The furried ones LOVE winter

Thank goodness for those with fur.  I worry about Laz that he's cold all the time.

Jeez. I need to drop that worry.  Today, I bundled up in my new barn jacket (more about that later) and headed out to face the C.O.L.D.  As I pulled up, I saw Laz rolling around, then springing up and bucking around.  Yea, he's really cold and miserable.  What a sweet face.  I still have his turnout sheet on as a wind breaker, no insulation.  Winter weight turnout is still on hanging on hook waiting for cooler temps.

And Mason.  I check his ears ALL the time to make sure he's warm enough because this little chocolate jock would go without complaints in the Artic.  He loves winter! I do actually worry more about him out at the farm in the summer but I'm able to cold hose him down several times on the hot hot days.  Winter, he just gallops around happy and warm.

After our workout, it was slurpee time. I'm getting the water to beet pulp shreds ratio better so it was more slurpee vs broth.  Laz yum yum yummed it up!

 After a little Masterson bladder meridan massage via me, I took Laz to tack room for a carrot or two.  His eyes are FREAKY but rest assured, he's not a robot or laser shooting horse.

 Back at home, Mason and Pudge play their favorite game of "Mason stole Pudgie's favorite ball but will hold it in his front teeth to tease Pudge and to leer him into game"

 The cuteness hurts sometimes :)

And since if you own a horse, you also own an empty wallet, or close to it.

I thought I would share THIS exciting news.

Ok, maybe not so exciting but money saving!

I bought a new down coat for the barn (MUCH needed). Got it on MEGA sale from Land's End (had never shopped there before)-got it for 40% off and Free shipping AND via EBATES which in turn, got me back 6% cash back.

If you don't know about EBATES, check it out and sign up. 

If you are an internet shopper like I am, you get percentage points back on your purchases, so basically........FREE money for horse stuff! ;)

And..best of all, the jacket kept me toasty warm today in 20 windy weather. 

Laz was OBSESSED with the fur trim (which btw can come off) and kept nuzzling it.

I got the jacket in brown which is so dark, basically black, and love love love it because it kept me warm  AND has a double/two way zipper so you can ride in it.

Picking your horse

Isn't it interesting to think about how you and your horse met?

It can be such a chance, gamble and yet most of us throw our entire hearts into the joining and run with that risk.

Well, I for sure, am so glad that I did.

I feel like Laz chose me and I, in return, heard his asking. I don't know why, how, etc...it just happened that way.

Below, is summer/fall of 08 when I decided that I had been gone from the horse world long enough and needed to get back in somehow.  I looked at Craig's list for some horse lease options and found a girl that was my age which a slew of horses.  She and I are still friends though we don't hardly see each other. We both left the farm below.  Me to take Laz home (to my current barn) and her to open a horse rescue.

This was one of her future rescues. A girl brought this adorable wicked untrained pony to trade for a saddle. Yikes. A saddle for a live animal?! I don't get it.

 We loved her.  See the arena fence behind me...the one top rail fence...yea, wicked, fun JoonBug here tried to run me off by ducking under it at full pony gallop and almost decapitating me.  

Ooops. Such fun. LOVE a pony. Always have. Always will.

(Sorry no helmet here...I dont ride now without one)

Below is my friend who I speak about who runs a great horse rescue now.

She is on Titan, the TB I was super super super close to buying.

17 hh+ giant, 4 yrs old, all mighty TB, never raced and super duper GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!

This is my 'dream' colored horse.  Die for a dapple. DIE!  

But it was so strange. 

I had zero connection with him.  He was sweet, but not much personality. Almost a little "DUHHHHHH" but would be an awesome horse no doubt.

He was like that handsome, dumb jock in school that everyone drools over that asks you out on a date but you are soooo bored with him, you start chewing your gum in a musical method to drown out his voice. lol!

So, I ended up saying "I'm just not that into you"  Another girl starting riding him and she loved him.  I have no idea what happened to Titan...I hope he found a good home and a loving rider.

I still think of him and had I had tons of money, I would have taken him too because he would have been a great horse....just not full of personality like sweet Laz.  More introverted perhaps.

Sometimes when you are THAT pretty, you don't have to be that intriguing ;)

And I found my dream boat...or as I said, he found me.  When the truck full of OTTB's was dropped off at this farm, us girls all walked in the field to start playing with the new TB's.  A couple days into it, a sweet little Bay kept coming up to me with the sweetest Arab eyes...so I just said "OK. I'll ride you today." 

