No pictures, no videos...sorry! Not like me, as I'm a designer therefore LOVE a good visual, but just didn't do it this week. I'm sure I'll take some this weekend! :)
So, we are doing well. Lazarus is moving, moving around and actually I think looks a little more ribby even than two weeks ago. His moving is great and he really enjoys it. He is shedding like a demon but still has a way to go, but his neck and shoulders are looking more thin and those long winter hairs are just coming out with my curry and shedding blade...hoorah! I love a summer coat!
He was enjoying his grooming today, but he is SO bothered by the two flies that kept landing on his face. Like literally looked like he was saying "Nooooo, No, Nooooo, no!" with his head that for a moment I thought...is something wrong with you?! But no..it's the flies. HE HATES bugs. I do have a fly mask for him but seems early for it...maybe not. I didn't fly spray him because I want to ask Cliff about putting that on him. That may sound silly but it's like this crazy effective spray that works so great, but smells SO toxic that now I worry about what it would do if/when it got into his bloodstream. I have thought about getting Laz a fly sheet but I don't want to spend $100 or more on a sheet, and I worry the ones for the $39-50 range will just shred up. Any suggestions!? That being said...there are HARDLY any bugs there. Poops are constantly picked up and I watched one of the other horses who had three flies on his snout while he napped in the sun. Laz is crazy sensitive to that stuff. So, so so thin skinned...literally and emotionally.
So, if you have any bug products that you like, or fly sheets, etc..send the suggestion our way!
So, we walked in the arena. Warmed up and then I took his boots off. The right rear he picks up so nicely and quickly for me. The left rear, not so much. For instance, after literally 10 minutes of asking/pulling/pinching he finally stepped forward and gave it up.
So we walked for about 17 minutes. He was a bit spooky, but I kept thinking..god if I was riding you, I'm sure I would have fallen. He side spooks and jumps up/turns so quickly that it's somewhat insane! He is so scared of the two arena corners some days..other days, it's like no big deal. I've been allowing him to nibble the deadish grass in those scary corners as a reward but today, a few times, he lept out with a mouthful of grass, like "WHOA...did you see that?!?!" On the bonus he didn't trample me which is a fear. Bonus? Whatever..I'll take it. But I need to figure out how to make him confident in those corners. It's by the dirt road so there are sometimes monsters like; cars, people, white dogs, swaying cattails and such. Is this where I reward him for walking by with a carrot niblet? Seems that when I anticipate him doing well, he spooks, so then I can't reward. I'm sure there is a simple solution..I just dont know it yet. I'm hoping that the more time we spend in there, will help as well.
So, after our walk and letting his feet air out, I picked them clean and noticed he may have a couple of thrush spots. I emailed Cliff who recommended a product called "Tomorrow" and I can get a generic version of it at TTS tomorrow, lol. He said it's less expensive and just as good as White Lightening, so I'm all about less expensive right now. I'll give it a go. So, I also put Gold Bond's Medicated per Cliff, in his shoes to help fight against thrush. Putting the boats back on, SUCKED today. It took me about 25 minutes to get his left rear up and he was just being a jerk about it. My back is wrecked right now. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was completely in a sweat and my arms and hands were shaking after the 50000 attempts of his semi lifting his foot and then just slamming his weight back down. I know it has to do with that he probably thinks I can't hold him and he doesn't feel secure. Well guess what Laz, I can't hold you but I have to put this shoes on...so please, as you start to heal, please lift your legs!!!!!!!!
This week has taken a toll on my back. I'm trying to support his leg in between my knees while I pick, and then adjust to get the Easy boot on, but it's the literally picking up his foot that is wrenching me. I have to grab at his ankle to lift it otherwise he just wont give it to me. For his other three legs, he's a total angel. I even tried lifting the other legs, giving him a carrot niblet, then going to the demon leg and NOTHING.
Sigh..it was frustrating and my sore back is making me mad.
When I get that Chiropractor for Laz, I may sneak in for a bit of work too
If his right hind hurts, it's not surprising that he doesn't want to pick up the left one - poor boy and poor you and your back!
ReplyDeleteAs to the 'fear of corners', I read a really good idea on Saddlebred Rescue!
ReplyDelete"Many of the treasures have not worked in an indoor arena in a very long time, if ever, when they come here. They are also accustomed to wearing blinkers and not having a full range of vision. Consequently they often look very suspeciously at the white arena walls and are pretty sure that there are equi-e-timis lurking in the corners of the arena. Usually this stage lasts about a week and then they relax and stop worrying about it. Occasionally one will just not believe that it is ok and continues to resist going into the corners. We have found a method that works well with these hold outs. I will have someone stand in the offending corner with treats, ride the horse into the corner and have the assistant feed treats while I pet and scratch them. We repeat as often as nessesary until the corner becomes a fun place to be and not a scary one. If no assistant is available I will stuff my pockets full of treats and reach forward to feed them while on their back. A little trickier, but it will work this way too."
As to the size of the carrot treats--- personally I bite off a tiny bit of the carrot, about the size of a cheerio and just having the flavor and feeling of something to eat seems to be as good a treat as a big piece. Makes a carrot last an hour!
On your barefoot treatment, I'm sure you're on the right track. Email me at shadowlake2005@hotmail.com if you want to hear my miraculous experience w/barefoot. It was my last resort and now I am a believer. Good luck!
Maybe the chiropractor for laz will have a two-fer special!
ReplyDeleteOlly has a fly sheet that I got from SmartPak. here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=2294
He has the fly mask and the tail bag too. He used it all summer and itworked great. I would like to get the belly part this summer. Good luck.
I hope your back feels better. Hang in there mama!
OK- save your back, and use a soft cotton rope, around the pastern, to help lift the leg. If you can get someone to help hold the rope up once you get the hoof up, you won't have to strain yourself so hard to replace his boots. ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you DO need a chiro, or maybe a massage(much more fun!) I do actually have a couple of suggestions for the fly problem, Tiny is awful about it too. I recommend Mosquito Mesh products from Schneiders, very durable and work great. Also, think about trying Toad Mist. It's an all natural fly spray that works better than anything else I've tried. There are links for purchase on my site, under Product Review category. Oh, and you should check out the PetsBlogroll.com site too. We have a couple of contests going on and need to get the word out and get some entries!!
ReplyDeleteUgh, so sorry to hear about your back. Mine is never great but at one point it was really hurt and there were some nights I just couldn't pick out his hind feet. Hang in there! As for flies, I have heard that a mixture of water, skin-so-soft, vinegar, and pine sol or ivory dish soap works really well. I plan to try it out this summer. I googled it and found some "recipes" here: http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/flyspray_recipes.htm
ReplyDelete