Where Mason channels a Lion

 "Ahhh yesss a little hurt wildebeast..."

"GOTCHA!!"

"U is goin' down!!"

 "I'll throw all my weight on you!!!"

 "You is a fat round little wildebeast"

"Ahh the satisfaction of a kill"

"Ok...what's next?"

Put the lime in the coconut

Testing out how Coconut Oil will work for treating stink zones that could prevent thrush

Above is what I scooped out from my jar below

I personally love Coconut oil; cook with it and put on my skin after showers in winter when it's so dryyyy out. Ahhhh like taking a mini vacation. Or at least smelling like one

Here's where I packed in the oil and in about 30 seconds it turned to oil and absorbed into his skin. The molecular structure of Coconut oil actually works into skin better than any oil for fast penetration.

Up close and personal.

We'll see what happens...but it's supposed to naturally help with bruising, sores, etc

I think it'll be a great ointment to have handy.

Laz playing peek a boo into the tack room...

and waiting patiently for his BP slurry

sniff sniff sniff

This past weekend was chilly but sunny.

High of mid 30's and lows were around 19 or less

I kept Laz naked the whole time, but checked on him

Each time, he was WARM!

I never felt nervous leaving him without a blanket this weekend

We had one ride this weekend, which was great.

I'm trying to give that RH sole time to grow and stop bruising (which I think it is)

I can tell, he's stiff and loosing some of his trotting muscle tone.

However, he is moving on his own A LOT being out 24/7 in such a large area and we walk, walk, walk either on ground together or via our rides

To watch me trying to attempt to video tape our little ride..eeks, click HERE

How funny is it that they KNOW when you aren't 100% paying attention to the ride as he took off in a little trot-you-through-the-low-hanging-branches

Back to the non blanketing; I'm still holding out as long as possible

I go day by day

Laz has SUCH an amazing fur coat that he's well protected (as well as plenty of hay, shelter)

POOF!

 This was on Saturday which was low 20's and Le Pouf was TOASTY warm

 Hello...can you hear me through all that fur?!

 On this day, you could see how the fur stands to insulate quite well.

Again, he was WARM...so warm that I felt I would do him an injustice to blanket him

 See how thick!

My hand burrowed in that bunny fur

 POUF!!

 Weather has been mostly mid 30's to mid 20's with some evenings dropping in the high teens.

Once it's in the low 20's, I think is when I'll surrender, but I honestly think it will be more for my sanity. If he were in my backyard, I would attempt to keep him au natural all winter long (give or take a couple days/weeks). 

Again, we can do this because our riding is so limited that he does not break a sweat!

 Shelter and PLENTY of hay is what helps keep him so warm

Also, this is his 3rd year of being out (since this past Sept, no stalling whatsoever, yay) so he's had time to properly develop his coat.

You can see Red below, his first year off the track, needs his blanket sooner

 Hay!!!

Ground hay, and slow feeder for nibbling through the evening

It's lovely to see how happy he is just being a HORSE

Body shape through our 3+yrs

The day I officially rescued Laz  end of Sept 08

After owning him for about 30 days Nov 08

 Jan 09

 Laz in late April 09 looking great for coming out of his first Michigan winter

 April 09 after his first bath 

(he tried to jump out of the round pen that day...scared the bejesus out of me)

 May 09

 May 09

 Below is Sept 2009, probably the best shape I had him in

Oct 09, the day before he got ill (Potomac? Colic? Ulcers? All three and then laminitis)

 Oct 09 waiting for vet..

Nov 09 (during healing of laminitis)

Dec 09, a lot of laying down bless his heart

Jan 2010

 Feb 2010

 March 2010-switched him to barefoot care and opened up his turnout

 June 2010 after a Chiro appt (which he HATED)

July 2010 (riding again, mostly walk with obstacle course/poles)

All bareback

 August 2010

 Sept 2010

 Oct 2010-got his first bodywork done

 Jan 2011

 March 2011

 May 2011

 July 2011-switched to new barefoot trimmer when 3 week 'abscess' wouldn't go away

 August 2011-feeling back to normal

 Sept 2011-moved to a new barn

 Early Oct 2011-gorgeous! I drastically changed his diet/vitamins/lifestyle

 End Oct 2011, a little leaner with new 24/7 larger turnout

 Nov 2011 bumped up beet pulp and hay, and gained weight back

Now treating thin sensitive sole with hopes to regrow/thicken on RH

 Dec 2011

My hopes for this winter; maintain to do work/riding/hand walking to keep muscle tone as hoof sole heals.

His trot is still quite stiff, but Vet seemed to think we need to get hoof growth thicker, and then address the other body issues to bring him back slowly.

Chiro appt set for Dec 22nd and we are very excited!

After looking through these pictures I don't see too much negative change (sagging back, etc) for the worse despite him not able to use his body correctly. I just hope once his RH hoof grows in stronger, we can address the other body issues to get him sounder and more comfortable.

It's been a LONG haul for this big gentleman.