One step forward, one step back ...

With my new positive mental attitude (PMA for Shell types who love their acronymns) Sam and I have been going from strength to strength. We now have fun cantering on the gallops, schooling and molesting each other in the stable (have discovered if I scratch Sam under his neck he nibbles me on the head, it is very cute :) Plus Sam has a new friend who he loves dearly - they are complete opposites (see below) and it is very amusing to watch Sam tear round the field whilst the cob lollops along after him.





But (not meaning to be a smug pessimist) the good times have taken a bit of a bump, the fly has got into the ointment, etc. etc. I had my usual lesson last week and we found that no matter what was tried Sam was not willing to canter on the left lead (no matter what the rein). My instructor said that it would be worth getting a physio out just to check that there were no issues with his back. So yesterday a wonderful lady called Anna Johnson came round to give him the once over. She is the official physio for the British riding teams and so I was utterly star struck when she casually chatted about being at the last Olympics or sorting out William Fox-Pitts issues - rrrrr.

Sorry lost focus there. Anyway, she checked Sam out and came to the conclusion that he is very tight along his left rear side. This could be due to two things - 1) general wear and tear after years of racing or 2) he is lame in his left hind and this is showing in the muscles. So she treated the muscle tightness (with a very entertaining tool that made his bottom twitch) and will be coming back in two weeks. If he shows improvement then it is just wear and tear but if it is no better then the vet has to come out to do nerve blocks to work out where the lameness is. So fingers crossed he feels better in a fortnight.