Click on these pictures for full size version taken in September....Valiant has gained weight since these were taken.

10/24/06 - Here we are several weeks later and we still can't get a vet out to assist us for Valiant's feet.  One veterinarian was able to show us how to nerve block and provided us with sedation so we could do this ourselves.  This resulted in 1.5 hours of us getting Valiant in the sling, his nerves blocked (one black eye later) and sedated but not enough.  The entire operation was unsuccessful and the sling was too risky because in the temporary barn it is at a slight angle causing Valiant to slide too much.  Our next plan of attack is to build a better sling holder in the new barn so that he can't slide as easy and to see if we can talk a vet from Arizona to come out for a fun visit to Santa Fe one weekend!    Our barn is started none too soon....the cold is making Valiant achy even with his blankets but he has a good coat and his weight is remaining steady.  Taking off his shoes has set him back quite a bit so if we can't get his sling working then we'll have to knock him out for it.

10/9/06 - Valiant really needs a shoe back on the foot that is missing the coffin bone but unfortunately the veterinarian who was going to assist us this weekend cancelled.  That vet has agreed to provide the medications for us to administer on our own so that we can schedule the farrier who is only available on the weekends.  In the meanwhile it was so cold this morning that we found Valiant sleeping out in the morning sun with frost on his blanket....we had to double blanket him last night because of a severe storm that  blew thru and dropped the temps.  Our barn is scheduled to start this week and it will be none to soon for all of the horses.

10/2/06 - Our boy is doing well....he is still gaining weight (it seems about 7-8 lbs/wk) and we have added tendon repair and pain killer formulas into our chinese herbal regime.  He is getting a shoe put back on his stabilizing foot this coming Saturday and we see that as a big step towards helping him.  After trying it barefoot we think that the shoe actually helps support, cuts off circulation (which in his case is a good thing), and numbs his foot so he doesn't feel the P3 joint fracture.  He is still eating like crazy (getting into the hay area is his new entertainment, helping himself to grain) and he spends an hour or so standing at a time.  He definitely is  not as active as he has been and he is more camped out barefoot and less stable barefoot on both fronts.  He continues to not use his leg with the adhered tendon.

9/26/06 - The flies are back at biting at his legs since the weather warmed up a little.  He was back into mischief today knocking down garbage cans and looking for goodies.  A nice fuzzy coat is coming in and he's shedding out some old coat and some of his bed sores are shrinking on his elbows.  He's taken to laying closer to the stalls now and staying in the 'breezeway' area.

9/24/06 - Valiant is continuing to gain weight while on his herbs and we've ordered some more really great system support from globalceuticals.com but it's time for him to get his feet done again.  It's our belief that he does better with a shoe on his right front where he doesn't have a coffin bone so we're going to talk to the farrier about that change and get his sling installed so we don't have to knock him out.

9/21/06 - Last night was a long night for everyone - the temperature dropped 14 degrees from the night before and there was a terrible storm but Valiant cleverly moved into the breezeway to stay out of the wind driven rain.  Our permanent barn will come none too soon.  We double blanketed Valiant but all that standing when he's normally sleeping meant that this morning he was sprawled out in the sun dozing.  His coat is getting very soft on these chinese herbs.

9/20/06 - Valiant was walking all over the property today and standing much of the day.  His tendon is very swollen because we decided to take off the wrap so but that didn't stop him from being active.  We'll wrap his leg at night  only so he can build up some strength in his tendon again.  He is using that leg more and more while he walks.  He is also eating us out of house and home so to speak. 

9/19/06 - Valiant was out and about this morning when we woke up but came running back in to get breakfast.  When we stepped away from the barn for a minute he ran into the grain area and started his grain bucket before we were finished adding all the supplements.  He loves getting away with this and judging from his trail of messes he spent most of the early morning hours wandering around instead of laying down.  This is great news.

9/18/06 - Valiant has been really active again.  He has been sunning in several different spots around the yard and he came back into the barn early to get more food.  He is eating himself out of his stall and getting into mischief again.  His coat feels softer and his bed sores look like they are shrinking a bit.  It's been 60 degrees during the day but he is staying plenty warm without any blankets, etc.  We've even taken off his fly sheet since the flies are hibernating.  He's feeling good.

9/17/06 -Valiant taped in 8 lbs heavier than when he started the herbs putting him at around 807 lbs.  This is great news since he had lost a little weight.  He's also been wandering around more which we always like to see.

9/15/06 - Valiant stayed by what we call the meditation tree because we put our prayer flags in it (it's a cherry tree)....it's a shady area that he enjoys.  He has gained approx 8 lbs and is walking better but doesn't like to walk on the rocks across the driveway.  Once the barn is built he won't have this but that is why he has not been going across to his hill so I think his feet are tender.  One of his bed sores looks like it is softening and getting ready to resolve on his elbow - the other we continue to treat with Eclipse.  He is eating very well and is drinking more than usual.

9/13/06 - Valiant was in good spirits today since we were able to get a dumpster finally to remove some of the hay/shaving piles we had been making.  He likes his area very much.  He was wandering around in the middle of the night to watch the other horses that had gotten loose (they pushed a gate but all came back when we called).  He is eating alot and we're feeding him several times a day. The herbs seem to be raising his body temp which is not surprising as we can smell some warming herbs in there.  He is not distressed by this (as a matter of fact it is helpful for the cooler temps at night) and his spirits are very good.

9/12/06 - For the first time in awhile he didn't come back to his stall during the night....this morning he has managed to wander all the way down the hill along our dirt road.  It's always a good sign when Valiant starts to go farther out.  He usually doesn't do this unless he's confident he can get back for dinner.

9/11/06 - He got up half way thru the day and started his wandering....he loves the original area we put him in when we arrived...under the trees by the guest house.  He hung out there most of the day once he had gradually grazed to that location.  His coat condition is good but when he wanders out we watch him for dehydration.

9/10/06 - Well this busy boy is starting to wander out more and come back in for breakfast.  The flies are bad right now so we're trying to make sure he's protected from them.  He rests his one foot on it's toe while he grazes but he uses it briefly when walking.  This is really great progress since he stopped using it a month or so ago.  Since he is still on the herbs we are continuing to monitor for abcesses.  He looks like he had one that resolved on one of his heel bulbs but we're most concerned about pus that comes out of a weakened area in the front of his hoof.  We have not seen this for several days.  His spirits are definitely good!

To see the complete recovery diary please click here.

NEW! Valiant's Photo Gallery of his hospital visits are provided here.  Note that the page may take some time to appear due to the large number of photos.