When he was weaned at 4 months he jumped the bottom half of a double dutch stall door and hit (or hung up) his back
hocks on the door. And we had no idea how badly it injured his hocks until he was about 18 months old. The Durbanos
offered to buy him back, geld him and get his surgery done and let him be a pasture ornament for ever at Snowy Range
Ranch but I had fallen madly in love with him by then and we decided to keep him and Linda kindly paid for half of his hock
surgery. Thanks Linda
This is the pic Linda sent me along with her email to
let me know he tried to jump the door. And i do not
blame them for leaving the top door open as a
weanling would freak out more in a totally closed
environment.
let me know he tried to jump the door. And i do not
blame them for leaving the top door open as a
weanling would freak out more in a totally closed
environment.
If you look closely you can see the scrape on his
left hock and a scrape on his right cannon, plus
his hock is swollen.
left hock and a scrape on his right cannon, plus
his hock is swollen.
So we then took Chief to Cleveland Ohio to one of the best radiographer's in the country Dr Randall.
Chief was diagnosed with severe DJD (degenerative joint disease) in his left hock that required
immediate surgery and luckily his right hock only showed signs of slight DJD but Dr Randall told us it will
bother him in the future, especially after the surgery as he will be bearing most of his weight on that
right hock till his left hock heals and will also require surgery in the future.
Chief was diagnosed with severe DJD (degenerative joint disease) in his left hock that required
immediate surgery and luckily his right hock only showed signs of slight DJD but Dr Randall told us it will
bother him in the future, especially after the surgery as he will be bearing most of his weight on that
right hock till his left hock heals and will also require surgery in the future.
At around 18 months old while we training him for
halter he pulled up extremely lame so all work
ceased for a few weeks and he improved but when
put back into hard work he came up lame again.
halter he pulled up extremely lame so all work
ceased for a few weeks and he improved but when
put back into hard work he came up lame again.
We purchased Chief from Snowy Range Ranch in Laramie Wyoming when he was 4 days old.
Dr Randall recommended us to the Ohio State University under the care of Dr Alicia Bertone.
Where she performed a Surgical Arthrodesis and a Cunean Tenectomy on Chief. Bone Marrow was
taken from his hip to use to pack and fuse the hock joints.
We owe Dr Bertone and her staff great thanks for their great care and excellent surgical skills on our
beautiful Stallion as his future seemed grim.
Where she performed a Surgical Arthrodesis and a Cunean Tenectomy on Chief. Bone Marrow was
taken from his hip to use to pack and fuse the hock joints.
We owe Dr Bertone and her staff great thanks for their great care and excellent surgical skills on our
beautiful Stallion as his future seemed grim.
BUT LOOK AT WHAT OUR CHIEFY HAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR A LAME HORSE THAT COULD OF BEEN PUT DOWN
PICS BELOW : ARE OF CHIEF IN SURGERY
PICS BELOW : CHIEF IN RECOVERY ROOM (padded cell...lol...)
PICS BELOW : 3 DAYS AFTER SURGERY AND READY TO COME HOME
We knew we would be heading to Florida in the near future and Chief would be needing an in depth radio graph on
his hocks 12 months after surgery. And Dr Bertone recommended Dr Lokai in Ocala.
12 MONTHS LATER
Dr Lokai credited me for teaching Chief how to play and amuse himself naturally out in the pasture rather than
working him in the round pen and putting unnatural movement and strain on his hocks
He was also very pleased at how good his hock looked after major surgery and gave us the all clear for light work.
his hocks 12 months after surgery. And Dr Bertone recommended Dr Lokai in Ocala.
12 MONTHS LATER
Dr Lokai credited me for teaching Chief how to play and amuse himself naturally out in the pasture rather than
working him in the round pen and putting unnatural movement and strain on his hocks
He was also very pleased at how good his hock looked after major surgery and gave us the all clear for light work.
Pics below : Returning home after receiving the all clear from Dr Lokai
