Little proud moments

Today, despite the mild wind and being out at the farm alone, Lazarus and I walked the arena together. I know many of you, ride and work your horses everyday alone, but we do not typically. The BO's are typically there and I usually prefer to not be 100% alone just for fear's sake of 'what if.'

But today, I didn't want to lose our momentum of where we left off....not to mention I'm not going to drive an hour one way to not do anything!

When I went into Laz's pasture he was walking around and moving quite nicely but seemed to have a calmness about him. He walked up, nuzzled his big head into my chest kindly and went back to eating his hay.

So, I decided to mentally pick a song, groom my boy and head to the arena to see what kind of horse I would have today. Sometimes even when calm in his pasture, he can turn beastly outside of it.

I let the BO's dogs out to play around a bit and Mason appreciated that. He loves playing with the two girls, and especially now that the puppy is getting so big!

Whizzing by!

I'm happy to say that Laz and I walked the arena for an hour! No limpy movements on his part. I had a pocket stuffed with carrot bits and made sure that every time he was calm superstar he got rewarded. He had a couple of blow ups..maybe 7, but they were not awful. He got big but came back down pretty quickly after I checked him and backed him up a few steps for about 3 of the spooks. I didn't worry about the spook in place type spooks, and I didn't even worry too much when his face turned to the 'ears forward, head up, eyes big, nostrils blowing and start jigging' because when I pulled his rope halter as a reminder he came back down. The three times that I did have to really check him, is when he was spooking and not looking at me but locked into whatever invisible monster he saw. I reminded him that I'm scarier than the invisible monster and that when he's with me, I'm protecting him with my bear voice too.

One thing we noticed last session and again today, is that he is more spooky when I go counter clockwise in the arena. When we go clockwise, he is braver. Is it because I am standing in between him and the 'monsters' that he spooks at?? Who knows. We worked both sides equally and when he rounded the corners with a calm manner, we stopped and got a carrot nib. Maybe too many rewards because at one point he was good for a while that he stopped himself and mouthed my hand, lol! Like 'Mom...hellloooo??!" Smart boy. I was happy with him and happy with myself that I didn't coward out. Oh and the singing seems to work! I sang so loud that perhaps neighbors may think I'm looney but who cares...lookie at my sweet TB who enjoys it! :)

We had ended our session talking to one of the other boarders who was drinking out of her water bottle that crinkled and made Laz mini-spook, so we crinkled it a few hundred more times, rubbed it on his body and gave him carrots when he finally had the 'I don't care' attitude of bravery.

After our session I took him back to his pasture/paddock and he was tired....and thirsty!

He is the quietest drinker, although he likes to let it stream out of his mouth, so he's messy! It's sweet. Great job today Laz! Cliff comes tomorrow! Can't wait to see what he thinks!

Holding onto a flying flapping dinosaur

So when I was a young child, maybe 5 or 6 years old, my family and I went camping to TimberLee in Wisconsin. It was a great place and a lot of fun for families. I always came home with a toad, or salamander that I 'rescued' and loved eating the gourmet fireside meals that my Mom made, while listening to spooky tales that my Dad told my siblings and I.
One year, as I walked down a steep hill towards to lake, I noticed a beautiful white swan sitting bank side so peacefully.
The peace ended there. The next thing I knew either that Mom swan or a Dad swan came out of nowhere and started to kick my a**. A bird you say? Yes, a swan. A big white, was beautiful now evil, swan. I remember trying to run backwards up the steep hill to safety while this beast of a swan, who was my size, was scratching me with it's webbed Freddy Krueger feet, holding my T-shirt with it's razor sharp beak, and beating me it's with giant dinosaur like wings. Basically a piece of poultry was trying to kill me. Yes, it happened and I have witnesses. It was a very scary moment in my life and now I am sorry to say, but I'm not overly fond of large birds and I certainly do not find swans so magical anymore. LOL!

So what in the heck does that have to do with today?

Well...today I felt that I was holding a big bay TB version of that swan. A big, flapping, spooking, trying to fly with me hanging on his lead rope. The difference? No more swan beatings for me!

