Weekend catch up

Saturday afternoon, I arrived excited for our appointment with a trimmer who for 2 years, I've been emailing to come help us!!!and was finally coming out.

I got there early, Laz was in "Im gunna napz" mode

He likes to take some of his naps out in the sun and others in his studio apartment above

Hard to break OTTB habits of growing up.

Stall = safety 

His head is always poked out though

I just sat by him while we waited and watched his lower lip drop and eyes flutter with contentment.

Booooboooooo

Then, M&L arrived

Hands down, some of the NICEST horse loving knowledgeable people.

I wasn't too surprised because my current trimmer M, suggested them as well, and she is ranked as "some of my fave peeps of all time too."

That's a technical group-very hard to get in ;)

We talked for a good HOUR before he even laid hands on Laz.

All about his story, what we've done, what we think works and doesn't work.

What his diet is (if you trimmer doesn't ask you this; they should), what his exercise program is, what his daily turnout is (24/7 baby), what his daily demeanor is, etc etc etc

 Every thing was discussed, and talked about before, during, after.

 L, his wife and business partner (and photographer) was a favorite with Laz.

He loves a pretty lady

Do you see how great they are? They brought pads for him to stand on for comfort.

A++ is my book

 Lots of measuring...

 I dont know if many of you have seen this; a hand held  'trimming' device for rolling/beveling

 The RH in all it's ugly glory...

RH image from Jan of 2011...below

Shit, when I look at this picture now..HOLY high unbalanced heels!

M&L left me with this product to treat his 'thrush' spots and black areas on RH with

It's called Thrush off

Add it to my collection....and apply

After our 3-4 hour meeting  it was suggested to me to get a new round of xrays on hinds. DIGITAL this time.

And to look into ultrasounds on his hind fetlock areas to look at ligament/damage/strain/etc

I'm searching around and calling for pricing on this...

I am also to use my Sport Medicine boots on his hinds for added support, as we tested his trot before and after. He had more 'spring' to his trot and comfort, in his leg boots.
So booted, he shall be!

M&L took off some 'dead' toe on RH and just all around smoothed things up on all 4.

He wants me to leave a bit more heel on his hooves (I was shocked but I also think it makes sense) and shorter toes.  He also suggested on fronts to leave/allow his bars to grow past mid frog to give the support his sole wants. Another shocker, but we'll try and see.

So, more info to come....in the next few weeks.

Overall, it was a great meeting and we'll see what the tests say in terms of Laz's rehab

He may have some major damage, he is an 11 yr old OTTB, so arthritis is a probabilistic issue, but hopefully, we can get him more sound.

Isn't that always my goal?

More comfort for him.

Sunday;

I went to make sure there was no new soreness from trim

There was not; as it should be

I booted Laz up in his SMB II's which gave him some support suggested by M&L

(the visual difference was HUGE to me too, in our trail tests)

 Laz and I just hacked around bareback in his pasture, mostly at the walk.

We added a few trots in there, but nothing more than a minute or so at a time

 It was HOT

Does anyone else hate riding in HEAT!

 Laz looking out at the BO's umbrella

 I left Justin in with us, and we rode along with us at times.

We practiced 'herding a spotted cow' ;)

Long and low

Then, after about 30 minutes; it was BATH time!

His rain rot is almost all gone, this will be his 3rd treatment shampoo in the last few months

That shampoo works pretty well, his 'rain rot' is really just slow healing dry patches that need fur on it now. No more scabs, no new spots, just taking their sweet ass time to heal

Ahhhhh-coool water

 I put my things away, after hand grazing to dry Laz...and came out to this;

For a second, I thought.."Ummmmm is he OK?!"

Yup-Just a snooze/roll in the warm sand

 I rubbed his back/hip which M&L believe to be quite stiff

He enjoyed it

 He is getting quite used to a good life of back rubs, chiro work, massage, trimmer extraordinaires 

 As it should be!

I hope to have more info soon regarding xrays/ultrasounds and of course..NERVOUS about it, but need to face what is real head on, for best case rehab for him.

A bit of a catch up...

 Where is the time going?! 

I swear, I've intended to write at least three different posts but time snuck away.  

So, here is one to get started!

Let's start with the feet, which is why I've been so MIA lately.

SOooo much of my free computer time is spent googling, watching videos, emailing my trimmer, asking other barefoot guru's questions, sending out Laz's hoof pictures.

I'm always wanting to do BETTER for him.

He still is gimpy on that RH, and to say it's frustrating and heartbreaking is like saying Antarctica is a bit chilly.

I.Cant.Stand.That.I.Cant.Figure.It.Out

and trust me..it's not, SO not black and white.

His RH=thin thin soles, seedy toe or white line disease-same difference, flare, imbalance, under run heels (I think or crushed?) bar material that wants to pool and spread out and act as sole which keeps sole from being able to develop properly, hoof walls that are destroyed by seedy toe/white line disease but no product (I have tried them ALL) under the sun is fixing.

