About this Blog

Meet my very 1st horse, Lazarus.
I couldn't wait for Santa anymore or ask one more time for a pony for my bday (after age 30 it got embarrassing). I took matters in my own hands and I finally decided to pick a pony that needed a new home. Laz found me as I contemplated with this idea. He was sweet yet very sassy, fresh off the track, Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Join us for our re-training, rehabbing from laminitis and testing all parts of mixed up horsemanship and partnership, and luck...

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Keeping an eye out

That almost makes me laugh! "Keeping an eye out?" Like I haven't been doing that since I first got Laz and especially since early October when this whole mess started.
Well, what I mean by that is today he seemed a bit punky. His eyes were runny (it is cold and windy but today was actually decent) and he was sweating slightly behind his ears and in the front of his neck, above his chest, in a spot not any larger than a pencil length. In fact, if you look at the picture of Laz at the top of my blog, you can see a sweat spot. It was half the size of what is in that picture. Still, it concerned me today. He is on half dose of his anti-inflammatory and I talked to C about bumping it up, but when she saw him later today she thought he looked back to normal.
Being nice enough that I actually took off my ski/barn jacket (keep in mind, I still had one two thermal long sleeved shirts, a fleece jacket and a vest on) I thought I could yank his coat off and really groom him and look at him.

Proof that the sun was out! I love love love untouched soft snow like this when it glistens in the sunshine! Looks like sugar was dumped everywhere at the barn!
Here is the sweet boy, looking back at me while I was currying his body. He seemed to really enjoy it today. See how his eyes are in this picture...they were half cast the whole time I was out there. Now, the other horses were all in that vibe too, laying down, totally happy and relaxing..so maybe it was just the time of day/weather/????
For as much as I LOVE Laz's blanket (and love sticking in my hands underneath to get warm) I do like to yank it off and really look at him, groom him.
This photo is obviously before the grooming. Laz is not the horse that stays clean. Not for one minute. He lays down, he rolls, he buries his head in his hay to shake the fines out. You can see here, he favors laying on his left side which is always shown by his mucky left leg. It comes off easy enough. So between his leg wraps, quilts and blanket, it's nice to free him of that and just groom him thoroughly.
Before I left, I tossed his blanket back on and fed him a couple of carrots. Can I just say, I adore when he turns to follow me?! It's a fave of mine now. Simple pleasures in life.
Here is his snarky face below. He does this attitude thing when I feed him carrots (ONLY when I'm on the other side of this dutch door) he semi pins his ears back while he chews and waits for more. Like he is the king of the stable. When I first got him, that used to scare me. Now it makes me laugh because I know he is full of B.S.
Feel better Bubba!

7 comments:

  1. He looks a bit thin - ribs showing - is that OK? Hope he stays well. I try to take my blankets off once a day to do a basic grooming and inspection, no matter the weather - you're good to check on hims that way!

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  2. I am still thinking good thoughts for Laz. I don't want to worry you, but I agree with Kate, he is looking thin - just double check - could be the photo?
    The stall door/ear pinning must be a track thing. Sovey does it too. Love and prayers to Laz.

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  3. He's cute. I love his king of the stable face! he looks like such a sweetie, I wouldn't believe him either!

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  4. Kate and Juliette- you girls are totally correct. He IS a bit thin. I had vet look at his weight (blanket off) last Wed and he said to keep him here. He wants him on the thinner side during laminitis b/c it's less weight/pressure on his coffin bones. Laz eats literally all day. He eat about 10-12 flakes of hay broken in 3 flakes t/o the day. It's grass hay per vet..no alfalfa right now, too rich. He wants him on bland bland bland.
    Now, that being said, Laz is always somewhat ribby. I got about 250 lbs on him slooowly and his pics in April, he looked amazing from the October before when I got him. Once he coliced and got laminitis, he dropped not only a lot of weight, but now being cooped up for 2-1/2 months, major muscle. He is baggy poor babe and he used to be a mega muscle man. Both the barn owner and I like our horses to be well fed and have some cushion weight on their bodies, so with Laz being thin..it's killing us! :( But, we are following vet's/farriers instructions which makes sense, but I agree..I don't like seeing his ribs. It makes me feel like he looks neglected. This has taken a big toll on his physical body and I am just looking forward to re-conditioning him as soon as I get the OK. Thanks for your concern..it always helps having extra eyes looking out for him! :) xo

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  5. One of those... my mare is persnickety, so she's almost never dirty, for which I am thankful. I do not envy you the dirty horse, but he sure has a cute face (and I'm glad you cleared up the weight thing. It makes sense now.)

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  6. I just saw your comment on my blog! Our "kids" are very similar, it was around October that Denali decided to cost me an arm and a leg with the whole EPM. She dropped tons of weight/muscle and is now putting it back on. What is his Reg. name? He looks a lot like an arab! Feel better to your boy!

    www.wildponybeast.blogspot.com

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  7. Denali-do you mean his old racing name? It's "Lycius Two"..here is his lineage:
    http://www.pedigreequery.com/lycius+two
    He came to me with the stable name of Lazarus, so I just kept it b/c I thought it fit him.
    Literally translates to "risen from the dead." Boy how true!!!
    He does have Arab eyes! :)

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