Laz was feeling GOOD today which is always great news. The wind was up, the weather was cool but nice and he had TB strength pumping thru his veins. I have been teasing that Lazarus is an Appendix, because when he a good OTTB, he is a chill, relaxed, country boy of a Quarter Horse. When he's up and fiery and eyes blazing with red ringed nostrils...all TB baby. Today, apparently he wanted me to see his TB side. He is 100000% TB, and ex race horse in fact..but I just keep telling him he is an Appendix in hopes that he calms down. ;)

So, the BO "C" and I walked into the large arena after I groomed/picked feet. Her husband "J" was grading the arena with the tractor so perfect time to have a lesson on focus and respect. Great...I am sometimes SUCH a wimp and thought..oh boy. BUT thankfully, she knows me very well and told me to get my big girl pants on, lol. So we started out walking just fine, and Lazarus just had more pep in his step but nothing crazy.

No, crazy came out in FULL force in the 'scary' corners of the arena which are closer to the dirt road and neighbors side where he has unplanted my rear from his back before, and made me eat a sand sandwich. So, in just leading him, "C" had me not tolerate his big spooks that turned into a temper tantrum, by popping his rope halter and backing him up a few steps using my bear voice. Kind of like, if you are looking for something to spook at Laz, here it is. YOU NEED TO listen to ME! Keep in mind, I'm not extremely strong with a high pitched screechy voice, so I'm sure my 'aggression' is like nothing to him. However, Laz is a sensitive boy and he does respond thankfully. His personality was so all over the board. It was like he was thinking "Oh my GOD..what is that? I smell something, RUN, I say, RUN, lemme go, lemme GOOOOOOOOOO, what did you say?! Walk??What is Walk??..what does that mean again? RUN RUN RUN is all I hear, woman....MOVE!!!!"
Ok, so you get the picture. There was a good 15 minutes of me wishing to god that he would just calm down, but worked on only reprimanding when he spooked so he learned to back off of me, and I am to pop him and back him up, and then immediately resume walking calmly and quietly again. It was tough, no doubt. When I was backing up this giant boy, he was SO coiled up, he looked like he could jump over me. I thought...why am I walking into this dinosaur?! BUT..it works. He did spook and avoid me (mostly, he did step on my right foot but thankfully not hard) and after about an hour, he was waaaaaay more calm and walking around in both directions without acting so stupid. The BO "C" had me sing (sing?! I said...I can't think of ANYTHING!!! So I literally sang my ABC's and then as he responded nicely, I came up with some interesting dumb ditties) and Laz continued to walk around nicely.

I was feeling great. These are the tough lessons. The ones you really don't want to do because it's hard mentally and physically. BUT, I know now that I have another victory in my pocket and along with that, a little more knowledge for what to do when he acts like that again. As Lazarus is feeling better, he is a bit more full of himself and I can't lunge him and let him work out his sillies for fear he may hurt himself. So I have to walk, walk, walk, walk, focus him in order to 'tire' him out. After our arena lesson, we walked back to the front of the property, thru the pines trees, around in circles, down on the dirt road and he did great. A minor spook but checked himself and was rewarded with carrots. We don't mind the spook in place. That is shows that he is thinking beyond his instincts. Even a big spook is ok, but it's the spooks that turn into a rear and bolt and fight that we are not tolerating.

He is a smart boy, he just displays moments of major freak out. Some days when he feels more energetic, he seems to look for those situations to which to spook at. I want him to be a confident and thinking TB, so this is what we are working on. Maybe that will get better with him learning to trust in me more, and me being more confident. Baby steps. Steps in the right direction for sure and I am SO super lucky to have a BO that is so generous with her time and adjusts it to the day, and how different he can be. My sweet Appendix, lol...no today, he was a TRUE OTTB. In fact, we thought maybe he was really UP because maybe the grading tractor reminded him of the track? Who knows what it was, but today, he was an ex racer of 6 yrs learning to walk calmly and to not be afraid. The important part is that we ended on a really good note, and he was happy, tired and calm. I was too.

Sunday workings

At my boarding farm, the BO's have a huge garden that was extended from last year.  Last year, we had so many fresh, delicious veggies, that I hardly went grocery shopping.  For a Vegan, it's a pure delight.

This year, we are making it double the size and will soon be planting.

The BO's already put in strawberry plants and look at these cuties! I think I've only had fresh picked strawberries once as a child....I'm so looking forward to the crop of delights!

We've had a lot of rain here in Michigan, so of course Laz takes full advantage of a mud spa

The BO and I worked on walking him in the front yard again and on the dirt road.  He did sooo much better than on Thursday.  He only had a couple of mild spooks and I shouted "Cut that off" yes, "Cut that off"...lol! It's what came out...so whatever.  The BO said it doesn't matter what, it's all in the tone and I think the tone was right, and for me to continue walking him and putting his mind back to work.  After being in the front for about 15 minutes, I walked him myself in the large arena and he did great.  No spooking at all and he really seems to enjoy his work.  

