All About ... Scintigraphy

Scintigraphy (or Nuclear Scintigraphy) is an imaging technique most often used to identify abnormalities of the skeleton.  It uses radioactive tracers to identify any changes in bone metabolism, before they become visible on radiographs (x-rays).  Chesney had this type of scan a few years ago to help diagnose his front limb lameness.

Inflamed or injured tissues (including bone) generally have a greater blood supply than normal.  This means that if injected with a drug the drug will concentrate in the inflamed tissue (although the concentration can vary).  This can be used to identify problem areas.

In Scinitigraphy the horse will be injected intravenously with a mildly radioactive substance, this substance will then collect at any injured areas where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays.  A special camera is then used to detect these 'hot spots' of gamma rays and produce pictures of the area.  

Horses are usually sedated for the scan because the images take 1-3 minutes and the horse must be completely still during this time.  It is a totally safe procedure but because of the use of radioactive substances there are regulations and procedures which must be followed.  

Did you see Wednesday's video 'This time of year'  on my You Tube channel?   
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You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

More sunshine ..

This weather is so unusual for April, I don't want to complain but we need rain, the grass isn't growing :(

 

 

 
Have you seen yesterday's video 'This time of year' on my You Tube channel?   
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You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Tommy Update April 2017

It is quite a long time since I wrote a blog just about Tommy but things have really been happening in the last few weeks so I thought I would share!
 

Over the last few weeks he has been coming over to me in the field and I have been giving him a polo and a pat.  This was only something I could do if he was near to the gate before. 

Then a couple of weeks ago he came up to me whilst I was poo picking and started nudging me and blowing in my hair :)  He does that if I skip out his stable when he is in there too!
 

In the last 2 or 3 weeks he has been letting me stand closer to him in the field, pat him, 'pull' his ears, scratch his forehead, check his legs and last week he even let me put my arms around his neck and give him a cuddle.

Here is a little video from the other weekend.....

He is also now a bit of a star at being tied up, I haven't tied him up for the farrier yet, but we are working towards that.

He also had the bottom half of his tail washed a couple of weeks ago, he was so brave.  I was very careful with the hose and didn't move it about too much, I had the water on quite slowly and tried not to get the hose or water on his legs but he was brilliant.

When you think that these were my aims when he arrived in July 2015 you can see how far he has come ...

1.       Get Tommy to come up to the gate for breakfast.

2.       Eat a treat from my hand.

3.       Allow me to stroke his neck.

4.       Allow me to catch him.

5.       Allow me to lead him.

6.       To come into his stable for a minute with the door open.

7.       To come into his stable for breakfast with the door closed.

8.       To brush Tommy.

9.       To pick out his feet.

10.   To settle in the stable for the day with the others.

I now have an amazingly happy, relaxed and confident pony. 

He loves his stable and is really settled and relaxed in there.  He totally knows the routine but is really patient and well behaved (unlike Basil sometimes!).  Tommy absolutely loves being brushed and fussed over. 

The only thing which we are still working on is catching him in the main part of the field if he is not wearing a headcollar.  This is a difficult thing to practise when he is out with the others because Basil and Chesney come straight over if I go out and Tommy then gets out of the way.  In the evening he is keen to come in and just follows the others.  So when I fence him off again in a few weeks to limit his grass I will be able to start practising that. 
 

Have you seen last week's video 'An Easter Treat and a Suprise' on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

All About ... CT Scans

Computer Tomography (CT) is an imaging technique which uses an x-ray machine which rotates and so produces cross-sectional images of part of a horse at a high resolution.  This gives a detailed 3D image which is significantly better at helping with the assessment and identification of problems especially smaller injuries.

 They are popular for looking at the head including the sinuses, nasal passages, teeth, and skull injuries or neurological problems.

In a similar way to MRI scanning there are machines which require the horse to lie down and be anaethetised but also, now, standing machines which allows the horse to simply be sedated.  For the standing scans the horses stand on a platform which enable the horses head and neck to be moved easily in and out of the scanner.

Have you seen Wednesday's video 'An Easter Treat and a Suprise' on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Photogenic?

Basil is never very good at standing still for photos :(

Chesney though always likes having his photo taken!

Tommy is definitely working it!!!!

Did you see yesterday's video 'An Easter Treat and a Suprise'  on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo

Alter-Real Horses

In 1758 the House of Braganza founded the Alter-Real stud at Ville do Portel (Portugal).  They imported 300 Andalucian mares from Spain.  The stud moved to Alter in 1766 where the breed improved and became well known for its fantastic ability at haute ecole.  Many people consider the Alter-Real to be a strain of the Lusitano horse.

 

 Alter-Real horses have a superb elevated action which is fantastic to watch!

 

History

The breed was popular in Lisbon but in 1821 was threatened when the stud was sacked by Napolean's army.  They stole the best stock and later in 1834 when the king abdicated much of the land was confiscated and the stud closed.

Unfortunately, when attempts were made to revive the breed Arabian, English, German and Norman horses were used which led to a deterioration of the breed. 

At the beginning of the 20th century Andalucian blood was again introduced with some stallions from Spain and the breed quality began to improve. 

In 1932 the stud was taken over by the Ministry of Economy and the breed returned to its former glory.

Characteristics

Height:  15 hh - 15.2 hh

Colour:  Bay, brown and occasionally chestnut or grey.

Conformation:  Small, convex head with a short but well arched neck.  The chest is deep and the quarters powerful.  Legs are short, hocks strong. 

Temperament:  Highly strung.

Used for riding, especially haute ecole.

Have you seen last week's video 'One Sunny Day'  on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo