A letter from the Vet:

Hello all
I wanted to give you the run down on Raffy. She work yesterday. This morning I examined her and was pleased with what I found. After her last work she was pretty sore in her ankles with secondary compensatory changes in her shoulder muscles. I think that some of these
changes were a factor of her body getting
used to the different track surface but she may have a predisposition to front end problems
because of her way going behind.


Tim's crew has worked extremely hard
on her with icing and bandaging. I started her on a medication called Adequan which
helps promote healthy joints. She has responded well because this morning her
ankles (fetlock joints) were cold and pain
free. She still has some discomfort in her shoulders and neck muscles. The equine sports therapist is working on her tonight and I may incorporated some acupuncture into her maintenance and prevention plan also. She is due two more doses of Adequan. Hopefully we will be able to keep her sound and performing to the best of her ability with this approach.

The only other observation this morning was a splint bone on the inside of the right front limb is what we call "live" meaning painful. This is a common cause for
lameness. I will re-evaluate and discuss
with Tim to come up with the best plan to

deal with it. Generally splints have a good
response to treatment and long term
prognosis is excellent for soundness.