Easy June days

One thing I've learned with Laz is, time rules all.

He just needs time to recover from his fall?slip?mystery lameness

He's got it. 

Here is he just loving life with Pito, grazing in their short field

 Tinkerbelle in all her glory. She had a bit of a laminitic episode but severely limiting grazing to short field and muzzle got her right back, quickly.

The grass this Spring has been LUSH LUSH LUSH

 The Tres Amigos

This place is really quiet and peaceful. Perfect for when your pony just needs to chill and recover

 Speaking of chilling....

 Even though I haven't been riding Laz, he's been getting just as many kisses and snuggle times

 My Mom visiting kissing her grandhorse...and feeding him organic dandelion greens like any good Greek Yiayia would. He LOVES them

 He also loved her diamond ring and kept nibbling it!

***
Vet visit #4?? Just maintenance to check on Laz and adjust plan/meds etc

This time I had my trimmer out and the plan was to sedate Laz so he could apply two casts to his hoof for support to see if it helped his lameness

I'm so lucky to have not only a supportive team but one that gets along.

It's not often a Vet supports the Holistic side but she is game if it helps her Western side.

Chiro work along with Equioox-check

Barefoot work along with turnout/rest-check

She even stayed an extra hour plus to make sure he walked off OK, which is awesome. They were both there well over two hours.

I don't know why but I hate sedating Laz..it's just sad to me. 

However it helped him relax comfortably so we could get a good strong casting on him.

His RH Hoof prior to cast/trim

 After cast...sedated potato on legs

It's been almost week in his cast and he's looking great.

We've been cleared to start riding at the walk or doing light walk/ground work

We'll take it.

Trail Loving-Part 2 of 2

The last time J9 brought Kaspin to ride, it was NOT what I had envisioned. Laz was a total PIA but it showed the light for what he and I had to work on. So we have been working on those issues and we ready for Round #2 this past Sunday afternoon.

J9 and Kaspin were back visiting (she trailer-ed in to my location, it was mostly sunny and the Fall colors were out; we were determined to have a great ride!

I'm happy to say Laz marched right out. All our practicing was paying off. I had set him up for success by groom/tacking him up and having him already out before she trailered in. I figured it would start our partnership of better vs pulling him from the field from his screaming buddy.

It worked well for all

Heading down the dirt road (it rained all day prior but our riding day was gorgeous)

Who rides like this? Lately, my saddle has seemed slightly ...off. More on that later.

(I'm not blaming my saddle fyi, my posture can be piss poor!)

J9 and Kaspin (who is not a draft, he's a Haflinger, a huge one though) by the neighbor's tree

We were happy to have a good launch from the start and laughed about how crappy the last ride was (mailbox murders and all)

Heading through a neighbors property towards the trail

Laz did a phenomenal job leading and worked with me as I encouraged his forward movement.

He was a bit jumpy but never was panicked

 Into the trails, quite shaded

 Figures, I look Left, Laz goes Right "Hi buddyz"

 J9 and I met probably 4 years ago, at a laminitis seminar. I was standing in line to talk to the Vet after the seminar (this was a month or so after Laz was sick) and she was in front of me. We just started chatting, found out we both lived less than 1/2 mile apart yet both boarded about 45 minutes away near each other. She's helped me through so much with Laz and is such fun to ride with. Both Laz and Kaspin have literally the same personality! It's hilarious!

 We both love taking photos so it was all about "ooh look at that tree, or look at the sunlight here!" 

 This is where I scratch Laz as a "Its OK" and he almost always licks/chews when I do it.

 Laz lead most of the trail but we switched off a couple of times.

Kaspin was great at leading/following and Laz enjoyed the mental break to follow

 At one of the trail exits by the Dairy Queen (which is now closed for the season). If you cross that road, you get to the main trail system area where you can ride for 6+ hours 

We used this spot to get the horses used to traffic/noise. Laz did a bit of a spook when a motorcycle revved his engine but he was OK to stop and eat after a bit. He was definitely asking to get back in the trails, so I offered one more bite and then we were on our way.

 

This is my favorite picture below!

 Kaspin leading. Tail envy anyone?!
He is like a Barbie dream horse and J9 is his little Barbie doll lol. 

 She's worked so hard with him and he's come SO far. Literally, the bravery she has given him is tremendous.

 The boys got along way better than last time too

 Although after we dismounted, they did rear up and try to bite each other's face over a grass spot. It was fast and crazy but no one got hurt and in fact, it was quite funny being they are so simliar, they both reacted the same way. It would be interesting to see who would be the dominate (I think Kaspin) in a herd.

