It is hard to believe that just one short year ago we were living in Laminitis Land.
Today, amazingly, we have a healthy, happy horse!
Pookey Bear just got back from a visit to his farrier Joe at La Mesa, where he got a 'touch up' trim on his nearly-grown out feet. He still has an inch or so to go on his right front before he is standing on nice new growth, and solidly attached hoof wall, but his left front is almost completely grown out, and his movement has improved accordingly!
I snapped the photo above as he was enjoying a big bowl of soaked Ontario Dehydrated Timothy Balance Cubes (Triple Crown Feeds) during his afternoon turnout time in his round pen. Green oak tree, deep blue sky, happy horse! Note the lovely chiseled features, no longer obscured by layers of insulin-driven 'puffiness.'
Pookey's low-carb diet worked so well for him that hubby and I were compelled to try it, and after six months, between the two of us we have lost almost as much weight as the horse did.
(Of course my features don't look quite as chiseled, but who's complaining?)
We are now intensifying our rehab efforts to try to build back some of that lost muscle over Pookey's hip and hindquarters. Our goal is to get him fit enough to do showmanship again, perhaps by next spring. He would love to hop in the trailer to go somewhere besides the vet clinic. And he would love to bask in the glow of the adoring crowds again (well, okay, the handful of spectators who clap), instead of just being poked, prodded, and x-rayed.
Thanks so much to all of you who have checked on Pookey over the past year and a half, and special thanks to those who were instrumental in helping him heal.
We are so grateful!
