Big boy pants

Saturday; sunny mid 40's and zero wind=great riding weather so my fellow barn boarder and I set a date to meet. I decide that Laz was looking quite sound and was ready. We had been doing every other day hand walking and he was fine.

Pulling up to the barn, Laz trotted up to the fence.

Now, I've also been feeding him his soaked beet pulp which he adores, so this is more "YUmmz treatz ladee is hur!" than anything else

Groom session for drama llama 

Don't you love how Laz ground ties HIMSELF lol

So, E and her spotted wonder X Justin, Laz and I headed out to our trusty trail loop-down our dirt road

Laz is Mr. I LEAD ALL THE TIMES pony now

Sunshine!! Bliss

Photo opt. I'm annoying at documenting all the goods but I just can't help myself.

Look below, he's even RESTING on his RH-score.

I don't boot him anymore on our trail rides (the ground is totally good/fine for his hooves)

 Below is E and Justin, who are total rockstars. 

Her boy LOVES to jump-they should totally do XC I tell her all the time!

There are many fun downed logs but not for Lazaroo and I

We just admire and watch and take photos which is fine with me.

Maybe one day..?! 

 

So, I tried to track our riding but for some reason my Endomondo kept disconnecting which was SO annoying because we did some trot work, canter sessions and RODE. I wanted to see how fast we went and how many miles.
After about 1.45 hr we decided the day was today.

TO CROSS MILFORD ROAD to get to Kensington Metro Park

It was quick, un eventful and the horses acted like they do this all the time.

It's just a QUICK red light-so you have to cross QUIIICK, with anxious drivers so I'm not 100% comfortable but we did it and it was fine.

I love riding with E because she's chill and funny.  She helps me a lot with my road riding confidence!

And look at this scenery!!

The boys were SO funny. They started getting so excited to ride somewhere new and broke out into a trot and then a full Calvary charge!

We literally laughed the whole time and I said "These boys know us too well"

Along side Huron River

Laz below, showing his ants in his pants

We traded for a bit so Laz could remember how to follow and he enjoyed the mental break and turned into a hound dog sniff sniffing everything

Photo Opts! E and Justin

Me and Laz

What is so great about Kensington is you get to experience (on one of the 4 trails) open fields as well as trails

Laz was very interested in the campers

We walked down to the river...

 Laz locked in on it right away. It's been a year since I took him here

 He immediately started pawing  repeatedly and playing in the water

 I thought "Hey great, ice cold water for his legs mid ride---perfect!"

 Silly boy playing away, then the next thing I knew...

He ROLLED!!!! 

More so dropped down as I was literally saying "Watch him roll (sarcastically)" and he dropped like a calf and laid in the river and I promptly stepped off into knee deep water!

It was actually hilarious!

Fatty was hot and wanted to play in his kiddie pool!

 After our swim lesson, Laz was 10000% recharged!

He was FEISTY!

Here he is saying "NO MOR PICKTURRRRS"

I kept calling him Mule because..well, he was acting like one

We can normally ride 80% of our ride on the buckle but after the river swim, he was ready to FLY

In the field we trotted back to the trails because both boys wanted to RUN and Laz made it clear by squealing and tossing his head that he wanted to really be galloping but he kept his cool after a few stern "UH NO!!!"

 

These two boys love to ride together!

 

 Someone was quite pleased with himself!

All ended well, he remained sound and no re-swelling of tendon.

The next day I cold hosed and put his medicine on just as a precaution 

HOORAH for trail OTTB's

It's a non jumping version of cross country fun!

Right??! ;)

It feels so good to be back on him again!

The little chestnut that could

Sharing his beet pulp mix with Pito

I love how much Laz loves his herd. What.a.difference!

Out on our daily walks per vet and he's doing great. 

Not taking a lame step

His winter coat is puffing right in!

I think he's also ready to get back to riding

"TRAILS!! Lesssss go!"

Bringing him in one rainy day to eat- ground tie

I hate cross ties and just don't use them. I can, he can, but I prefer to not.

This horse is so good. I can walk away from him, do chores, fill supplements and he's just like "Whatevers.."  He will occasionally watch me and if I'm out of sight he'll nicker but he remains chill

Walking the boys-gotta love multitasking

Updated side profile of Laz's RH hoof

Below is from August.. growth, people, GROWTH! :)

Rear view of RH as of late

and front view, medial wall still has a ways to go but I've been quite happy with this cast

While waiting for Laz's sprained tendon to heal completely, the weather on Saturday was too good to pass. 50's and sunny (spots) but in November, that means "LET's DO THIS!"

