Wow, what a week it has been! After much research and deliberation, I finally decided to take Tori to the vet to check her hocks. She has been cranky under saddle for so long that it was easy to think she had a bad attitude, but to me it just felt that perhaps the attitude was pain related.

First off, after talking to a vet, I decided to try a four-day course of bute to see if she was better to ride when she was relatively pain-free. She was. In fact, I had her on bute at the show in Smithers, and she was far better than I expected her to be, so it became very clear in my mind that her problems were indeed caused by pain. (Please keep in mind that bute is a prescription drug that should ONLY be used on advice of a veterinarian - never give drugs to a horse without veterinary direction.)

With that in mind, I booked Tori in with the Murdoch Veterinary Clinic in Prince George. We hauled in on Wednesday and spent quite a bit of time carrying out a lameness exam. It is important to follow a set plan each time you perform a lameness exam so that you don't overlook something by not checking it - it is easy to look at the one thing you THINK is causing the problem and to overlook the actual cause.

During the lameness exam, the vet found nothing of note as she examined fetlocks, knees and hocks. However, because of my concern about Tori's hocks, she decided to ask the second vet to observe the flexion tests of the hocks. While Tori had tested negative on the first flexions, the second flexion was enough to cause her discomfort and she was noticeably off on the left hock and extremely off on the right - kind of a bittersweet success, as we had finally found a reason for her to be sore.

Once we had a target in mind, it was time for radiographs. X-rays can be helpful to detect changes in the bones, such as fusion, arthritis, and possibly breakdown of the joints themselves, which is common in reining horses.

Photo credit: Chris Hassell

While you can’t see the actual joint tissue, you can see a lack of it on the radiographs. I also had my pre-purchase radiographs which we used for comparison purposes - a then and now picture of her joints.

Sure enough, the x-rays showed that the lower joint in both hocks was trying to fuse. Fusion is a long process during which the horse can be quite uncomfortable, as the bones are not quite solidified and still have some mobility but minimal joint capsule left. The usual treatment for this is to inject steroid into the joint space to encourage the fusion, and that is what we did.

Now it just takes time! I am still to work Tori, though the first few days needed to be easy days. This use encourages growth of the bony tissue. Once that lower joint has finished fusing, she should no longer be experiencing discomfort, and hopefully after about six weeks her attitude under saddle will begin to change for the better.

However, if she is still experiencing pain after the fusion should be complete, there is a possibility we will need to lubricate the joints. This can be done by feeding supplements such as glucosamine and also by injecting hyaluronic acid (Hyanate). Hyanate can be directly injected into a specific joint, or it can be given intravenously where it will reach all the joints - this is a more costly procedure but gives much better coverage (as well as being less invasive than the joint injection).

So now I know much more about hock injections than I ever did before - owning Tori has certainly been a huge learning experience in many, many ways!

Till next week, happy riding!
~ Kristi :)

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Last week we shortened the mane in preparation for banding. Now you can warm up your fingers and get out your braiding elastics! These instructions are straight from Michelle - who has 15 years experience at this chore!

Step 1. Wash thoroughly..... think it is clean??? Get those fingers into the roots of the mane and scrub like you do your own hair. Nothing is worse to band than a dirty mane.

Step 2. Now I spray the mane liberally with Show Sheen. I also keep the mane wet with Show Sheen while I am banding... however, many folks use only water to wet the mane. I use Show Sheen as it is slippery and allows my fingers to work faster and with less drag on the bands when I am wrapping them.

Step 3. Starting at the bridle path, section small sections of hair and wrap with elastic (I find a tail-comb works excellent for this, but many use the little three point combs - hair clips will hold the balance of the mane back for easier working). If the mane is VERY thick, make the section smaller (1/4 - 1/3 inch).. If the mane is thin make your sections at least 1/2 inch. I usually find that if you want the elastic to stay in and stay put, I will wrap 7 - 9 times.

Step 4. Continue # 4 till you reach the rise to the withers. I have developed a technique (rather like someone that can crochet or knit) and do not "overlap" or cross over the bands when I am putting them in the hair. This way if they require adjustment when you are first banding or in the morning before the class, you can simply "run" them down with a tail-comb and with your hands (lay hands flat to the neck) you can reset them without them sticking up.

