Meet Sampson

I briefly touched on Sampson a few posts ago letting you know that I helped out with physical therapy on a friend's horse that is boarded with Liam.

Meet Sampson:

Sampson's story is really a sad one.  He is a six year old OTTB gelding that my friend took on last October 2013 to restart as her next horse to jump/hunter pace.  He was coming along very nicely in his training and looked to be a promising riding horse.  A mere two months later, December 2013, Sampson over extended his leg in turnout and broke the back of his right knee.  His prognosis is not good according to many vets and specialists.  He has about a 30% chance of being a riding horse again.  My friend was absolutely devastated and really was left with a horrible decision to make about trying to rehab Sampson, that she has only had for two months, or to put him to rest peacefully.  After many sleepless nights, I sure of, she decided to give him every shot he has to recover.

He is currently on month 3 of stall rest.  With the help of Rest Easy Gold he has managed to stay pretty relaxed in the stall.  He is off all pain medication now and only on an anti-inflammatory supplement, which the name of is escaping me right now, to help with the inflammation.  What we are fighting now is arthritis and scar tissue.  He had his knee injected twice now and is getting physical therapy 3x a day.  Physical therapy involves bending his knee and holding it for 20 seconds then letting him put it back down.  At first we could only bend his knee a little bit, but now we are up to a 90 degree angle.  Like any physical therapy, this is painful for him and he really limps after the therapy, but he is being a good boy about it.  He really is a sweet horse and I am hoping he will make this recovery, but he has a long way still to go.

My friend is not able to live at the barn 24/7 to provide therapy 3x a day so many people have pitched into his recovery.  It is me and Sampson in physical therapy 3x a week at 4pm.  I am really getting attached to the boy and praying that it all works out.  He gets another check by the vet in 3 weeks (16 weeks from injury) and I am hoping we get better news then the 8 week check.

Please keep Sampson in your prayers!!!