I got some bad news on the Vento front.  He’s been just a bear to ride, refusing to get in front of my leg.  Doing the piaffe or the passage, and even the levade to avoid going forward.  We thought it was something in his right low back and hip, but yesterday we discovered that his right rear suspensory tendon is inflamed.

The ultra sound revealed no lesions, just inflammation, but he has to be off for two to four months, and then I have to bring him back slow.  The regime is hand walking twice a day for fifteen minutes.  Rubbing this salve on the leg to draw blood to the spot, shock wave therapy, and I’m going to try some enzymes that reduce inflammation.

He is going to be a real bear to walk a month from now after days in his stall and run without getting worked.  This is a horse who hates to halt at X because it’s boring.  He’s going to be out of his skull.  I may go buy a couple of balls and hang them in his stall.

This means that I have to cancel the Regional Championship, and I probably won’t be going to California for January and February either.

I was so upset over this news that I only slept four hours last night.  I think I’m going to take a nap and try not to have it turn into an anxiety attack.