Didn't my first blog entry say something about Murphy's Law?

Didn't my first blog entry say something about Murphy's Law? Don't worry -- Charm is still pregnant (as of the last vet check). But what we thought was an abscess in her hind left hoof is actually a fracture of the coffin bone. Thank goodness for Dr. Caputo, who trusted his instincts and recommended xrays because it just didn't seem right to him that she would be 5/5 lame after 4 weeks. The xrays show a clear but clean fracture right down the middle of the bone. Here are the xrays, and here is a labelled diagram of the inside of a horse's hoof.

So, what does it mean? Charm will be stall-bound until further notice. Dr. Caputo said the good news is that nothing is displaced and the joint is not implicated, so we have every reason to hope and believe that the fracture will heal and Charm will be (almost) good as new. It will take time. A lot of time. Like 6 months of time. But hey, we got time, right? In a week where a family close to mine buried a beloved member, age 49, who died of brain cancer leaving a loving wife and two young sons, I am forcing myself to keep things in perspective instead of totally freaking out about this. RIP Joe Gambino.

We have no idea how Charm could have done this to herself. For fun (trying to keep my sense of humor), I invite you to post a blog comment with your version of how the heck she could have broken her foot. Be creative and be funny. Best entry wins dinner with me at the restaurant of your choice, including unlimited DRINKS and DESSERT!

A.

 

CHARM:

The fracture is seen in the middle of the coffin bone in the top photo, it is the line that is darker and straighter than the other lines (which are veins).  The bottom photo is also Charm's hoof.

 

Sparking Thoughts & Spots

"Mark This Spot"

Hello Blog fans (all 2 of you). Here's what's happening. Charm is definitely pregnant, and Dr. Smith has picked up a heartbeat. The pregnancy is coming along as expected.

I understand our best window to try to determine the foal's sex is between 60 and 75 days into the pregnancy. This is because of the way the foal will be situated at that point. Opinions on whether we should find out the baby's sex? I'm thinking no, but I can be persuaded. Anyway, I've been studying up on the genetics of color in horses. Apparently there are only two main color genes in horses -- black (which includes bay) and red. Bo is hybrid (black is dominant), and Charm is probably also hybrid. So, the likelihood is that the foal's coloring will be bay or buckskin (which fall under the black gene as evidenced by the black points and socks). There is a small chance of a black or a red (chestnut).

Reading material
of choice!

The foal will definitely be a tobiano paint because Bo is homozygous for the tobiano gene. Tobianos typically have four white socks/legs and have white across the back with irregular patches, and colored head with perhaps a blaze, strip, snip or star. Bo has the "paw prints" typical of a homozygous tobiano -- Charm does not, which is understandable because her sire was a bay tobiano (gorgeous - Mark This Spot) but her dam (Blond Lynx) was a palomino. When we get closer, we'll have to start a pool on birth date, gender (if we don't find out in advance), and color. I have a textbook, if anyone wants to borrow it. (I'm serious.) (Mark This Spot an be seen at www.havertyranch.com) Charm has been recovering from a hoof abscess and she seems to be enjoying her little vacation. She certainly has not lost her appetite. This morning she nearly broke the gate off the stall trying to get an apple. I guess it will take time for her hoof to heal. I'm just as happy hanging out at the barn as I am riding, but maybe next weekend take out a loaner.

Sweet Pippin

I do have some sad news (which most of you know already). My horse Pippin passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was 29 years old (I bought him in 1987) but he was having a great retirement at the Hargrove/Grover farm (my cousins') in Bridgewater, Connecticut. Unfortunately he seems to have gotten something lodged in his esophagus, and the vet couldn't clear it. He was in severe distress, and we had to make that tough call. I will always think of Pippin as my equine soulmate -- he was always able to make me feel better when I was blue or things in life were difficult, and he knew when I was feeling good, he could act up a little and make me laugh. Auntie Claire (my long time half-boarder and close friend) and I loved you, Pip - rest in peace, buddy. And special thanks to my Women's Weekend girlfriends for getting me through a very sad time.

Dad & Mom :)

There was a concept my mother used to talk about which I thought was a Jewish thing but she could have made it up, because I can't find any hint of it on the internet. She used to say that one life is sacrificed for another, so that second life and soul could carry on. Well, perhaps there is some connection between Pippin and Charm's foal. I can only hope that the foal has a spark of Pippin's spirit. Baby Pippin perhaps? We'll see.

Not sure when the next vet check will be but I'll be back. Stay tuned.

- Amy