And never stopped...

The minute I paid for him, my current BO and I, loaded him up one evening and took him to her farm where we still are.  I just knew, although a fun place to ride at, I couldn't keep him at that facility.  No way.  Way too many reasons to list.

(Again..I wear helmets now...don't know why that summer I was being stupid)

Back to now.
On Saturday, Laz looked/seemed like 100% so I decided to ride him.
It was cold but not too windy so bearable.
We had a nice ride and he even gave me some attitude when the BO was feeding everyone their afternoon hay, he was like "I'm done with homework, I want a snack!!!" but we got thru it. ;)

 Sweet fuzzy boy

 I ended up buying Beet Pulp shreds at our local Tractor Supply.
All other pellets or hay cubes were Alfalfa crazy and he can't have it.
He slopped it up but made a mess. I need to feed this outside to him.

 Mason made a new friend with the neighbor's husky

 She's beautiful with the most captivating eyes but would not sit still for me to get that.

 And here is an hour old brand new toy....

Decorating for Xmas...I have quite the collection of horse themed ornaments from childhood and up.  This is one of my faves.  Ride 'em Santa!

Stay warm!!! 

Colic Cocktail anyone?

So, of course I know the BO's know Laz and know when he's fine and when he's not.  But you know when you just need to put your eyes on your baby to make yourself feel better? 

Yes, of course you all do!

So...after my appointments, I raced to the farm.

Whew

Angel face was face first in his hay with a good, wet mouth

"Mmmmm, nnmoommm, Hey Mom...mmmmmmmMMM'

 Can you see the cutest little pink tongue and tooth!?

Ignore the mud 

Ignore the mane

Too many years in Hunter/Jumper as a kid....what can I say, it bothers me that Laz looks like a mess, but OH WELL, he's happy! :)

 I chose to not ride and just hand walk him.  I decided after how I mowed over Thanksgiving, I needed to walk too.  Laz had a nice pep in his step and was acting 100% normal, but who doesn't benefit from a nice walk?

Thanks to Karla for this cooking inspiration of a witch brew slurpee!

She makes a custom one for her sweet girl, Honey.  

I used what I could, due to Laz being intolerant of sugars.

I first called my vet and talked to Cliff about their thoughts and put this together:

Warm water, a scoop (tablespoon?) of salt, 1/2 cup of his Triple Crown L/S, some hay fines-about a fistfull, and two mouth-chopped up carrots.  Stirred and let sit for about 35 minutes to soak and cool down while we took a walk.

When we came back inside-Laz loved it and made a mess!

He slurped, gulped, chewed and then DOVE into the bucket (nostrils under which of course I thought...great, now I'm drowning my baby) and picked out the carrots!

It felt so satisfying to get that water in him!!! Of course it required a good nose cleaning afterwards because he look like a mess.  I plan on buying him some 50/50 hay cubes or Orchard grass pellets to soak instead of using his grain.  This should be fun! I hope it proves to do him good in hydrating him and not causes any GUT issues.  Vet felt it was OK to do daily or every other as I'm there to encourage the liquids primarily.

Vet wants no bran mashes for him because of the fact of any drastic change in feed, could change the micro-organisms in the GUT and may cause an endotoxin release.  BAD for laminitic horses...like really bad.  He stated too that even though bran mash is mostly fiber, there is also carbs in it, that as we know-turn to sugar.  Especially NO Molasses, sugar, apples, bananas, etc for him.  Makes sense.  I just hope that even though the vet/farrier agreed to do hay cubes, that is Ok for Laz.  The Vet was actually OK with the Aloe Vera although he stated to make sure NO sugars in it and start slowly.  I may wait on this....  

I do LOVE when my notes between the Vet and the trimmer seem to work together, makes it so less stressful for me!  Why I didn't stick with my childhood plan of "When I grow up, I want to be a vet for horsies" is beyond me.  I could have saved myself major stress and money.

Thoughts on Colic

Weather change.

It was warm, rainy and balmy this week which lead to Laz needing his turnout sheet off and being able to enjoy the weather as a free horse! He obviously enjoyed it.

Reasons I think he likes to roll in mud:

A. He wants to look like a PIG instead of a handsome TB

B.  Wants people to think he's neglected so they feed him carrots and apples

C.  Thinks his Mom needs to buff up her grooming arms

Kissable crescent moon shaped star!

"What Mom, I'm not that dirty!"

