I read about this braiding wire in DRESSAGE TODAY, and thought I'd go to the wire company's website. I watched the video there-- http://www.braidingwire.com/index.html --and I was convinced that even *I* could do it without tearing my hair out. Although I can French braid Athene's mane for show, Juno needs regular braids and I had to pay someone to do button braids on her. No way was I going to try my hand on THOSE. But with this wire I WILL be able to do button braids. Cool!

 That is soooo cool!!!  I can't wait until we get some of that at the tack shop at my work.  I am just starting to show and I can tell that it will make my life a lot easier!!!

 

Thanks, 48

Cafi--

 Thanks, 48!

How is Juno's recovery going?

Her recovery is going as well as to be expected, considering she had a half-dollar size hole drilled into her LF sole to reach the infection site on her coffin bone. I'm learning a LOT about surgery after-care, from tactful ways to administer oral medication to ways to bandage and pad a hoof incision. I LOVE the Easyboot Rx for protection, soaking and poulticing: everyone should have one for every horse, just in case. I'm also learning medical terms I never knew before. Right now I'm waiting for the "cornification" to entirely cover the incision. Cornification is basically new hoof, which begins to grow at the outside edges of the incision and grows to the middle, and we're trying different things to make it grow faster. I'm waiting now for some Curasalt, a hypertonic solution imbedded in gauze pads that you apply to the incision, which I had to order. I'm also finding out that the cost of the surgery is NOT the greatest cost to face: the surgery cost $2000 but I'm hovering over $6000 total when you include all of the other costs.

48northfarm:

Juno is doing well, but my pocketbook is REALLY hurting! :) 

 

I'm glad to hear that she is doing well and I'm sorry that it has taken a financial toll on you at the same time  How much time are you facing for Juno's recovery and rehab?

It sounds like you are doing everything you can, including educating yourself, which is sooo important, as you know.  A lot of people (I know a few) don't bother to educate themselves and, even though they think they are doing a good job helping their horses to recover, they don't really understand what is going on and never bother to investigate additional therapies and or products and their horses don't seem to heal quite as well.  I know someone who is a great rider and knows a lot about horsecare, but was ignorant enough to blister her horse when he bowed a tendon, without researching the blistering method and just decided to do it, along with icing her horse's leg 8 times a day just because her friend, an ex-jockey, thought it was a good idea

Needless to say, I think that you should feel really good about yourself and the emotional, financial and time sacrifices you have made to help Juno.  Hang in there!

 Ok, we all know I hate braiding and I am a mane roacher -- but that is a really cool product and if I ever did have to braid, I would totally use it.  This would take one of the major "cuss factors" out of braiding.  Thanks for posting!

48northfarm:

Poor Juno. This has been going on for 2 years. We thought her lameness was a shoulder injury, until we found the infection while treating an abscess. Long story. At least I got to watch the surgery, which surprised the vet: he said most owners couldn't handle that. I told him, "I've watched an autopsy on a three-days-dead corpse, this was a piece of cake!" :)

 

48,

You are one strong and wise person and I'm sure that Juno feels thankfull/lucky to have such a great owner/mom!!!!

If you want to talk more about what you are going through but don't want to do it on this thread, please PM me.  I took care of my horse and rehabilitated him from a bowed tendon (everything took about 18 months total) and I had a really hard time with the 8 month layup period so I would be glad to listen and help in any way I can so that it is not so difficult for you.

That looks like something I would use also...  I usually braid, then roll them up and sew them.  Like this http://www.eques.com.au/howto/plait.index92/plait.index92.html  It's fairly quick and easy to do like this but I think the wire would make it go even faster!

Thanks for the link 48!  I'm ashamed to admit that my new issue of Dressage Today is sitting on the table and I haven't read it yet

I should get a commission from the wire people since I've told so many people about it. I even called SmartPak to tell them to carry it. At least I should get a discount, but when I ordered some for Juno I didn't mention that.

 That looks great! I do have one question. It looks to me like the cut ends of the wire could scratch the horse's neck under the braid, not enough to harm but maybe enough to itch? What do you think?

On the video they loop the end over so the cut end is not where it could scratch the horse. Look at the video again, it's on the home page of the site.