Thrush B Gone-Review #3 and Riding

This past Monday evening, I visited Laz due to the two days of HIGH winds we had here in Midwest.
A couple years ago, during a storm like that, he ended up bashed on his forehead so I was nervous but thank god, he was totally fat and fine.

I groomed him, fed him, and decided to treat both his rain rot with listerine again and treat his hooves with Thrush B Gone  It typically only should take 1-2 treatments but with his aggressive white line disease they recommended dosing a few more times to help.

Here is his RH before the 3rd treatment (which you just squeeze onto a clean hoof)

 The hoof wall before treatment.

I think the results will show more as his hoof grows out and hopefully more connected

The toe was shortened a bit more at his last trim to help with heel height and overall comfort

 Now, below is his LH which is after 3rd dose. I probably didn't need to treat again, but I did!

Here is what I noticed; his central sulcus (the valley in the middle of his frog) prior was stinky and he was sore when I put my hoof pick in it. On Monday, no foul smell and he wasn't at all sensitive, and I wiggled my pick around a bit. I treated it again for safety reasons but as far as I can tell---FIXED. 

No more thrush there as well as in his club foot. I'm anxious to see how those hoof cracks grow out as well

I'm really excited about this product...the proof will be better in RH as time goes

Now, as Laz has filled out (ahem not just fat) I've been really thinking his Crosby is too narrow on him.
I feel really pitched down forward when I ride and I feel that I'm needing to pick him up to balance him.

He seems so short strided and has been super choppy in that saddle. I switched to my Barefoot treeless which seems to fit him OK, but for me, the seat is way too big and I feel sloppy in it. GRRRR

BUT...J9 had a dream saddle that I sat in that I just fell in love with last month. 

Fast forward to within two weeks I had found a STEAL for almost brand new version of what I wanted.

Meet my new saddle 

 I had my Parelli trainer out to fit it to Laz and it's perfect.

I got to ride in it for an hour to really test it out and it's dreammmmmmmy and I feel centered in it and Laz really moves out and stretches in it. WIN WIN!! 

and like I said, I stole it ;)

This past Saturday, it was so beautiful out that I was determined to ride.

I got to the barn and these two had other ideas

zzzzzzzzzzz

 

Look at sweet Pito's face and lips...aww he's like a little baby pegasunicorn

 Laz was all "Yous wantz to do whatz?? Ima seepin"

I tacked him up and we rode. Mr. Sleepyface went into a fiesty mood of "OK let's RIDESSS" and did not want to trot, but wanted to canter canter canter canter. So, instead of having to fight him, I decided "GREAT IDEA" and we cantered and circled and used transitions to bring it down to a trot, then back up and down to a walk, etc. He loved it. After about 20 minutes of that and a lot of snorting and blowing out, he was re-connected.

Here a little video--no GoPro darn it, just  my iphone in right hand while I ride with left:

and then after playing in the field for a bit, I wanted to 'reward' him with walking away from the barn area and onto the road with our steady eddie, Mason

Here's a video of that:

Love this saddle!! I felt so secure in it and Laz was offering such great strides. I really want to get it on video--I'll need to get Hubby out to the barn soon before mega winter hits.

OOFff that belly!!! I really want to lose it and build up his top line this winter if possible.

Below is our mid week workouts, usually after work or on my lunch breaks, 2x to 3x a week

I'm literally RUNNING behind him as fast as I can, lol

Both boys with their tongues hanging out

 And I'll leave you with this at IKEA

Are you kidding me?! 

A bin of starred Lazs' for sale?! YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Thrush B Gone--part 2 review

Continuing on with my review for Thrush B Gone;

After Sunday's application, I came out today (Tuesday) to check on Laz

These photos are before the 2nd application that I chose to do

Front Right Club

 Front Right Club

 Front Right Club (frog at center sulcus is where I treated as well as around white line and hoof cracks)

***

 Left Hind

 Left Hind (frog was what I treated)

***

The star of the show:
Right Hind 

(Treat entire hoof and specifically in crevices) 

 RH

 RH, it's minimal BUT (and honestly this is a HUGE BUT) I do see an improvement.

It just seems less cheesy in texture (harder for sure) and a bit more sealed...
I literally squealed with the thought of improvement.

Below image is right after I applied 1st treatment for a reference photo

 Prior to 2nd application, this is the amount that I've used for 1st treatment on 3 hooves.

AMPLE dosing. The solution is very watery, like a saline solution to give you an idea.
And it didn't freeze in my unheated barn and won't change the PH to solution (bonus for cold weather states like MI)

I'll continue to do follow up photos and thoughts...

Rain rot seemed better, I followed with a spray of Original yellow Listerine (per my vet-don't think I'm crazy because I was shocked too!) but my stinky ponyface smells like a peppermint delight!

