WINNIE COMES UP LAME

On Friday, after only five miles of walking, I noticed Winnie seemed to be dragging a foot. This is not the first time that I've noticed a slight drag in gait. In New Jersey I sensed a problem after we had walked 63 miles in a single week. When I arrived at my host's place that Friday, I asked her to call a vet for me. The vet could not come to examine Winnie until Monday. By then, she had rested two days and seemed better. Still, he did a flex test and thought the problem might be in her right stifle. He administered a cortisone shot and also took blood for a Lyme test, which came up negative.

This week we only walked three days in a row, and no more than 9 miles in a single day, but the problem has reappeared. This time the drag is more evident, and the left side seems as affected as the right. Today Winnie rested and seems better this evening, but I believe the lameness will continue to show up with work, particularly if we walk on consecutive days. I am not sure whether we are aggravating a previous injury, or if Winnie has a back problem, or if she has something akin to hip dysplasia. In any case, I have to face the fact that Winnie is not up to walking long miles, day after day, this summer.

Our host, Lynn Harleman, in Kresgeville, has offered to trailer us about 100 miles west of our current location. From there we are looking to hitch rides if anyone can help us, until we reach a horse rescue operation near Powell, Ohio, where my father lives with his wife, Ginny.

Sorry to report this bad news. So many people have been rooting for us and praying for us and believed that we could make this walk. I hate to disappoint anyone, but I cannot, in good conscience, ask Winnie to continue. I don't believe in pumping her full of bute and prodding her on, when I know something just isn't right in her back end. She is certainly up to light work, but not this kind of endurance test. If I get x-rays done, and nothing shows up, perhaps chiropractics can help. I feel it is best if we try to reach my dad's place and not walk Winnie further until I can get to the bottom of this. She can rest, be assessed, and if I am told she is fit for the job, we will continue on from there.

Thanks to all of you out there that have helped us so far, and to all of you who have prayed for our safety. Both Winnie and I can feel the love of the Universe embracing us.