I did something very difficult last night: I went to the Horsemasters meeting and talked about Isis’ death to a group of people who understand what it is like to lose a horse. I wanted to warn people about EPM and tell them that there is a new treatment available and that it made a world of difference for Isis. And some times, unfortunately, it can be too late, too, but it was...
Continue reading...2011
And then she was gone…
This is a post I never thought I would write: the details of the passing of my beloved mare, Isis Bint Sirdar. You always know you’ll have to write this type of post, but you never want to think about it, and you never want to actually do it. I’m doing both because I am hoping that the details of what happened with Isis will help someone else avoid what we went through....
Continue reading...Isis Bint Sirdar: March 8, 1993 to October 11, 2011
Isis did so well on the Oroquin. She was back to herself. I was so excited to have my girl back: to hear her nicker when I walked into the barn, pull a halter off the wall and toss it on the ground to get my attention, and to be riding again. I wasn’t posting here. I have a backlog of posts showing how much she improved on the Oroquin. She had an...
Continue reading...Isis and Kasane playing
Another shaky cam video, but it really shows just how far Isis has come. Over the past week, I’ve been putting Isis and Kasane into the big ring together with the hope of eventually turning them out into a pasture together. We’ve turned Isis and Prize out together so they could run the length of a field and really stretch. I thought it would be fun to have all three of my girls...
Continue reading...The Miracle Mare returns!
I got my mare back this weekend. Maybe not fully recovered, but her spirit and long strides are returning. She is not fully recovered from the EPM. She has a long way to go to regain her muscle, but she’s getting her strength back. She’s trotting with strong, floating strides up and down hills. I started taking Isis on walks a few times per week just before she started Oroquin. We go on...
Continue reading...First video post-treatment for Isis
This is the first video of Isis after she completed the Oroquin-10 trial. I took this video in the ring and she was very reluctant to move. More of a “Ah, mom, do I gotta? I just wanna eat my hay…” She is moving better and picking up her toes (although definitely lacking enthusiasm). Related Images:
Continue reading...Walking out with Isis
The Bay Wonder Mare is showing her amazing recovery powers again. She’s picking up her toes and moving out with style. It’s amazing that she’s been on the Oroquin-10 for a week and she is already almost back to normal. Some of the people at the barn have commented that Isis looks like she has gained more weight. Her muscling over her shoulders seems to be coming back, slowly but surely. I’m amazed...
Continue reading...Ring versus paddock with Isis
It’s Isis’ fifth day of treatment on Oroquin-10. Every day when I go out, I start looking for little improvements — and I’m often rewarded with a lot more than I expected. Today, Isis’ toe dragging was much improved, when walked in the ring. When Isis is more interested in what is going on, then she drags her toes a lot less. When I had her in the paddock today, she seemed to...
Continue reading...When a horse says good bye
A friend of mine has two grand old mares: a 25+ Hanoverian mare and a 23+ Thoroughbred mare. They are sweet mares who have had a wonderful, exciting life and a great retirement. They have been baby sitters for new riders, enjoyed fox hunting, and have been blessed with good owners. Owners who love them enough to listen when these grand old girls say they are in pain and it is time to...
Continue reading...Updates on the girls
First, Isis. She has had two doses of the Oroquin-10. From what I read about the drug, some horses improve as early as 3-5 days after treatment starts. We went for a walk up and down the lane near the barn. A reasonable walk in hand with some grazing, for about 15-20 minutes. The first thing I noticed is that she isn’t dragging her toes in the dirt like she was before. She...
Continue reading...First day on meds
Isis’ medicine arrived today via shipment. (I love it how a “morning” shipment arrives at 11:30 AM.) The medicine is an apple-flavored powder that can be fed in Isis’ grain: one scoop, once per day for 10 days. That’s it. She ate her first dose in some beet pulp and licked the bucket clean. Seems like this is going to go very well for her eating the meds. Good news for Isis. Unfortunately,...
Continue reading...Oroquin-10 shipped finally
Friday, the vet called me back with an update on Isis’ meds: they should arrive Saturday morning via overnight, morning delivery. Yay! I should have had them on Wednesday, but at least they will be here tomorrow. With any luck, Isis will eat the meds in her food. My vet also said that we should have the results of Isis’ EPM ELISA titer results today or Monday. The Peptide-ELISA test is different from...
Continue reading...Baseline pictures before starting Oroquin-10
Isis’ meds should be here shortly, so I took some baseline pictures of Isis. Her muscling has changed even from the last set of pictures I took two weeks ago. She has lost more muscle over her back. Her ribs are more prominent below her spine. There is a dip there now, where there never has been before. Related Images:
Continue reading...Women fighters in realistic armor
I’ve often complained about the inappropriate armor on female miniatures we use in gaming. Most of the time the figures are scantily clad (especially fighters). Thieves seem to be a little better. Gotta love well-endowed breastplates (aka “boobplate”). My Dungeon Master from the Saturday night gaming group emailed me a link to a site called “Women Fighters In Reasonable Armor: ladies that kick ass and dress for kicking ass“. The site is full...
Continue reading...EPM study by Pathogenes with Oroquin-10
Pathogenes, a company in Florida specializing in treatments and diagnostic tools for EPM, is sponsoring a study of Oroquin-10, a new treatment for EPM. It’s not a double-blind study, however the company, Pathogenes, has a protocol they are asking owners to follow. Here are the links I sent my vet for the clinical trial for Oroquin-10. It has both treatment and preventive dosing options. According to the EPM Horse web site, the Oroquin-10...
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