Emmett Update

Yesterday morning as I was making my plans for the day I happened to notice that the answering machine was blinking. Upon listening to the messages I found that the Vet School could get me in 2 hours earlier than planned. I quickly called them back and confirmed the rescheduling.

S and I were actually on the road about 1-1/2 hours before the new appointment time. We stopped for gas and made it into the vet school parking lot at exactly the time we were supposed to start our appointment. I couldn't believe that a trip that normally takes me an hour took that long just because of the trailer. But, of course, I was driving cautiously and traffic was pretty busy for a Thursday.

They quickly got us unloaded and we walked into the aisle way and waited for our stall assignment. Emmett was tired from the trip for his energy was pretty low. He was as curious as ever, smelling buckets and checking out anything that caught his eye, but just toned down from our usual hand walking episodes.

Within minutes we had a stall and had the teaching vet, intern, two students the farrier and his intern checking the colt out.

After a lot of discussion it was decided to leave the shoes on for another two weeks. The discussion while lenghty had more to do with explanation to the intern and student than debate about what to do. This is what I like about the hospital, the discussion that ensues allows me time to process what is going on and make better decisions.

The farrier was very pleased with how he was putting weight onto his heels. He felt that Emmetts bones really weren't lined up to be club footed, and he instead just has a steep pastern angle. He advised me that he will likely always have a steep pastern angle, but it was continue to relax as he wears the shoes and as he grows. All horses pastern angle decreases as they grow and put more weight on their front legs. For those of you interested here's wikipedia's take on it.

At one point they held Classy and let Emmett walk the aisles to get a sense of how he walks. He had a grand time with the farriers apron that was laying on a cart, a bucket of water and tearing down some charts that were hanging on the wall.

Within the hour we were on our way back home. I did get a few comments on his good behavior, so that was nice to hear. As much as I think he is a stinker, I guess maybe he is okay. I will continue to work on his leading, giving to pressure and the other suggestions Mikael gave me.

The trip home was one of the most harrowing of my life. I heard on the radio that there was a storm coming in so we stopped for an hour and let that pass. After an hour I could see that Classy was getting pretty antsy, so we headed north.

Into a torrential down pour. They closed one exit as we got to it, but we were somehow able to get off at the next exit, which I am sure is closed now. We had lightening strike a power line next to the truck shortly after our exit. S finally put a coat over her head because she just couldn't take the sight of the rain, lightening and flooding.

Classy was definately happy to be home and Dixie was glad to see her as well. As we raced across the yard to get her in her stall Dixie came out of her shed to meet us. Gunner took two strides out looked around and went back in.

Most roads that cross rivers or creeks are closed in our part of Wisconsin. I have to run to town to get some shavings today, but that's about as far as I will be able to get. Although Minnesota is known for the land of 1000 lakes, Wisconsin in fact has more lakes. It has stopped raining, but now we wait while the rivers continue to rise.