So being it was freeeeezing yesterday, I knew I had to get him groomed and re-blanketed.  We just did some light lunging/Parelli work.  He did great and was really enjoying to trot and walk around.  Lots of snorting, stretching and some nice happy bucks (not feisty I-don't-want-to-turn bucks).  I took him inside the barn after about 30 minutes of working and playing , to start the grooming session.  Side note about the blanket I'm using during this weather; it's a no fill turnout sheet, which is basically a wind breaker in vivid orange. I also secretly like it because during Hunting season, no one can mistake him for a deer.  

So, here's where my title of "Thoughts on Colic" come into play.

After grooming off his muddy coat, I noticed that he was very tail swishy when I groomed his belly and sides. He then did the classic, turn and look at belly.

Oh shit.

He then did a couple of belly kicks with his leg.

**Pass out**

I sighed and said "Please Laz.........do.not.colic.on.me."

I filled up a bucket with warm water, like bath warm, which he likes (trial and error last winter I figured that out) and he drank two big nice "see I'm OK Mom" gulps of it.  

Whew, ok....

I grabbed a couple of carrots.  He mowed on them. 

Whew, ok...

The BO's came in and I told them my concern.  They listened to his gut.  We checked his poops (normal 6 piles outside), we checked his water intake (normal-and why I LOVE not having an auto-waterer).

Laz did poop in the crossties and of course, like everyone crazy horsemom, I picked it up and pulled apart.  A little dry. 

 Hmmmmm.

The weather change???  It can cause horses to not drink like normal.

On my way home, I called my vet.  Now, don't get me wrong, if I saw anything else (not eating/drinking, etc) I would have called Vet immediately to come view him.

He promptly had his office call me back with things to do and not to do;

1.  Blanket him-Check

2.  Increase Salt to encourage drinking-Check 

(detail of that is 1 oz of Table Salt, and 1 oz of Light Salt which has Potassium in it)

3.  Heated Bucket-Not Check but he has two buckets in insulated tubs in stall

Vet said to count manure piles, monitor water intake and no bran mash because of his laminitis (I had asked about that).

Are there any tricks you all do to prevent if you see small signs of a possible Colic?  

-I've heard of Beet Pulp, heavily soaked (but that worries me to plug him up more)

-Aloe Vera juice? (sometimes colic can be caused by ulcers......I'm thinking of adding this)

-Soaked hay cubes??

-Coconut water (crazy I know, but high in Potassium and great for dehydration) just have never heard it used for horses but for people, I know it works wonders.  

I wish there was a horse nutritionist that existed!!!

My Nephew rides Laz

Over Thanksgiving break, my brother and Nephew came to stay with us.

Saturday, we went to the farm because Shahin wanted to ride :)

YES!! He's 15 and over 6 ft! He is so sweet and kind with animals...it's awesome.  

Laz definitely loves his attention and I think remembered him

 We worked on some ground manners. Here Shahin is teaching Laz to move out of his space which to Laz,  your space=his space on top of you.  My rules are, if you want to ride, you work with the horse on the ground as well as groom.

Moments before the bucket was shoved over in it's entirety

He really enjoyed himself.  Both of them :)

 Helmet on and we did a 15 minute hand walking/riding.  Shahin was great.  

Laz took great care of him too when he 'accidentally' kicked him to go.  Instead of bolting, he just make a grunt and popped his head up and looked at me, like "Um.....won't he fall and please tell him, no kicking!"  

I told my nephew that if Laz can feel a fly, there is NO need to kick  him.  We talked about communication and offering your request to the horse.  We worked on squeezes and gentle clucking and leg aids.  He found it very cool that he could get Laz to turn by putting his leg on him.  We did a lot of that, and stopping and starting.  Everything at the walk.  Laz did great with his weight on him too, but we didn't push anyone's luck and after 15 minutes, we ended it

The sweetness of these two....Poor Mason, I woke him up but Pudgie slept thru the camera flashing

Thanksgiving 2010

so thankful...
this is actually our 3rd thanksgiving together!
I am so thankful to still have Lazarus...I can't believe his luck


I'm thankful that after today's gentle walking ride, he only spooked once.
I'm thankful he walked beautifully without a limp
I'm thankful that he's happy and silly enough to be mouthy after our ride when I ask him to stand still for a photo.

 I'm thankful that my OTTB is finally happy and content and know's he isn't going anywhere.  We are a team.  
Team pleasure riding 

 I'm thankful that I have the most handsome passenger with me for the long hour ride to the barn, and back

 I'm thankful that earlier this week, when it was raining but a balmy 60 degrees, we took advantage of it.  I'm thankful that my sweet Laz showed his spirit and ran around but calmed down enough for me to towel dry him off like the king he is.

