The furry babes

 Mason; he is about 8 weeks out from his surgery and healing

SLOWLY but surely

 

Trust me, Frisbee is just now a chew-on toy...NO throwing.

No more. Not ever.

Not worth it. They say he'll blow out his other knee most likely within 1-5 years so I would like to prolong that as long as I can, IF I can.

 Oh Masie Pie, it sucks getting older but he's doing great for a 9 yr old with a bionic metal plated leg

 He definitely went through a bit of depression

Now that we are able to play more, move more and take walks twice a day, he's happy again

He still hasn't been back to the barn, but hopefully in one more month!

I may only take him a couple of times a week, we'll see

His fur is taking FOREVER to grow back, poor lamb leg

Sweet Mason!

Pudgie starring in 

"How to Itch your nose French Bulldog style"

It's exhausting work

Take breaks

 

 Channel your upside down flying skillz

Snort and gurgle...

Check to see if camera is still clicking..

Use those abs and your tiny frog dog legs!

 Success! Nose itched

 And the star of the show blog!

Laz and I had a great, positive and fun lesson (what's that?!!!) last Thursday.

We worked on our Parelli while riding, trust and indirect/direct aids and all went very well.

One great thing about this training, is I can cater it to his level of rehab and my trainer is AWESOME and soooo positive.
I can't gallop him, I don't really want to canter or even trot much right now... certainly no jumping, or true body shaping dressage work but we CAN work on riding communication, positive training and trust all bareback and on a loose rein in a big open field.

Not too shabby considering.

Eating in the summer rain

I leave on Saturday for a couple of weeks for my sister's wedding in South Africa.

Dogs will be with trusted sitters, Laz is going to be looked after by BO and fellow boarder and of course, Justin his lover.

I've got an appointment when I return for a new set of digital xrays and ultra-sounding his hind tendons to see where we are at.

That information will lead us to our next few steps.

Wish us luck, that all animals will remain healthy and are fine with their vacation time off and no major issues arise while we are away. 

I do get so anxious leaving the furrkids but South Africa and a WEDDING awaits!

Looking back for a moment...

Sometimes, in a rehab, that seems like it will never end, it's important for me to STOP and appreciate that even with our hurdles-we have come so so far.

Laz, my official day of adopting/rescuing him in the Fall of 2008

What I owned, is what you see.  A lead rope, a halter, fly spray.

No lie.

And now, a pony...

To now, he's changed.

Physically yes, but mentally-totally.

I can't explain what I saw, or actually FELT with this every day Bay OTTB gelding....but it was major.

I knew, if he wasn't mine to love and care for, I would never sleep ok again.

LITERALLY. 

I made that decision after riding him/meeting him, I woke in the middle of the night thinking "I need this boy"

 His kind eye that he's always had...I hope that he had trainers/groomers that were kind to him in his past.  

And my beautiful boy today...

Can you ever love your animals too much?
Nope.

Photo above from Laura

"Within the warmth of my horse's breath, I will find the air I need to live today. I will find the wind to fly to the heights of my dreams and from within I will find the one I am meant to be."

~ Roberta Edstrom

Weekend catch up

Saturday afternoon, I arrived excited for our appointment with a trimmer who for 2 years, I've been emailing to come help us!!!and was finally coming out.

I got there early, Laz was in "Im gunna napz" mode

He likes to take some of his naps out in the sun and others in his studio apartment above

Hard to break OTTB habits of growing up.

Stall = safety 

His head is always poked out though

I just sat by him while we waited and watched his lower lip drop and eyes flutter with contentment.

Booooboooooo

Then, M&L arrived

Hands down, some of the NICEST horse loving knowledgeable people.

I wasn't too surprised because my current trimmer M, suggested them as well, and she is ranked as "some of my fave peeps of all time too."

That's a technical group-very hard to get in ;)

We talked for a good HOUR before he even laid hands on Laz.

All about his story, what we've done, what we think works and doesn't work.

What his diet is (if you trimmer doesn't ask you this; they should), what his exercise program is, what his daily turnout is (24/7 baby), what his daily demeanor is, etc etc etc

 Every thing was discussed, and talked about before, during, after.

 L, his wife and business partner (and photographer) was a favorite with Laz.

He loves a pretty lady

Do you see how great they are? They brought pads for him to stand on for comfort.

A++ is my book

 Lots of measuring...

 I dont know if many of you have seen this; a hand held  'trimming' device for rolling/beveling

 The RH in all it's ugly glory...

RH image from Jan of 2011...below

Shit, when I look at this picture now..HOLY high unbalanced heels!

M&L left me with this product to treat his 'thrush' spots and black areas on RH with

It's called Thrush off

Add it to my collection....and apply

After our 3-4 hour meeting  it was suggested to me to get a new round of xrays on hinds. DIGITAL this time.

And to look into ultrasounds on his hind fetlock areas to look at ligament/damage/strain/etc

I'm searching around and calling for pricing on this...

I am also to use my Sport Medicine boots on his hinds for added support, as we tested his trot before and after. He had more 'spring' to his trot and comfort, in his leg boots.
So booted, he shall be!

M&L took off some 'dead' toe on RH and just all around smoothed things up on all 4.

He wants me to leave a bit more heel on his hooves (I was shocked but I also think it makes sense) and shorter toes.  He also suggested on fronts to leave/allow his bars to grow past mid frog to give the support his sole wants. Another shocker, but we'll try and see.

So, more info to come....in the next few weeks.

Overall, it was a great meeting and we'll see what the tests say in terms of Laz's rehab

He may have some major damage, he is an 11 yr old OTTB, so arthritis is a probabilistic issue, but hopefully, we can get him more sound.

Isn't that always my goal?

More comfort for him.

Sunday;

I went to make sure there was no new soreness from trim

There was not; as it should be

I booted Laz up in his SMB II's which gave him some support suggested by M&L

(the visual difference was HUGE to me too, in our trail tests)

 Laz and I just hacked around bareback in his pasture, mostly at the walk.

We added a few trots in there, but nothing more than a minute or so at a time

 It was HOT

Does anyone else hate riding in HEAT!

 Laz looking out at the BO's umbrella

 I left Justin in with us, and we rode along with us at times.

We practiced 'herding a spotted cow' ;)

Long and low

Then, after about 30 minutes; it was BATH time!

His rain rot is almost all gone, this will be his 3rd treatment shampoo in the last few months

That shampoo works pretty well, his 'rain rot' is really just slow healing dry patches that need fur on it now. No more scabs, no new spots, just taking their sweet ass time to heal

Ahhhhh-coool water

 I put my things away, after hand grazing to dry Laz...and came out to this;

For a second, I thought.."Ummmmm is he OK?!"

Yup-Just a snooze/roll in the warm sand

 I rubbed his back/hip which M&L believe to be quite stiff

He enjoyed it

 He is getting quite used to a good life of back rubs, chiro work, massage, trimmer extraordinaires 

 As it should be!

I hope to have more info soon regarding xrays/ultrasounds and of course..NERVOUS about it, but need to face what is real head on, for best case rehab for him.