Riley runs me ragged

Since Riley tore his right hoof up two weeks ago, and since he has some weird hoof crud, I gave his trainer strict instructions:

• Do not to work him hard.
• Ride him only in the indoor ring.
• Check shoes before and after each ride.

"Can I walk him around outside?" she asked? "Oh, NO," I replied, fighting back panic at the mere notion of that fragile hoof on uneven ground.  


Oh, what could possibly happen?
So,  on Wednesday night after work, I took Riley for a walk to the outdoor, where the best grass is.  He grazed a bit. It was hot, I was bored, and a lunge line was lying near the ring's edge. As a diversion, I put him on the end of the lunge. He trudged quietly along on a big circle for several minutes. The wind kicked up a little.  Riley lifted his nose in the air as if he smelled something, and stood stock-still. I didn't like the sudden tensing of his muscles. Wanting to get his attention, I tapped him with the whip. 

Maybe I should have held off on the little tap-tap...
He trotted a few steps, and suddenly he squealed, bucked farted and took off cantering. He's never gotten away from me but this was not playful bucking. He meant business. I held on for a half-circle but when he broke out of the circle  the lunge line tore through my hands. Did I mention our outdoor is not fenced in? He careened down the slope toward the barn, lunge line trailing.  No, Riley, no. I started running after him, but soon he was out of sight. Would I be calling the farrier, the vet, the knacker, or some wretched combination? If that line got snagged on something...

Riley's full tilt boogie
For about five minutes he galloped around the property, over blacktop, gravel, and grass, still trailing that lunge line past shrubs and trees. He almost ran out to the road, but thought the better of it and turned back.  He toured the place, but finally came to a stop at a run-in shed near the barn -- where the owners keep a mini and a goat. Four people -- me, two boarders, the barn manager, and one of the owners cornered him. He was heaving and sweating but looked fairly calm. I grabbed the line.

"Are you okay????"
He walked sound. All of his shoes were still on. He had no obvious injuries aside from superficial cuts on the inside of his right pastern. I wrapped cold gelpacks around his hooves with vet wrap (road founder!) and gave him two grams of bute. An hour later I took off the packs and turned him out for the night. Sometimes when the thing you fear happens, it's not so bad.

Note to the trainer:

Hi Denise,

It should be okay to ride him outside.

Stacey