Cliff comes on Friday and I can't wait for that.  His bad hoof just seems wobbly to me.  Not in the connection, but in the way that when he walks...it looks like he bobbles like it's disconnected.  We'll see what Cliff says.

After working him, I took Laz in his paddock and worked on ground tying while I groomed.  

I had to capture his muscle tone in his shoulders.  I love a summer metallic coat and he looks pretty darn good lately!

His right side of his neck has this cool section that is a dark black brown, where his mane used to lay

Mason took the opportunity to roll in a mud puddle within four seconds of getting to the farm.  He is a water dog through and through

His little reward after our 'lesson'

Oh the rain is coming back-thankfully I timed it right (by chance) and didn't get poured on

I like how his mane looks roached here- I think it looks very masculine and noble

I left him with his dinner and he chose to eat the pile closet to his 'girlfriend', Jessie.

Who knew he liked a pretty blonde, with tousled hair and an alpha attitude  ;)

Regal Mason turns 7 years old today

Can't believe that he was once this brown little pig of a puppy-

Happy Birthday Mason!

  

Above is a video of BO "C" walking him, so you can see how he's moving.

The Derby

Oh, the infamous Kentucky Derby day is here. 

The fashion, the hats, the mint juleps, the cheering crowd, the muscular shimmering bodies of one of the world's greatest athletes; The Thoroughbred.  

You can appreciate the beauty for sure, however I, personally find it hard to not view it as a little fake.  A little gluttonous.  I would love to see a story of a typical race horse, from birth to his/her last days of life and how that OTTB lived.  I know my horse's story and so many of you have your own.  I really wonder, out of all those people in the crowd that come to cheer and be a part of the excitement....do they think about what happens after the races?  Do I know what happens after the races?  Behind the glory of the winner, what happens to the colt that comes in 6th, or 13th?  What happens to the horse that scratches the day of?

I know there are a lot of great stories for many OTTB's that lead a happy life in new owner's hands.

But then, that can't possibly be all of them.

Is this a sport that is necessary?  At the age of 3 yrs old?  

                    MinethatBird- winner of 2009 Derby

 Tough Filly Rachel Alexandra-winner of 2009 Preakness

The late filly Eight Belles, who today had a race named after her.  She permanently left a cloud of darkness on the track and showed many first hand, what can happen in a race. I think for many it was a slap in the face of realizing this can be a bit barbaric.  There are life and death risks, like so many sports.

And of course, this gem of a TB, Barbaro whose story obviously speaks volumes me.  I have a hard time even hearing his name with my throat choking up and my heart twisting.

How do you feel about today, the day of the Kentucky Derby?  

Do you celebrate by watching it, admiring the beautiful athletes although so very young, trying their hearts out?  Do you wince and worry before the race but watch to make sure every horse is 'ok?'  Do you ban the race from being on TV in your home?  

I know there are a lot of different answers, and I'm actually VERY curious to see what other OTTB owners out there think? Or non OTTB owners for that matter.

For a two minute race...there is an animal's life involved in it.

I know that I feel very lucky to have my Lazarus, who came from this sport, enjoying today being in his pasture and being loved.

May all the horses (and jockeys) run safely today!

"Walk Laz...WALK!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So today I was looking forward to seeing my sweet angel boy!  

Work has been stressful and it's nice to sometimes just loose yourself in your horse.  As I approached Laz to halter him up, he walked off really poorly.  His leg and hoof seemed strange. A little like...disconnected? He was limping a bit and definitely showing signs of favoring it and not wanting to move as he typically has been.  It's been pretty dry here and his paddock area has gotten a bit more firm so perhaps that is why.  Even the BO said, "Let's take him on the grass where it's cushy" so we could have him stretch out and walk/loosen up in more comfort. I thought that seemed like a good idea being the grass has moisture in it too.  He did walk better and with each step it looked better so we continued after thinking that maybe I wouldn't push it.

So we walked around the property next to the round pen, near the house, along side of the arena and towards to front where the dirt road is-all on the grass.  

Everything was fine until we got to the front by the dirt road, where Laz hasn't been in about 8 mths, and my sweet little TB, turned into a monster OTTB who was flighty, sooooooooo tightly wound up that he was jigging, farting, head and eyes were up and blazing and he did several jump back, side flinging moves.  There was a tractor across the road but oddly enough he didn't seemed worried about that..he was worried about something we couldn't see next door and was acting like a stud, untrained idiot that could be dangerous.  

