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...

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

January catch up

Wow, I'm happy to say January has FLOWN by.
Temps have been crazy (I know with everyone else too) so it's made for terrible footing and limited working out/riding.
Can you tell?
BOOM.
Fat pony alert
 Laz is due for a trim next week, it's been since Dec 13th and he's been doing well.
Still a bit toe first on his landings but I'm not sure what else I can do about it. 
I've tried 4 great trimmers, tweak(ed)ing his diet, and even prior to going barefoot, while shod, before he got sick, he was toe first....could just be him compensating for something I can't fix??
Oh well, he's happy and as sound as he's ever been
I would like him more trim and fit but I'm hoping this month we will be able to do that if footing can stick to either being frozen or melted. The frozen pools of ice below snow or frozen uneven hard ground makes for a crappy time. Here we worked on the ONE section of grassy snow that I found.
We have gone for our road rides where we mostly walk, work on brain excersizes and do some light trotting where it's safe to.
I rode him in his new (too small UGH-horse size, has his head gotten fatter??) lime green rope halter and reins and it was a HOT mess.
He just didn't respond the same as in his bitless and was MUCH MUCH more feisty.
No big deal at the walk, but asking for trot/canter was too much power with no brakes.
Basically means I'm not riding correctly and am relying too much on my reins. I like to try new things to figure out some honest truths, and I got one.
Laz is great at saying "UM no...I won't hurt you, but this is NOT cool"
Fine for a hack down the road but a bit unnerving feeling like I didn't have the same communication.
But it's SO cute. LOVE the lime green. LOVE it on his bay skin
On some of the colder days (below zero) I've opted for Laz to wear his blanket.
He is ALWAYS warm when I check him, it's shocking. I really think he doesn't need it, but I sleep better. He is naked lately (20's) and very fuzzy warm with LOTS of hay. There is always hay for them---love that!
The herd; Red, Laz and Pito-all OTTBs
They really stick all together which is nice. No bullies
They are all sweet curious geldings...we miss our Justin but they are adjusting 
Red is above Laz, Laz is above Pito and Pito is above Red, lol. 
How did that work out?
I barn sat for a weekend which I love to do
 And snuck from Michigan to Naples, FL for a quick 4 day girl friend getaway.
It was beautiful and relaxing
and full of seafood (holy crab legs!!!!)
And some fun images of the furry babies
Laz kurflupping on my phone
 Mason zooming...
Pudgie hating the cold
I really want to schedule a lesson for Laz and I and get back on track with our 'training'
I just feel we are riding a bit unfocused and I like a task/goal
I'm sure Fatty will disagree

10 comments:

  1. The under the chin rope halter rig didn't work for me and Val either... almost zero steerablilty + knowing looks that said "you're not the boss of me"...

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  2. Well, we all know how my latest experience with riding in a rope halter went, so all I can say is I SYMPATHIZE! And be glad your butt didn't suffer for it, because I still can barely sit on anything!

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  3. The OTTB's are so cute together. =-)

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  4. Glad he's doing well - he looks very happy. Too bad the halter combo didn't work out . . .

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  5. Good job on learning to ride in the halter only:) You both will get it. If it really is too small??? Couldn't you have exchanged it still? Either way, looks great and keep up the fun play!!! Love us! 30's are coming!! xox

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  6. Yup, no brakes, even with the bitless, but I knew that going into it. Like the lime green!
    This is such a tough time of year to really work. I feel like they're all getting a vacation until better weather comes around the the trails/ring are clear of ice and snow. Oh well.
    I know what you mean about blankets. I've gotten better about it this year and our guys only wear blankets when it's in the teens or colder. Otherwise, they go naked and really seem happier, especially when the blanket makes them all static!
    Spring will be coming, after we get through this nor'easter.

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  7. Laz looks great in that canter photo!

    Too bad about the halter. The color is really striking on his dark coat.

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  8. He's not fat, he's fluffy!!! And , well, maybe he is still carrying a little holiday weight. I can totally empathize. ;-)

    LOVE Naples! It's such a cute, fun little town with so much to do. It's much more civilized than the wilds of Miami, lol. When I worked in corporate event planning, we had a big week-long event there @ the Ritz and it was h-e-a-v-e-n, despite the fact that I was working. Fun!

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  9. First of all I am soooo sorry it's been so long since I've read/commented. I literally just spent hours reading every post you've written since March of 2012!!!! I can't believe it's been that long since I've read. Sorry I didn't comment on them... it would have slowed me down too much lol.

    I'm soooo happy Laz is doing so awesome and that you are getting to ride! That's awesome!! His hooves are looking great and he obviously feels amazing. :D

    I'll try not to ever go that long without reading again. :) I miss reading about Laz!

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