Laz says
"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!"
***

We dedicate our ride to Denali today.

There are not enough words to express our feelings to Denali and Denali's Mom.  

We just want them both to know how lucky they are to have met each other

and that we are thinking of them during their time together.

Please go visit her blog and send words of support, understanding, compassion and maybe laughter to help her through this very difficult time.  

She is one loving and brave horse Mom.

We love you Denali!

TritTrot

If there was a way to bottle this and stamp an Rx on it, many would be cured.

There is no better siiiiiiigh than your horse's sweet face waiting for you to come get him to be played with...

 

Yikes though, it was COLD and windy today.  Not HORRIBLE but cold enough that I made a mental note to finally cave in and dig out my thermal underpants for riding.  Laz was a good boy.  We worked on a little Parelli games (A+) and then our figure 8's which are my homework.  I don't fully understand why they calm a horse down, but I have seen almost all the Natural Horseman People use it.  I can assume it has to do with giving a worried horse a mental task to focus on, all the while moving their bodies so they don't feel trapped??? Input! 

Anyway, we did ground work for about 15 minutes and I decided to hop on and ride despite the cold and wind.  Nothing better than a warm bare back and Laz's coat is THICK.  

Not Cushings thick, just 'are you jealous of my mink thick fur coat'

We started out just walking as it's been a week since we rode (what?? Ground work took over) so I wanted to get reacquainted.  He was great.  I could tell he was a bit tense and ready to spring but I just sat heavy, gave him rein support contact, and talked to him.  No spooks.  We worked on some trot work but not too much because he was a bit limpy so I just asked for about 15 minutes of Circle 8's at the trot and 15 minutes of Circle 8's at the walk.  He seemed to be really focused.  I was worried about him getting b.o.r.e.d. but he was into it.  I did feel a difference in him where he was snorting more and extending a tinsy bit more.  It was a good working ride.  He was a gentleman despite some of his worries he never bucked or spooked, until after our ride when I was hand walking him out of arena and he blasted out of the gate TB style...but then stop and  circled facing me like "Shit...sorry, I totally thought we saw a horse eating bear."  

Speaking of extending-he is so chop chop choppy with his trot.  I wonder if he'll ever be able to extend out and give a beautiful leggy action springy trot like so many of your horses give.  

Whats odd is to me, it seems his limited by his front end vs his back end.

Thoughts for when you review pictures and videos-please!

His extended trot (leg leg leg!!!) in Sept 0'9 before laminitis-puh

Comfy YES, flashy no

Major extendo which broke out into canter (ignore my jockey position)..see how his fronts look like they are so limited and don't extend from shoulder?

April '09-pre laminitis-most extended trot I've been able to capture/see

I think there may be a Unicorn in the pine trees too

July 2010

Oct 2010

I wonder if that is from laminitis or is that just him? I see MUCH improvement in his trotting and balance from healing, but I just hope and wonder; as he gets better, more balanced and stronger-will he have a big, healthy, sound trot?

Is there a way to achieve it by building different muscles, exercises, etc?

Maybe just time and we are in no rush.

And for you, our dear readers!

A 15% off coupon from EcoLicious Equestrian for when you spend over $50

I won a free product via their FB page and they said I could post this coupon to all I know, so enjoy!

 

Coupon is good until Dec 31st and the Promo code is: H3MB

Click HERE for their website...I'm lusting after the Hoof Therapy Serum (hmmm wonder why?!)

Head shots

How about this Glamor Shot?! I mean, really???

I have to get this printed and framed and a Tshirt made, and a button, and maybe wrap my car with this image.  Seriously-what a handsome boy.  What a classic TB face.

Again, thanks to my sister for her talents! It's so fun going through all my images slowly.

Classic beauty

And these are like Horse polaroids, lol!

He look almost cartoon like

"who's there?"

"Why are you down there making clicking noises, girl who looks like my Mom?"

"Have I shown you my Llama impression?"

Sigh...

And back to reality.  I was able to do more Parelli games with Laz but it was a quick session, I've been so busy with work, but he was great and is really learning fast!!!

 I intend to spend some goood QT with this Bay this weekend.

My BO texted me these pictures right after I left

"Clean side"  

YIKES

"Dirty side"

This boy LOVES the mud.  Thank god he's not a Grey...