THANK god my BO "C" was with us and she talked me through the entire hour we spent with him out there.

It was nothing short of scary and a few times I felt like 'this is going to end with someone getting hurt'.  Lazarus a few times looked like he was going to rear on top of me, or side jump and trample (ugh) but thankfully we worked through it and I remained controlling him through his temper tantrums of wanting to spook and BOLT.  We kept walking, leading and talking to him, talking to each other, and reminding him to "WALK" when he acted up in my bear voice which in the end he responded to and would lick when given the command.  I don't know if his little OTTB brain gets overloaded and then he just looses it, but when he gets like that, it's so hard to be the brave leader I need to be for him. BUT...I did it.  Now, that isn't to say that I was brave. I wasn't!  I even told "C" that "I think we should stop" because I few times, I felt so out of control but she reminded me that I can't reward his bad behavior and I have to work through it and not quit.  So we did.  We kept walking him around the front lawn, in between the pines trees, around the arena, around the garden with me leading him and being a bit more in front of him to 'guide' him.  She is teaching me to be his leader.  Often it's so easy to hand the horse you are struggling with to someone else but sometimes it's best to have the guidelines/help next to you and do the work yourself.  Not easy that is for sure.  I think "C" has the ability to know when I'm scared and talk me through it as well as Lazarus, lol and adjust the lesson to fit that, so that he and I can work together and communicate.  

Around we went, and when he acted up (and I mean UP like a 20 foot tall, veins pumping, coiled TB energy and body shaking with "RUN") I just would say in my bear voice "WALK LAZ!" and check him in his roped halter/lead and then to keep on walking and leading him.  When  he responded well and walked relaxed we would stop and reward him with allowing him to graze in the 'scary' spots.  It worked well.  It was scary and I was scared but I did it and now feel a little better of having another side of him come out, and handling it.  

Needless to say, no pictures...are you kidding me, I had a dragon that I was leading around! :)

So, now I think we are going to be working in the lawn area a bit more so Laz can extend his brain to 'trail riding' and not go nuts.  He walked great during his antics and didn't do anything to hurt himself.  

I took him back in his pasture where we worked on ground tying while I groomed him.  A couple minor reminders and setting him back in place but other than that he did great.  After his grooming, I put him in the round pen for a brief 15 minute grazing and he did move off a bit stiff for his few steps after standing still for grooming.  Something I'm keeping my eye for now....any changes.

Cliff comes out next Friday and I'm always so anxious to have his eyes on Lazarus's feet.

Rocker Haircut

Haircut time!!!!

Long overdue and partially because of two reasons. 

A. I don't yet own clippers (soon I will)

B.  If I did, I would butcher the crap out of Laz, so I let BO "C" work her salon magic on him

We realized quickly with the clippers struggling a bit...Laz is so dirty. Like beyond dirty.  I had planned on bathing him in early October when we still had decent weather, and if you have been reading this blog, you know that is when he got colic or some flu, and that lead to his current battle of laminitis. Soooooo...bath was not appropriate at the time.  

I am hoping sometime this week to wash this grimy boy and get all that dander, dirt, dust, etc OFF and get him gleaming!!!

Here he is...no that isn't a Tennessee Walker you see below...it's my dirty OTTB

70's mustache gone!

Holy thick mane...I am envious!

Here's his new 'do.  

What do you think? 

It's a friendly cross of a THICK TB cut, and somewhat Western Pleasure.

LOL...Laz is eclectic like his Mom, what can I say? 

We like to keep people guessing.  ;)

Damn that cow lick...

So here is his new punk rocker braid that I left long, for the Mati to still work it's magic of keeping him healthy

 Rock it Laz, funk it up

 Whoa...whiskers a plenty

Mmmmm, so much more smoochable and velveteen!

  **Disclaimer- it's not that I'm opposed to mane pulling, or the opposite of letting manes/whiskers grow.  I like to cut his mane for the summer, and let it grow long for winter for added warmth.  For the whiskers around the eyes, we kept them for his protection, but for his muzzle we cleaned it up.  It's what I prefer to do for my stay at home horse. ;)

Laz yesterday evening, walking around beautifully.  

The BO and I had a GREAT lesson of more desensitizing which I will soon post videos of.

