For the first time since May 2007, Jet now has 100% of his own hoof on his right hind!! No synthetic materials!!
What an accomplishment for my sentimental favorite. Jet has shown so much courage, faith, trust and true grit over the past 2.5 years and he never lost his personality even through immense pain, months of stall rest and restricted activity. Amy always told me to enjoy each day I had with Jet as I would never have another one like him. As usual, she was more than right!
With this good news, Jet has started back with light lunging to get him back in shape. I hope to start walking Jet under saddle in early March and we will see where we go from there.
Many Many Many thanks to Dr Karl Frees, Dr Jon Haggard and Farrier Charley Mattingly whom all worked so hard to give Jet another chance. We literally owe Jet's life to Karl, Jon and Charley.
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Many folks have asked me about Mister Jet and why he has not been out showing the past two years. Unfortunately Jet has had some illness and injuries that have kept him on the sidelines.
In August 2005, Jet's box fan caught fire. Fortunately it was put out very quickly but not before Jet kicked at the fan striking the metal bars of his stall. Less than 30 days later, Lasko recalled their box fans but not before Jet suffered signficant damage to his right hind fetlock and hoof.
After several months of rest, the fetlock x-rays looked great but he still had some hoof wall seperation that had to grown out. So Jet sat on the couch for a while longer. After getting the OK from Dr Frees, Jet was but back into work only to strain the right hind suspensory. Most likely the suspensory was also damaged in when he kicked at the fan fire but we just didn't realize it with the other injuries.
Jet spent many more months rehabbing the suspensory only to have the hoof wall seperate shortly after he went back to work. So most of 2006 was spent growing out the hoof.
By early 2007 Jet finally had clean x-rays and we started the process of getting him back in shape after 18 months. We started back slowly and by mid-March Jet was going better than ever and I was having a blast with my sentimental favorite. I rode Jet in our clinic with Felicitas in April and he was just a moving machine.
Visions of showing Jet again danced through my dreams.
Three weeks later Jet suffered a total hoof wall seperation that jeopardized his life. Dr Frees prepared me for the worst as he headed in to do the emergency surgery. Over 60% of his hoof wall had to be removed and the coffin bone was very unstable. Charley Mattingley dropped everything to be at the surgery in order to custom make a shoe to support the coffin bone and put it on while Jet was still sedated.
Jet stayed with Drs Wilhite and Frees for several days before being released back to our care. But he was still very much in danger as the coffin bone while stable, was still a major concern. Dr Haggard came every other day, including holidays and weekends, to treat Jet's hoof and change the bandages. If you have not seen a hoof wall retraction, it is an amazing and scary sight.
About a week after the surgery Jet developed an abcess just in front of the frog and just where the point of the coffin bone would be. We all held our breath that the abcess would not weaken the hoof. Charley made a hospital plate to go over his custom shoe so that we could pack the abcess keep some mild pressure on the hoof sole.
Jet was in so much pain but was absolutely a hero through the whole thing. He retained his wonderful personality even when you saw the pain in his eyes. But he has improved day by day and is now allowed some hand grazing.
The retracted hoof has been replaced now with a synthetic material and the abcess has healed. Jet continues to be just a trooper with his stall confinement and we all try to give him lots of attention. He is even getting a bi-weekly massage from Cathy Moreland in order to help with his stiff muscles and he absolutely melts.
The next major milestone is August 6th when Dr Frees and Charley will pull his special shoe in order to take x-rays to see if the hoof is growing correctly. We do not know why his hoof seperated again but are making every effort to ensure it grows back correctly.
I doubt if Jet will ever make back to the show ring, but as I have learned from this special horse, don't ever count him out!!
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Hey, where's the white.....
Mister Jet - 1992 APHA gelding
Jet was acquirred in January 2002 as Maggie's horse to regain her confidence after a bad fall in October 2001. As a confidence builder, Maggie and Jet entered their first dressage show in March 2002. They finished Amateur Adult Reserve Champion at Training Level and Maggie was hooked. What Maggie didn't know at the time was that Paints are not in abundance in the dressage ring but Jet is anything but "normal". Standing 16.2H, Jet is all black. Someone forgot to tell him he is supposed to have some white!
Maggie and Jet began working with Amy Larson in June 2002. The pair went back to the basics and their foundation was rebuilt and have been steadily progressing ever since!
Unfortunately Jet has been sidelined as he has been rehabbing from a couple injuries. With more than a year off, Jet is looking very strong and sane. He is back to work and rebuilding his strength. Our goal is to be back in the show ring in 2007. Don't count this wonderful horse as just yet!!
2003 Accomplishments
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 5th Place Training Level Open
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 2nd Place Training Level Adult Amateur
APHA Paint Alternative Competition - 3rd Place - Dressage
KCDS - Training Level Horse of the Year - 3rd Place Adult Amateur
2004 Accomplishments
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 1st Place Second Level Open
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 1st Place Second Level Adult Amateur
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 2nd Place First Level Open
USDF All Breed Award - APHA - 2nd Place First Level Adult Amateur
USDF Region 4 Championships - Reserve Champion First Level Adult Amateur
Midwest Region Championships - 5th Place First Level Adult Amateur
Midwest Region Champsionships - Reserve Champion Second Level Adult Amateur
APHA Paint Alternative Competition - 1st Place - Dressage
KCDS Schooling Show Championships - Reserve Champion First Level Adult Amateur
KCDS AA Horse of the Year - First Level
KCDS AA Horse of the Year - Second Level
KCDS AA Reserve Schooling Show Champion - First Level
KCDS Silver Medal
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Exceptional Care, Exceptional Staff, Exceptional Facilty