Step 5. I use thinning scissors but many folks use small scissors to now shorten the mane to about a 2 inch level look. Remember you have to taper it back to the withers. If you use small scissors hold them up and down to cut up into the mane. Do not cut flat to the side.... it has a chopped effect.

Step 6. Once you have it shortened, I respray to saturate with Show Sheen and put a nylon hood or slinky on immediately. This will allow the hair to dry flat and lay down for you. Once again if you don’t have Show Sheen, water will certainly work.

Step 7. Before the class (immediately before) I top dress the mane and tail with Cowboy Magic. Also put some in the forelock to do away with the frizzies. If you have a super stubborn mane do not hesitate to use a gel or mousse on the mane to lay it down. Put your slinky, mane tamer or hood back on till it dries.

Just before your class, take off the slinky, touch up as required, and voila! A beautifully banded horse that will wow them in the show pen!

Michelle and her husband Cyril of Double C Quarter Horses (www.doublecquarterhorses.com) are long time competitors on the QH and Paint circuits in Alberta, where Michelle usually bands about a dozen horses per show. Thanks for sharing your tips on banding with our readers at Northern BC Horse!

The Prince George Reining Horse Association is hosting the 9th Annual Ride N Slide from June 28-30. Last year, you may remember was reported to be bigger and better than ever, and actually pushing for three days worth of competition. This we have three days, and they prove to be full ones!

The show committee has been working hard to make this show offer something for everyone. The PGRHA classes run from the very beginner trot patterns on up to medium level modified patterns. The Western Canadian Reining Association classes also cover a variety of modified patterns as well as quite a few National Reining Horse Association patterns. These classes are all high point qualifiers for the WCRA year end awards.

Again this year we are offering Reining Canada points in some of the NRHA patterns. Reining Canada is the Canadian version of the NRHA, although they follow mostly NRHA rules. Reining Canada also oversees the Canadian involvement in the international reining set, such as the national equestrian team.

New for 2002 is the inclusion of two NRHA approved classes. While the other unmodified classes all use NRHA patterns, they are not necessarily NRHA approved. In order to receive NRHA approval, certain conditions must be met (owners and riders must be NRHA members, horses must have NRHA competition licenses, the judge must be an NRHA judge, and so on). PGRHA worked hard to ensure these conditions were met so that the two NRHA classes could be offered, and they also laboured to find sufficient sponsorship to entice more entries to those two classes. The NRHA Non Pro class boasts $900 added prize money, while the Open class added $1900 to the stake.

The show this year will be judged by Don T. Burkinshaw. Don hails from near Cochrane, Albera and has been involved in reining for quite a few years, both judging and competing as a non pro in reining. He also competes successfully in reined cow horse, including winning the 1996 Canadian Reined Cow Horse Association 3 & 4 Year Old Non-Pro Reining Futurity. PGRHA looks forward to having Don’s expertise in the judge’s chair for this great show!

All in all, the PG Ride N Slide is the biggest reining show in northern BC, and is now also the largest of the WCRA circuit shows (the Stakes & Futurity usually held in Armstrong is not being held this year). Congratulations to the show committee for putting on a great event that just keeps building momentum every year!

The show starts at 6 pm on Friday and at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Make sure you catch the Freestyle classes, last class of each day, where the riders dress up themselves and their horses and ride freestyle patterns to music - awesome, exciting and fun! Come on by the Prince George Agriplex and cheer on the riders as they spin a blur and slide a mile!

Up for grabs this year is over $8600 in added money and prizes. Entry fees range from $10 for youth modified patterns on up to the $195 fee for the $1900 Added NRHA, RC & WCRA Open Class. There will be a silent auction, a raffle, a barbeque dinner on Saturday night and much, much more! We hope to see you there!

For more info on this show, please call Lynn at 964-7059.

Northern BC Horse is sponsored by local businesses who support equine sports in our area including:

• Baerental Ranch
• Burns Lake Building Supplies
• Griffin Crick Ranch
• Hoskins Ford
• Northern Horse Supply
• Ridennoure Paint Horses
• The Tack Store

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