Health update.

It looks like Jazz's mudfever/cracked heels have got away from me and will need antibiotics. It was spreading even further this morning and one of his legs is swollen to half way up the cannon bone. I'll check it again in an hour or so, and again tomorrow morning and if there is no improvement then I'll call in at the vet for some antibiotics. Meanwhile I have gone back to the Sudocrem, which more and more looks like it was actually holding it at bay, and not causing problems after all.

Zip's throat problem looks like it is disappearing with age. He used to cough almost every time he ate, and he blew food down his nose every other day or so. I can't remember the last time I heard him cough when he ate and he blows food down his nose every week to ten days. When I ride him, he is out about half an hour when he coughs as if he has something stuck in his throat. He coughs eight or ten times and then is OK and doesn't cough again. I need to take him for longer rides to see if it is time related, or place related, because at the moment he has only ever done it in one place, shortly before we climb the hill to get home. Interestingly, when I cantered him he did not do it at all, which I was relieved and a little surprised by.

Zip's feet are interesting. He has a strong event line from when he was at Jonathan's being broken (from a combination of stress, change of diet and environment). But the hoof above it is the strongest hoof he has ever had. The bottom, which grew while he was with me and being well fed, is nowhere near as good and frequently chips. Moral? Don't make a judgement on whether your youngster can go shoeless until after you have put it into work. I am convinced that it is regular work, especially on tarmac, that has caused this improvement. I think I will be trying to get Jazz out for walks in hand as early as I can manage while he is laid off, I don't want his feet to go backwards while his throat heals.

Eight days now.

C