You feel my frustration?

RH in a white lighting soak and LH showing yucky black vertical cracks that makes me wonder...what are those!? More fungus? Is Laz just a fungus/bacteria magnet, hence the rain rot.

TRUST ME, I groom him to a show quality every other DAY.

Under run heel? Crushed? Hoof horn tubules wanting to grow wrong. Weak lateral cartilage?

And his fronts..major bar that I am itching to pare back, plus I can't figure out why his heels are SO spread apart?! Seems to be too much? 

His RF, which actually looks more like a normal foot to me, despite having a taller heel.

Still some WL seperation, but sole looks strong and doesn't flake/crumble. The frog I think needs some better conditioning...I just started spraying all sole/frog-basically Laz head to toe, with Vetericyn to see if that helps.

In non hoof news-Mason is healing great. 

He had a little set back a couple of weeks ago, he had internal tears and his incision leaked some gross fluid, and we had to go back to ER  Drained fluid, put on antibiotics and he's back to normal and all pain meds are finished and staples are out. He's able to take two 10 minute walks a day, for a couple of weeks and then up to two 20 minute.  He probably won't be able to come to the barn with me until July...

Spring rains have brought out some BEAUTY!

I moved to this barn in September, so this is our first spring.

What is this glorious tree with purple grape like clusters!?

If I were a squirrel, this would be my abode.

 Raining at the barn, I was in the stall staying dry waiting for it to clear up, with Lazaroo..

 But it didn't clear up, so I grabbed him and we went inside to groom.

I HATE grooming indoors, I love being OUT

Do you see how well this pony ground ties-luv him!

Last week, my friend J9 and I attended a fundraiser event for a local barn that burnt to the ground. No horses or people were hurt (their chickens did die) but the two barns and outdoor and all the boarders tack was burnt.

This was to raise money for the boarders tack and to help rebuild.

 We had a great time! Lots of laughs, good food (we were HUNGREEE) and tons of fun horse products to bid on for auction.

In addition to bidding, I donated a shirt to help raise money

I was worried no one would bid on it, but a few people did :)

WHEW

 Back to my days out at the barn

Every day seemed to be misty or rainy when I went, but still enjoyable to be there

Here you can see Justin napping
He later woke as I walked down to grab Laz, stayed laying down and just started eating.
I actually thought, "Is he dying?!" but no, just uber lazy happy boy

The Sallys hiding in one of their 3 covered areas

"HELP, its raiiiining!! We iz too purriddy to get wetz!"

 "MY play turnz with MY mom!"

 And out in the field..I saw bunches of THIS growing in the pasture

Instantly I started hearing The Doors, and Led Zepplin playing...

But could it be??!

Laz says "Yaaaaaaaa I feel sooo chill mon"

The lambs...

I've been a BAD blogger lately!

With Mason's surgery, work, life, pony time, it just got put to the side.

We have been busy though.
This photo was taken after our hour long Parelli lesson (keep your groans to yourself, we like it!) We did ground work stuff only and worked on our communication and proper aids which all translate (or are meant to) in the saddle. Laz did very well, and our trainer thought he seemed like quite the confident horse. That is where I need to step MY game up and be the leader he expects of me.
She also helped me ease Laz's anxiety and Justin's for when I pull them apart from each other. It was interesting and it's all very positive.  Making everything a 'game' keeps it light, fun and sets him up to think he's a good boy. Win/win if you ask me. 

I'm SO over negative trainers and people that this is exactly the kind of work we like.
Positive. Smiling. Winning Actions. Happy Pony.

We have a second lesson in June that is to focus more on us riding

HOORAH!

We had a fun little pasture ride as well on our own (no trainer). I'm currently keeping his riding work load at a minimum as I'm trying to allow his feet to grow for our next trim to re-balance him a bit.  

I downloaded a new app, called "SPLICE" that is super fun for editing and making videos and using music from your itunes.

So, here's our first attempt...and LOVE this song. 

Love Sia's voice!

I couldn't embed the video so, SORRY, you have to cut/paste if you want to view it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s6iHJVAWFc&list=UUP5mnHMkclNG_SvS7WoAk8g&index=1&feature=plcp

It makes me smile and SUPER proud of my boy!

I can get down on what I 'feel' our limitations are, but honestly, when I watched this video, I was VERY proud of my stellar gelding.  He is brave and I need to be braver for him!!!

Work in progress...

This week, Laz also got his grill floated

Our equine dentist totally rocks! 

Thank you to cousin Miles for the referral a couple of years ago. We just LOVE this guy

Always a slack rope, is super soft with the horses and NO SEDATION or power tools!

Boo ya!

He is quite detailed and even smells the grass from their mouth to see if it smells rotted

That is dedication!

Showing me his hook after 1.5 yr

Removing that, by filing it down allows the bottom jaw to move and also releases TMJ tension and enables them to collect, round up softer

Just, that tiny hook can do all that!

 Laz checked out clear otherwise

All I could think of was "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti"