December 2009

Me and my parents were at a barrel race and we were planing to stay all night. My horse has trouble tieing and spooks over every thing. But he had been good for a while, So I tried him up for about 15 - 20 min. When I came back the trailer next to us had him tyed to there trailer and he was not moving. The person told me someone gave him to them and said they were looking for us. The person that found him said he was wondering around and that my other horse kicked him, but I dont beleive my other horse Annie would do that????? I took him and loaded him in the trailer and he looked a little sore. I ran to my parents to tell them the news and they were not surprized. So in about another 15 min we came back and we were going to give them a bath and I unhooked Jimmy and he didnt want to move and almost got stuck on the way out. He wouldnt walk, I almost had to drag him (he is a thoughrobred and has very high energy(it was not normal)) So we looked a little closer and he had a cut on the top of his butt and he has very high witherers and they were very sore. We have a 3 horse living quarter made out of steel. He ripped the bolts out of a steal trailer. He wouldnt move and he was shaking and anytime you got near him his lip would like shake or quiver. His right butt cheek and almost all of his withers are in pain and his withers are swolen. We called the vet but since it is sunday he has to wait until Monday morning to get his x-rays. We love Jimmy and dont want to loose him.

We think that we left him and a tractor (very scary in his mind) drove by and scared him so he pulled back and the rope snaped and he flipped over.

So here is my question

1. Do you think he broke his withers
2. Is there something els we can do to help him tonight
3. How long will it be until I could ride him again
4. Will he be ridble again
5. How ridable - no more competeing?
6. Should I completly retire him
7. You all say there is places to get money for vet bills - where
8. Is it my falt
OH and we gave him one bute when it happened and 2 thins morning
To show you how much we love him look here at him

http://manyhorsesmanyheros.synthasite.com/inspiration.php

make sure to watch the video!!!!
THANKS TO ALL OF THE ANSWERS!!!!!!
Here is what happened to Jimmy :

We took him this morning to the vet bright and early. They took him drugged him up and took X-rays. In 2 hours they told us the news. He has a couple brakes and fractures on his withers. There was no brakes on his neck or back only on his withers.
The good thing is that because we went we found out he has a horrible heart and if we didnt know he could have died in the middle of my barrel racing run. So now that I know I can be careful about what I do.
The vet said he might be able to ride in about a year. We will go to the vet again in about 6 months. To make sure it is healing correctly. If it does not heal correctly he will need surgery.
His treatment from the vet :

1. lift his food so he does not bend his neck
2. two tablets of bute in the morning and night for a week
3. After one week of two tablets, lower it to one tablet in the morning and night
4. Then after that no bute
5. Keep him in his stall with no exciing things for a couple of weeks
6. Return to vet to check prgress
AS for Jimmy's future.

No riding for a year, then little and very light riding.
We are considering leting him live down the street at an old folks home, so he will just be loved with no work.

First of all, don't be blaming yourself too much. No, you probably shouldn't have left him tied up and alone, if he wasn't good at it. But whats done is done, and I'll bet you won't ever do it again. btw - don't ever tie a horse to anything if it isn't wearing a breakaway/leather halter.

I'm not really answering in order, but -

if he's in a lot of pain, I would give him banamine, not bute. If all you have is bute, give him 2 more tonight. Don't put a blanket or anything on him- it won't feel good. Can you hang up his hay so he doesn't have to reach down for it? Same with water.

Its possible he broke his withers - but in my experience the usually look "smooshed" - if they look "normal", but swollen, they might not be broken.

If he broke them, a lot depends on what he broke and where it went. If the withers aren't smooshed looking, the bones are hopefully still in the right place and should heal ok, but it could take a while - 6 months or more. I have seen horses with badly broken withers come back to full work, but they were all quite a bit younger than your horse. I think it will depend on whether or not he has done more than soft tissue damage. He might be absolutely fine in a week or 2.

You'll know more after the vet sees him. Sounds like x-rays are in order.

The only way I know of to get money for vet bills is something called "care credit" which is basically a credit card. Ask your vet, they might have more information.
http://www.carecredit.com/about.html

Good luck - I hope the old boy is just bruised and sore and is as good as new very soon!

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