I had set my Endomondo but it turned off after 15 minutes...we probably rode over 2.5 hours and over 6-8 miles. (Laz and I can do 4 miles in an hour at the walk/trot

It was a blast!!!

Trail rides like this are so important because the weather is quickly changing...

Me on Kaspin. 

J9 just got a new saddle which is H.E.A.V.E.N. and now I'm feeling the strong need for one. I felt so balanced and secure in it, I've never felt that good in a saddle! ugh...it's not inexpensive either.

Santa??!

One of my favorite days ever

At the end of September, my younger sister Tina and her Husband Chris came to visit from South Africa. We haven't seen these two since their wedding last summer in South Africa so we were SO excited.  We only had them for 3 days as they had a million people to visit, but we made the most of it and had a total blast. We love love love our time with them.

On 9/26 it was Billy's 39th bday and a beautiful sunny, warm Fall day. After breakfast, we decided to go visit Laz and enjoy the outside

Laz was especially goofy that day. A total ham sandwich!

Chris had never ridden, or maybe had once/twice but was a bit intimidated at first. Laz quickly wiggled his way into his heart. All of us are tremendous animal lovers so he quickly sensed it.

It was funny how happy he was, releasing and relaxing from his grooming session and us doting on him

Goofy boy! Chris thought it was interesting to see how animated Laz was

My baby hugging my baby...aww

Tina is behind the camera, and boy does Laz LOVE to ham it up for her!
"Oh who mez? Imma prettie boy!?"

We got him ready and wanted to ride/walk the trails.

I was nervous on how Laz would do being I've never done this with him (taken him out on the trails without another horse)

Photo shoots along the walk to the trail..
Bday boy!

The two brother in laws...they love each other. 

How awesome and important is that to two very close sisters....a must!

Laz gave me a couple of "Uhhh letzz go back" moments but I stuck with it and he obliged

At the trail head, he didn't want to lead into it..so I asked one of gang to walk in front

He happily plodded along. 

It was quick to notice that he adopted us as people as his herd for the ride

 He was going along really well

 I wanted to ride him to make sure he was comfortable. I figured if he totally panicked, I would just dismount and hand walk him.

 But he had a great time and kept level headed about it all

Lots of sighing and breathing, licking/chewing

After about 30 minutes, I asked if Tina wanted to ride him

She did and I was hand walk beside

He did great for her. He really loves her.

Then I asked Chris if he wanted to ride. Laz was being awesome and super chill so I knew he'd be fine. Chris is an avid, talented surfer, biker, all around athlete so I knew he would enjoy it.

Plus he has mad respect for animals, which is key when placing on top of a sensitive being.

We walked together. We talked about how to ride and what to expect.
What I ask of from Laz, etc and I just stayed along side for both of them

We took breaks to reward Laz

And covered about 5+ miles

It was awesome; everyone enjoyed it

My angel face did so so well, I was beaming with pride.

Once we exited the trails, Chris had ridden for over an hour and was ready to dismount.

Thank god for strong 6'4" Husbands to give a leg up on to your 16.2 h horse

Sweet Laz was a TROOPER about e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

Walking back home

We stopped at the sweetest apple tree

All of us were thirsty and were jonesing for apples

Especially this guy 

 slurrrrpss

My perfect heart horse

Billy kept commenting on how awesome of a horse he was that day (I mean everyday, but especially that day)

Heading back up to the barn

The colors

Untacked...it was a great way to enjoy a perfect MI Fall day

These two really bonded...it was awesome.

After we cleaned up Laz, we left for the Cider Mill

Fresh cold cider and hot fresh doughnuts

***

The next day, we wanted to show Chris the positive side to Detroit.
It's barely shown or talked about, and yes we have rough issues we are working on, but it's a city that is going to come back

Lafayette=famous coney island hot dogs.

Do you know how crazy delicious these are? They will kill you, but it's worth it.

This is the must; Vernors ginger ale (Detroit made--not diet, it helps aid in your soon to be hurting stomach). Fries; plain or chili cheese, and the star of the show; The coney. Hot dog, chili, mustard and yes, HEAVY onion. Boom.

They loved it.

Next door is an urban garden. It is a piece of city heaven.

We hit some of the city monuments, like the spirit of Detroit...

The fist

The GM Renasissance center in the back ground, riverside

The Guardian Building

Inside...just stunning

I was loving it and goofing around...

Enjoying the river front view, looking over at Windsor (our cousin came to join us)

Later that night, we went to the HS where Billy teaches at and he's an assisant coach as well, for the Varsity football team.

Chris had never been to an American football game

The student section, it was packed. There were over 1800 people at the game

It was a fantastic visit!