sweet horse's breath: October 2014

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

SundaySunshine

Sunny Sunday. I went for a typical visit/groom session and wouldn't you know it but the warm sun, the Fall colors and my snoozy puppy dog of a pony lured me into a quick ride.

I.just.had.to.

It was like "Uh, OK stars are aligned...I'm doing this"

I had promised to not ride when alone but I just couldn't pass it up. With Fall in Michigan, it goes from glorious to wet/cold in a day, so I carpe diem'ed that shit and did it!

I just told Laz, "Pony...take care of us" and thought good thoughts. But more so, he gave me the vibes that all was going to be well.

I threw on his bitless and his bareback pad and hopped on.

At 29 weeks, (7 mths) my hop is a little heftier but my stoic pony just STOOD there....love this fraggle rocked maned of a horse. Damn.

I'll tell you the dismount is MUCH harder to slide off when there is a hard belly in the way. Sorry baby that I smushed your face, but I think you enjoyed the ride too.

We just walked around. Ambled really, it was lovely.

It felt good for me, and he seemed to enjoy his little job as well.

Jump, one day...in our future...one day....

It was so quiet and peaceful during our ride. You can hear the squirrels running about, and the leaves gently falling, and Laz's big happy exhales

#yesifilteredthecrapoutofthis #so

I swear, I am the pregnant one....

Focus on the pretty leaves in his fat shadow instead

Pokertown pony. My favorite....

It's amazing how a ride, no matter if an amble or a trail ride, can just lighten my soul up

This may be my last ride until birth (early Jan??)....I don't know, but I thoroughly enjoyed it

My sweets waiting after untacking for his cookies for his Rolex performance

I'm smitten for him.

The obsession just doesn't quit...Le Sigh

***

On Monday, Laz got floated

He goes along so well, doesn't hardly move and all without sedation.

Thanks for Miles's Mom for giving us this Equine Dentist's name years ago! He's the best

During his jaw breaks, Laz was walk towards me like "uh saves me....??" it was quite funny.

More positive hoof changes took place but I'm going to allow a bit of time to pass before posting so I can hopefully show some dramatic growth changes

Keep your fingers crossed for us

Monday, October 13, 2014

whittle whittle whittle at a time....

These are from yesterday (sunday)

There is still a lot of wedge in the toe area but my goal is to rasp it enough just so it doesn't hit ground when he trots.
I rasped, lunged him (he is sound sound sound right now!!) and trimmed a bit more...

I'll be so happy when the heel backs up to support the back of his foot.

I rasped the heel wall to allow the tubules to try to stand up vs being crushed/under run...

we'll see if it works.

Saturday morning

This sleepy fluff head stands for 40 minutes like an ANGEL so I can Clean Trax his hoof

Worth his weight in gold

So, what do you do for 40 minutes?!

Selfies....

You can sheaths (I'll spare you any photographic evidence)...

You trim Tina Turner manes

PS I'm keeping it long for winter protection

A bit cleaner and oh SO nerdy

"Bored, I'z bored"

Don't let him fool you, he is quite used to and loves his 'spa treatments' and to be doted on

Such a clown

Friday, October 10, 2014

The definition of insanity

So on 9/24 Laz showed signs of an abscess..but shockingly enough in his LH, which is typically his good hoof

Well, why not change up the drama a bit?

He wouldn't walk on it, his leg was swollen from hoof to hock. I had the vet out the next day just to make sure it wasn't a torn tendon. It wasn't.
It took about a week (should have taken less but I finally broke down despite being told not to do it, and did my abscess pulling trick; soak hoof, dry, slather on ichthammol, put a plastic baggie on, and boot for 24 hrs)

Oh, and I also removed bar. Like a ton of bar.

Abscess popped after booting. Minor swelling lasted another 24 hours (cold hose, yes why not?) and there were two exit points. One at coronary/hair line (see below) and one on lateral quarter where he was jammed.

Damn.

I made a decision to start trimming him on my own for a while. There are things that I think he likes/needs and I'm going to buck up and do them.

Bars; very conversational but Laz's seem to impact/fold quickly and then cause issues. I am doing to ramp them to encourage proper height/placement. With him being on grassy/sand pasture he can't really wear them down on his own. I've left them and they cause issues.

Take this hoof for example; his LF (splat foot being his RF is a club)

When I don't take out bars/ramp to sit up...he lands more toe forward. He had in fact 2 weeks of a slightly swollen tendon. After removing bar slowly over a few days, he stood more square and swelling went away. Hmmmm

Balance; he has seemed out of balance to me as of late. Toes too long, medially to lateral balance off, so being that I see angles as a career, I'm going to tackle this on my own to see if I can get him in a better spot. We'll see how this goes

Sometimes, like Pudgie shows below...you just have to stop and think...

This is why I'm here:

I'm amazing what going back and looking at old photos does.

This was his RH back in 2012

To me, a much better/healthier hoof to what was in August, below

Damn.

My last trimmer and I saw most things eye to eye (removing dead tissue/aggressive bar, keep toes backed up, etc) and so I'm doing back to her route of thought/practice
I'm not happy with his hoof especially after the last cast which basically girdled his hoof.