Compared to Laz when I first rescued/adopted him, back in September of 2008....not too shabby even after this colic/laminitis since this October.  A few things are for sure with comparing his recent photo above to this below photo.   His body looks better, more filled out.  His tail is MUCH thicker/longer.  He is just walking in different feet but hopefully, they will be stronger than ever before in the future.  :)

6 weeks barefoot and counting...

This past week of time spent working with Laz.

Mason the wonderchocolatepup is so patient during our hour long drive to get to his favorite place, "the Farm" which he now knows our little schedule like his feeding time. Crazy. :)

The sweet life in Laz's eye

I tried to capture how his bay coloring isn't just brown. It glistens with copper, gold, red, dune, gray and black hairs.  He is getting quite used to me kissing that sweet muzzle and is learning to tolerate and even expect it

This is his bad foot and please excuse the mess..it was before I cleaned it, which I should have photographed it after, but I didn't, sorry.  This shows the bars (I think) and how uneven they are due to the laminitis, and possible the wedge shoes?  Laz is doing really well barefoot and I have to keep remembering, it's only been 6 weeks!  It feels like a lot longer.  I haven't had xrays since Feb 18th, and he is completely off his meds and I feel walking better than he ever has.  

We decided to wait on more Xrays...there is some discussion that xrays could cause a delay  in the healing of laminitis. I guess, if you compare that with going to the dentist/doctor and they drape you in a heavy protective apron during an xray..it must do something to our insides right?

One thing for sure with laminitis...is there isn't anything for sure.

This was his mood for the day. Sweet puppy face sleepy boy.  You know, the PERFECT day to ride and just kind of kerplunk around.  For me, being into just pleasure riding (I'm so impressed with so many of you and your riding skills with you and your horses...wow) and to just enjoy the bonding while riding, these were the days I would LONG for with my OTTB.  

Sigh..soon enough but even to just have him to enjoy is definitely enough.

So, instead of riding which we still can't do yet, we do our Cliff approved walks in the sandy arena for about a half hour.  Laz is doing better and better in the 'spooky' corners and I am too with being a brave leader. I have to admit though, on the sleepy puppy days, I'm a great leader. On the windy, fire dragon days, I rely on the help of the BO "C" to help me through it.

Here is BO "C" working with us with the Clinton Anderson lead and desensitizing Laz with the 'whip' by hitting it on the ground until he relaxes and isn't tense.  When I first got Laz he was petrified by whips and cracking sounds.

Handsome boy.

Yes, still ribby, muscle tone has gone to blah since his bout with colic in October, but overall, not too shabby.

And look how he is standing on both hind legs!

Here we are working with having him stand still by mounting block and remember what it's like to have a rider and legs/arms dangling around.  Obviously he could care less and was pony perfect.

You can see how sleepy he is and we do our desensitizing work within a 15 minute capacity to not exhaust him mentally

Reward is Cliff approved grazing for 10-15 minutes.  I still get SO nervous about allowing him to graze but so far he's been doing well with it.

And to the far left, that is the BO's puppy Carley, who is getting SO big! 

Happy 9th Birthday Lazarus!

Today was a really special day...one that a couple of months ago, I thought I wouldn't see....Lazarus's   9th birthday was today!! April 25, a month to the day from my own birthday!

We were out of town visiting family but made it back in time to spend some QT with Laz even though it was raining.  It wasn't a day I could miss and my husband came with too understanding how I felt.

My sweet courageous Lazarus.....love you

When we first arrived, he was in his stall by his choice to be out of the rain I gather.  I love that he access to chose to be inside or out as he pleases, 24/7.

The birthday boy rub his head into me and loves to have his eyes, forehead, cheeks and ears rubbed.  Yes, he is spoiled and I love it

For his bdat, sweet Laz got a jolly ball in lime green, apple scented!

He seemed to love how it smelled

Love his face in this photo...what a beautiful TB head

and then this camel lip shot to show his goofy face

So, because it was raining I thought "Should I wait to open until it's a nice day?" Then I was like, am I crazy?! Seize the day and OPEN now!!!!!!!!!

I hope he likes it!

"Mom...what else is in this box?"

The bday boy was GREAT when I asked for his feet for a pick cleaning.  He is 100% off all anti-inflammatory medicine now, and doing really well and still walking around looking better every day.  

Laz's Dad fed him a couple of carrots until the small blunt pieces which he had me feed because he confessed "I'm scared." lol! 

Happy 9th Birthday my sweet Lazarus....many, many, many more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!