Starts off with Cowboy, having received his happy shot, getting an exam by Dr. Crocker, checking out his bite and teeth to see what needs to be done. That is one stoned pony. Don't try this with Cowboy unless there are sedatives on board.
Next comes the speculum to hold his mouth open for the real work to begin. This apparatus, combined with sedation, allows access for a thorough exam and extensive work with both hand and power tools.
And when I say power tools, I'm not kidding. Here is Cowboy getting some serious grinding done on his molars. This grinds down sharp points and helps to correct malocclusions (misalignments). Horse's teeth don't actually grow all during their life, but they do continually erupt as tooth surface is worn down. If the alignment isn't correct, misalignments just tend to get worse as time goes by, with upper tooth wear affected by abnormalities in the opposing lower tooth, and vice versa. Addressing issues on a regular basis (annually with our horses) keeps problems in check.
I didn't time this procedure but it probably took around an hour, after which Cowboy was still somewhat groggy and bore watching for a bit. As long as he was still sedated, he got his intranasal flu vaccine which he finds unpleasant, and also both boys got their sheaths cleaned. I did not photograph that procedure!
Cowboy had a little sore on his tongue, possibly caused by a point on one of his incisors, so my homework assignment is to rinse his mouth out with saline for a few days and to examine his teeth and mouth. Which means honing those Parelli skills so that he will allow this, preferably without biting me. He's a mouthy guy and his first reaction to being messed with is to defend himself with his teeth. That goes double if his teeth are what need defending. One of the Parelli tasks I needed to accomplish was to reach into his mouth and hold his tongue, just for occasions such as today's exam. That was the most difficult thing I've had to do, and got bitten twice in the process. Maybe I'm a wimp but I have to say that it really really hurt and was a bit of a bloodbath. So this will be a good test of my skills. I must think positive and regard it as an opportunity for growth.
In other news, I got word that Cowboy and I passed our Level 3 Liberty audition. We scored a 3++, just shy of level 4! Apparently the video quality was good enough for an evaluation. Cowboy got high marks on his Sideways work and his ability to weave through the barrels at a trot. We received lower marks on Respect. Not a surprise, since he decided to take a little break in the middle of the video to roll several times, and when he went up on the pedestal he decided to hang out there for a bit in spite of my requests for him to get down. Of course, Cowboy thinks he belongs on a pedestal anyway so why should he get off? He also doesn't think we have any issues with respect as he is quite certain that I do respect him.
I've started another blog that is a sort of general interest blog for recreational riders and people who just love horses. First post will arrive shortly on (what else) equine dental care. Check it out at equineconnection.blogspot.com.
Calabar is next week--the 25th. He's special and has to go every 6 months or so because of his wave. And I don't mean the "hi, Mom" wave.
ReplyDeleteLove the video of you and Cowboy! Good job!