I cleaned/disinfected all tack, brushes, curries and hoof picks for preventing rain rot from spreading.

I also cleaned his man pocket (a' la sheath) GAG with just wet diaper wipes (organic of course) 

400th post

I could cry tears of joy but instead I'll smile.

400 posts in under 5 years.
All about my first horse, Lazarus

That I get to love, groom, ride and work on friendship, partnership, trust and love with.

I never knew this journey would take the turns it has but it has brought us to today.

Today I have a healthy, lovely gelding who is smart and kind.

 Today, 400 posts later, we have shared some amazing and scary adventures together.

I look forward to posting about Laz and I for years more to come.

Thanks for all my readers for hanging in with us during this journey.

xoxo

Testing out a new product: THRUSH B GONE

Have you heard of "Thrush B Gone?" 

I saw it on FB and contacted them looking for another thrush product to test out.

As you may know, we've been battling Thrush/White Line Disease since Laz's laminitis a few years ago, however he does seem prone to getting thrush hooves despite his clean diet/turnout 24/7/every other day grooming.

Thrush B Gone said they would be happy to mail out a bottle of their solution for us to try, and are excited to see positive results.

I stopped all other brands and applied it today (Sunday 11/10)

I'm to wait 2 days to see a positive change and if need be, re apply.

 Most infected hoof: Right Hind

 Right Hind after I applied Thrush B Gone

 I decided to put it on his club hoof (Right Front) since these vertical cracks have split

And on the frog crack at the center sulcus 

 And to his Left Hind, that frog had just shed and had some dark spots and crevices so I thought I would soak it

Prior to application, I picked and wire brushed hooves.

Then I just squirted it at infected areas

Fingers crossed! 

You can read more about the company HERE

While I allowed the product to absorb into hoof, I washed Laz's back with his fungal shampoo, allowed that to sit for 10 minutes

 and rinsed off. He had a QUICK case of rain rot that popped up.

Laz approved of his spa day

I'll be following up about both the Thrush B Gone and what I think or what results I see, and Laz's rain rot

I'll be 100% honest as always in my review.

Kensington Trail

Sunday the stars aligned. 

We were able to get 4 girls together for a 4 hour, 9 mile trail ride.

Me on Laz. E on her new leased love Molly (A Paint/Perch X mare), J on Stella (A fleabitten TB mare) and E on Pito (Laz's herd mate)

I went early to tack up. I KNEW Laz was going to be excited to see a trailer and two horses.

Excited was an understatement.

He was jiggy, and squealing, and wanting to rear....so I dismounted and just walked his silly but to see the girls. He settled down a bit. I got back on, we headed out but it took him a good 2 miles to settle down. It was a bit comical.

Riding the dirt road to the trails...

and entering the trail connector to get to Kensington Park

It the beginning Pito was the trail master. He was so calm and led the herd. Laz would tuck his nose into his tail. Sometimes, Laz just needs a mental break and I knew he would submerge again after he took it all in, for a bit.

 We rode the connector for about 30 minutes, crossed the main road and now..KENSINGTON in all it's glory!

So gorgeous.

Riding through the prairie grass

E was giving young Molly (drafty paint x) her very first trail ride!!!

She did so great

Those two mares are boarded together, and Stella is a champ jumper and all around athletic girl. BIG girl, she's 17 hands

 Laz ended up pushing forward and was asking to lead. He lead for a huge amount of time. At the walk, trot and canter!

Entering the large field half way through our ride. Laz always gets jiggy with it in a large open field.

He started arching his neck and telling all the other horses "I USEDZ TO RACE YA KNOW?!"

The girls were not impressed and he quickly settled back down when he realized, there was NO race to be had.

 

 We took the ponies down to the lake, to offer them a drink

Laz threatened to roll about 5 times but I would NOT allow it!!! It was too cold to get wet and suffer for an hour or two

E smiling on Molly

Splashing

 and splashing..and me kicking and yelling "NO NO NO NO"

 and humping Laz , like that will make him go forward?!? and waving my arms in flight.

Seriously??! 

Whatever, the ponies were having FUN

Pito and his old lessor --I love that photo

Pito is such a good boy

One of the many trails we rode

 Oh yes, we were in our myler D bit for the trail ride extravaganza

I wanted to ensure I had breaks for my own safety. Even though we rode mostly on the buckle..there were a few key moments where we were ON THE BIT ;) 

Click below to view the canter video and if you listen closely I screamed out "MOLLY!!" because she ran through a mud puddle and I ate it. Or drank it. And couldn't stop laughing!!!

It was a pretty great day.  We rode and rode and rode.

 I especially secretly enjoyed it, being that ride was on our 5 year anniversary.

Laz and I, FIVE years ago

What a ride it's been

I'm so lucky to have this equine partner!