he was stung by something? Any opinions/thoughts/or suggestions welcomely accepted!!

-phm