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, November 13, 2013

Thrush B Gone--part 2 review

Continuing on with my review for Thrush B Gone;
After Sunday's application, I came out today (Tuesday) to check on Laz
These photos are before the 2nd application that I chose to do

Front Right Club
 Front Right Club
 Front Right Club (frog at center sulcus is where I treated as well as around white line and hoof cracks)
***
 Left Hind
 Left Hind (frog was what I treated)
***
The star of the show:
Right Hind 
(Treat entire hoof and specifically in crevices) 
 RH
 RH, it's minimal BUT (and honestly this is a HUGE BUT) I do see an improvement.
It just seems less cheesy in texture (harder for sure) and a bit more sealed...
I literally squealed with the thought of improvement.
Below image is right after I applied 1st treatment for a reference photo

 Prior to 2nd application, this is the amount that I've used for 1st treatment on 3 hooves.
AMPLE dosing. The solution is very watery, like a saline solution to give you an idea.
And it didn't freeze in my unheated barn and won't change the PH to solution (bonus for cold weather states like MI)
I'll continue to do follow up photos and thoughts...

Rain rot seemed better, I followed with a spray of Original yellow Listerine (per my vet-don't think I'm crazy because I was shocked too!) but my stinky ponyface smells like a peppermint delight!
I cleaned/disinfected all tack, brushes, curries and hoof picks for preventing rain rot from spreading.
I also cleaned his man pocket (a' la sheath) GAG with just wet diaper wipes (organic of course) 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

400th post

I could cry tears of joy but instead I'll smile.
400 posts in under 5 years.
All about my first horse, Lazarus
That I get to love, groom, ride and work on friendship, partnership, trust and love with.
I never knew this journey would take the turns it has but it has brought us to today.
Today I have a healthy, lovely gelding who is smart and kind.
 Today, 400 posts later, we have shared some amazing and scary adventures together.
I look forward to posting about Laz and I for years more to come.
Thanks for all my readers for hanging in with us during this journey.
xoxo

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Testing out a new product: THRUSH B GONE

Have you heard of "Thrush B Gone?" 
I saw it on FB and contacted them looking for another thrush product to test out.
As you may know, we've been battling Thrush/White Line Disease since Laz's laminitis a few years ago, however he does seem prone to getting thrush hooves despite his clean diet/turnout 24/7/every other day grooming.
Thrush B Gone said they would be happy to mail out a bottle of their solution for us to try, and are excited to see positive results.
I stopped all other brands and applied it today (Sunday 11/10)
I'm to wait 2 days to see a positive change and if need be, re apply.
 Most infected hoof: Right Hind
 Right Hind after I applied Thrush B Gone
 I decided to put it on his club hoof (Right Front) since these vertical cracks have split

And on the frog crack at the center sulcus 
 And to his Left Hind, that frog had just shed and had some dark spots and crevices so I thought I would soak it
Prior to application, I picked and wire brushed hooves.
Then I just squirted it at infected areas
Fingers crossed! 
You can read more about the company HERE

While I allowed the product to absorb into hoof, I washed Laz's back with his fungal shampoo, allowed that to sit for 10 minutes
 and rinsed off. He had a QUICK case of rain rot that popped up.
Laz approved of his spa day
I'll be following up about both the Thrush B Gone and what I think or what results I see, and Laz's rain rot
I'll be 100% honest as always in my review.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Kensington Trail

Sunday the stars aligned. 
We were able to get 4 girls together for a 4 hour, 9 mile trail ride.
Me on Laz. E on her new leased love Molly (A Paint/Perch X mare), J on Stella (A fleabitten TB mare) and E on Pito (Laz's herd mate)
I went early to tack up. I KNEW Laz was going to be excited to see a trailer and two horses.
Excited was an understatement.
He was jiggy, and squealing, and wanting to rear....so I dismounted and just walked his silly but to see the girls. He settled down a bit. I got back on, we headed out but it took him a good 2 miles to settle down. It was a bit comical.
Riding the dirt road to the trails...
and entering the trail connector to get to Kensington Park
It the beginning Pito was the trail master. He was so calm and led the herd. Laz would tuck his nose into his tail. Sometimes, Laz just needs a mental break and I knew he would submerge again after he took it all in, for a bit.
 We rode the connector for about 30 minutes, crossed the main road and now..KENSINGTON in all it's glory!
So gorgeous.
Riding through the prairie grass
E was giving young Molly (drafty paint x) her very first trail ride!!!
She did so great
Those two mares are boarded together, and Stella is a champ jumper and all around athletic girl. BIG girl, she's 17 hands
 Laz ended up pushing forward and was asking to lead. He lead for a huge amount of time. At the walk, trot and canter!
Entering the large field half way through our ride. Laz always gets jiggy with it in a large open field.
He started arching his neck and telling all the other horses "I USEDZ TO RACE YA KNOW?!"

The girls were not impressed and he quickly settled back down when he realized, there was NO race to be had.
 
 We took the ponies down to the lake, to offer them a drink
Laz threatened to roll about 5 times but I would NOT allow it!!! It was too cold to get wet and suffer for an hour or two
E smiling on Molly
Splashing
 and splashing..and me kicking and yelling "NO NO NO NO"
 and humping Laz , like that will make him go forward?!? and waving my arms in flight.
Seriously??! 
Whatever, the ponies were having FUN
Pito and his old lessor --I love that photo
Pito is such a good boy
One of the many trails we rode
 Oh yes, we were in our myler D bit for the trail ride extravaganza
I wanted to ensure I had breaks for my own safety. Even though we rode mostly on the buckle..there were a few key moments where we were ON THE BIT ;) 

Click below to view the canter video and if you listen closely I screamed out "MOLLY!!" because she ran through a mud puddle and I ate it. Or drank it. And couldn't stop laughing!!!

It was a pretty great day.  We rode and rode and rode.
 I especially secretly enjoyed it, being that ride was on our 5 year anniversary.
Laz and I, FIVE years ago
What a ride it's been
I'm so lucky to have this equine partner!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Trail ride and hoof update

I love that Laz nearly always comes up to me when I arrive to the barn
Could be food motivated...
The colder Fall is here and I've started giving Laz his soaked Ontario Dehy cubes
Pito likes to sneak in a few bites ;)
We had a gross hatching of lady bugs everywhere a few days ago, when the weather was sunny and warm. They were irritating the horses tremendously and I kept hearing them ping off the barn's metal doors. Nature can be so funny

 Last week, Laz had a double spa treatment.
Acupuncture and chiro adjustments from Dr. Weaver
Snap, pop and Laz goes into licking/chewing mode
 Followed by M to do his feet.
We decided to leave his foot bare this go around and see how he does without the cast
I felt good about it. I like to allow air in but wow we got some great growth from those cast, especially in his heel
Thrush still there, clean trax soak coming up next...
I'm hoping along with the air, movement from riding and soaking/every other day spot treating with Thrush Off, it will continue to grow OUT.
Heel growth!!! Boo ya. 
Now we need the back of the foot to continue to bulk up and stay strong
 In terms of working, Laz and I have been trail riding a lot!
E and I met a couple of weeks ago and took Laz and Pito out
It was the most relaxing trail ride. Both the boys were in Quarter horse mode and were chill and kerplunkity. It was want we wanted that day being cold and lazy.
No drama, just an easy easy ride.

Our during the week work usually means I hand walk him. I'm usually in my work clothes plus barn boots and it's all my work time allows mid week.
No complaints.
Triple duty: Walk the dog. Walk the Pony. Walk me.
 Speaking of pupster, how cute is Mason?!
He loves, er LIVES for his barn time