Dr. Chad Marsh, and the A&M team, checking out Bruno upon his arrival.

I have no better words for today than what is written on the Texas A&M Teaching Hospital Instructions to Owner that we received after our visit today:

Instructions to Owner:

Bruno is released to return slowly back to exercise under saddle.  His regimen should include all flat work exercise at the walk and long trot with no cavaleties or jumps for the first 3-4 weeks.  Bruno is not released to jump yet.

And today, 161 long days since surgery on his infected foot, we may once again saddle the big boy up and start his journey back to fitness and hopefully, soon back over fences.  We are exhilarated, joyful and yet little wary as we know there still is a long path ahead of us.   Reviewing Bruno’s radiograph’s with Dr. Marsh, we saw that there has been no further deterioration of the coffin bone since surgery and the surrounding margins of the hoof are clean and healthy.  I mentioned (in the 300 or so times I thanked him) that I was glad Dr. Lynn Criner had caught the infection when she did.  I said if she hadn’t we would have just continued to have the hoof crack and crumble over and over.  “No”, Dr. Marsh corrected me, “the infection would have spread over time from the coffin bone into the leg and then there is nothing we could have done to save him”.

Shows how much of the hoof was cut out

December 21st immediately after surgery.

The hoof today-completely grown back-the holes are nail holes from his old shoes. The line will probably remain as a reminder of the years the crack was in this hoof.

The pink line halfway up the hoof is a bruising or surgical scar. We grew a brand new hoof!

I will miss our friends at TAMU-what an outstanding institution! But both Lauren and I are looking forward to the future and seeing what the big man can do in the jumper ring.  I hope he is amazing but as I told Dr. Marsh today, this horse has captured Lauren’s heart.  Even if he never completes a round over fences, he is ours forever.  We have learned so much from him.  This is just the start of Book Two of the Bruno Story.  Be sure to stay tuned as we see what will become of him.

Thank you for all you who have supported his success, were saddened by his setbacks and just rode along as we tried to do the right thing for this giant OTTB!