Saturday 12 November 2011

He's back, he's bad...

...well, not bad exactly, but certainly on exuberant form(!).

The veterinary hospital are extremely pleased with the progress Paddy has made since his colic surgery last week and as you can see he is a whole lot perkier than he was this time last week!  So yesterday he had the all-clear to come back to Rockley, which is fantastic but rather nerve-wracking(!).
He is looking - and clearly feeling - terribly well and it will be interesting to see how well he tolerates the 4 weeks of box rest he needs for his surgery wound to heal fully. Fortunately he will be allowed out to graze in hand several times a day but he won't be allowed to do any "proper" work, even led from another horse, for the next month.

Having taken him out in hand yesterday, I suspect that we will all find the next few weeks rather trying but still its a big improvement from this time last week, when Paddy was in a much less happy situation.  He is now back in a box in the barn where the others can all come in and chat to him so he is getting lots of grooming from Taz and making faces at new boy Thomas, whom he regards as an alien intruder.  I never thought shovelling sh*t for Paddy again would make me so happy!

Thanks so much to all of you for your good wishes and thoughts, which I know both Paddy and Debbie (and I) appreciated enormously.  I am sure they were a big factor in getting Paddy through the last week :-)

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Great news :-)

Anonymous said...

Great to see him back at home!

jenj said...

Wonderful news! He looks so happy and perky, I'm glad he's well on the road to recovery!

It's interesting you mention the box where the others can come visit him. Having just dealt with a horse on 4 months of box rest, I think that being able to have contact with the other horses (grooming over the stall door, sharing a haynet, etc) makes all the difference in the world for their sanity. I'm sure Paddy will appreciate it!

cptrayes said...

Keep a tight hold on that lead rein. I let go of Tetley by mistake after only one week of box rest and he jumped a steel 5 bar gate and didn't stop galloping for 10 minutes :-0

He's made an amazing recovery; keep it up Paddy.

C

ps so is that no Christmas presents for anyone this year then ?- the bill should arrive soon and it won't be in the hundreds! Ouch in more ways than one.

Debbie & Paddy said...

I would just like to say how both Paddy and I could not have got through last week with out the support and quick thinking of Nic and also the Veterinary staff at Market Service Vets and Mullacotts. I know it is still early days and I am very grateful for the support that Nic and Edward will be giving over the next few weeks. It has also meant alot to me for all the kind wishes from people on the blog and facebook a big thank you from Debbie & Paddy

Debbie & Paddy said...

I would just like to say how both Paddy and I could not have got through last week with out the support and quick thinking of Nic and also the Veterinary staff at Market Service Vets and Mullacotts. I know it is still early days and I am very grateful for the support that Nic and Edward will be giving over the next few weeks. It has also meant alot to me for all the kind wishes from people on the blog and facebook. A big thank you from Debbie & Paddy

Nic Barker said...

Ah, thanks for those kind words Debbie, but I think you have the hardest job being so far away :-( Looking forward to seeing you at the weekend...