I borrowed the BO's pony sized OTTB "Red Zepplin" and we hit the trails with E and Justin

Red is an awesome boy.
Insecure and young but willing and has the energy of 10 horses. 

We jigged the first two miles sideways. 

I didn't care, I just wanted him to keep moving forward which he did.

He was screaming as you can see above, for the first 20 minutes, so I just kept a loose rein and patted him often, urged him on.  He was VERY responsive to the petting, lots of licking/chewing and sighing.  

But don't fret....

Here is how he ended the 2 hour ride;

Calm and on the buckle.

Good boy!

He hasn't been ridden in about a month, but we tacked up and just headed out.

Once we found a good spot on the trail, we opened the boys up and cantered.

Red LEPT into his tiny canter like a deer!

It was exactly what they needed. 

BIG sighs and more brain work after that

We worked on following , side by side riding (which brought the OTTB out in him BIG time but he got over it after a bit)...

 and leading.

He's a great great little 15 h guy!

We even popped over a few downed logs! 

CAN.I.TELL.YOU.HOW.Fing.GOOD.THAT.FELT?!

Like ah-mazing.

I think Red and I will be riding a bit more together :)

Here he is doing the 'release' scratch. Ahhhh back at home

He was 10000% good in my book!

Laz was all "What IN the FACK!? Why u not takez me?!"

"We is the trail buddiez Justin, why you Leaves me..I is sooo happy you is homez!"

On our way out, both Laz and Pito were flying around like crazy, lol

 Laz and tired Red

 Red was much more tired mentally than physically. He hardly broke a sweat and even though we rode for two hours; cantered several times, did trot work and did some jumps, but we walked them the last 35 minutes homes to cool them out

Who doesn't love a little Red guy?!

Happy horse=happy girl

Anyone else feel that way? 

I'm sure it's a resounding "UM YEA!"

So, I had forgotten to mention that Laz had his hoof cast replaced last Thursday.

It's been on a week as of today, and he's doing great with it.

I think this is our #4 cast...

Here is Frankenfoot..but thrush is sllooowwwlllyyy going away...growing out as new hoof growth comes in with support of cast. I need to take a new picture of angle.

I do clean trax soaks every couple of weeks and the cast keeps his open laminae from wicking in anymore muck

In non frakenfoot news, all his other feet looked good. He rolled the heels of his club, took min off LF and LH. There wasn't a ton of growth in 6 weeks which is crazy, but it's true. I didn't touch him and in fact, his feet weren't needing it. He's moving more, we were riding more, and he never grows a super fast foot at this time of year. I had him check Laz's digital cushion build up, and he thought they still had a ways to go to build up/bulk up but seemed better.

My Trimmer M had me practice with an ace bandage how to put on a cast, just in case, I need to replace one immediately. Lord, it wasn't pretty. 

But if push came to shove and baby needed a cast, well then baby would get a cast via me, asap.

Here's baby eating his beet pulp slurpee that he loves to flip over in excitement.

 Hope your Halloween was great!
Ours was filled with friends, adorable costumes from neighbors, too much red wine (wait...is that possible? too much??), candy, pizza and laughs.

The puppy patrol stayed in while we all "partied" outside giving out treats.

Oh, and the best thing?!

Our Vet re-check appointment went very well.

She thinks Laz is looking great, healing faster than she thought which I was surprised at because I still thought he was being a bit 'shifty' but wants him to continue to chill for 2 more weeks, I'll apply Surpass but I can now hand walk him daily if I want. HOORAH! :)

She thinks in two weeks, I'll be riding him (gently) again.

And Mason was feeling better so I brought him to the farm with me.  

The Vet said "Your dog and horse have the same happy go lucky personality."

I asked her if she thought his tendon injury was a sign of him starting to break down. She said 'Definitely not. Freak accidents and tweaks happen. He's a very happy horse and keep him working. Is he the most athletic horse, absolutely not, but is he capable of performing  and being rode for years, yes!!!"

:)!!!

Thank you November!

You are a welcome sight.