There is always the question of when it's time. Barring an emergency situation, the question comes up again and again as health concerns appear. "Is it time?" and also "Is it really time?"
When the vet came for spring vaccinations I started the Osphos process. I also had Brat's teeth floated. He's been getting touch up floats twice a year for the last fifteen years, but this time I had a feeling there might be a problem. Sure enough there was an issue the float corrected. Within a couple of days Brat was much brighter and more interested in doing things with me.
Here's where the questions come again "Is it really time?" Was the tooth pain covering up the benefit of the oral supplement? Was the tooth pain sapping his energy to do anything? It's easy to say that a specific thing was the problem and the horse is fine now that's been looked after.
But that's not the case for Brat. He's more comfortable with the tooth looked after. His stifle, and all the related compensation strains are still causing him discomfort. I can see it in how he shifts his weight when standing in the barn. I see it in the care he takes standing up after a roll, the way he walks through the mud, and in the quick stop after a spring energy induced squeal and bounce. All the other concerns are still there, still valid.
I can hope the Osphos will allow him to strengthen that fragile stifle, but after two and a half years I don't think it's likely to get strong enough for another winter. I hope. Carefully and at arm's length, I hope for more time. In the mean time I take him out on a sunny day to hunt for the first green blades of spring, and I take photos as I enjoy watching him nibble.
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