Crappy January

Oh January, how much I dislike you. So wet, cold, and windy. You make horse-keeping no fun at all.

Okay, with that little vent over...Ben is doing alright. I'm trying to do a bit more with him, just to get his body moving and in shape again.

On my to-do list for this big guy includes a visit from our vet. I am going to see about putting him back on injections, since they did help SO much last year. He's been getting an oral joint supplement, and I just don't think it is working. For the $, we can do better.

But before I do that, something else needs to be looked at. Awhile ago, while playing with Ben in the arena, I happened to be positioned in a perfect spot, with the perfect light that cast up into his right nostril. Much to my surprise/dismay did I see a giant thing dangling in there - a thing I semi-affectionately call his nose-weener. Ben has always been a bit shy about the right side of his face being touched, and has always been super fussy about his face in general- twirling his head, tilting it when making contact...all of which we had attributed to either training/behavioral issues/body stiffness/soreness elsewhere). At one point I also thought maybe it was his teeth...

While correct training has definitely HELPED him become more steady in the contact while being ridden, it has not resolved the overall problem. Even alone, at play in turnout, Ben swings his head around. I began to assume maybe it was just a quirky thing about him.

But now, having found the nose-weener, I'm thinking differently.  It is time to have it checked out by a vet- as the few people I have shown it to have been also completely freaked out. It could be an old injury...or it could be a growth of some kind.  Nevertheless, we need to know what it is, and how much it is impacting his life. Is it removeable? Is it impeding his breathing (remember me saying Ben is a giant quitter and gets tired quickly...?)? WHAT is it???

Before I go any further I need to know what we're dealing with. Ben's quality of life is first and foremost, and I will do my very best to keep him healthy and living the good, happy life. I am hoping to have an answer within the next couple of weeks, and of course I will post an update as soon as I know something.