Monday, March 7, 2011
I've been bad about updating this week. I spent a lot of time playing with my friend's hunter gelding (I'll grab any excuse to jump a horse!), and doing quick little rides on Corky. Today I did a longer ride on Corky. Yesterday I turned her and the yearlings out and decided to free longe...Corky got a burr up her butt and ran and ran and ran and ran...she wound herself up, then the yearlings got wound up and they wound her up even more. Today I figured she would be a little tired, and she was. She rode really well for me. Her canter is feeling better underneath. I have been worried about her canter quality with those wedge shoes. It's taking a lot longer than I had anticipated to get her back in shape. She's definitely not there yet, but is improving. I did some exercises that Darla recommended - two tracking and cantering off in the same direction on the diagonal. It was hard to accomplish in our small arena. I am hoping to haul in for a lesson this weekend, we need some guidance!
Both yearlings got a thorough grooming (both are picking up their feet SO well!). All three of my horses are shedding buckets. I did a little bit of work with both kids on the longe line, just learning to establish a good sized circle with continuous forward motion at the walk, etc. Boring, easy stuff! I did a little trotting with both on the line, maybe a circle at a time. I like how both have really learned to establish their full circle and are maintaining it at the trot. Tango looks like a big gangly goof on the line LOL! He is still 3" off from hip to wither, potbellied, and just all over the place. It's comical...I know he will eventually grow into those legs! Pepsi, however, has the purest gaits of all, but they are turning out to be more and more western as she grows. I am amazed, this girl can lope and jog in place. I am pretty sure that HUS is probably not totally in her future, but with her incredible flat legs and lope, she is definitely going to be a top-notch western prospect. Now I scratch my head in puzzlement because I have
So, as usual, real life intrudes on my horse life. The biggest thing is that we took possession
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Corky was touchy to her sides today, so I did some two-tracking at the trot to dull her up and relax her to my leg pressure. She must be feeling better because she was really testing me a lot tonight in all sorts of little ways. Nothing major, just little things here and there.
Tango got a new ball today! He popped his hot pink one last month, so I got him a new oversized ball at Wal-Mart in a more manly  |
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Today was a pretty good ride on Corky! I am really happy - I am able to schedule a lesson with Darla this Sunday. I will be not only interested to see how Corky moves in the bigger arena with those wedge shoes, but I will be
Sunday, March 13, 2011
After spending many days working (demolishing) the new house, I took a horsey-ME day today and hauled Corky over to Darla's for a lesson. I am so grateful to her - she gave up part of her Sunday day off to be there for me so I could ride and get feedback.
I am happy, Darla was happy with how her canter had improved since the video I sent her (yes, I took a video of her right after the wedge shoes went on and it was pretty awful!). She helped me with some exercises to get her throwing that front leg out a little better - two-tracking before canter departures, angling the body and just working on complete body control. Brian came out for a little bit while she was helping me and he had some good advice. I like how he usually pops in during one of my lessons and always has something to mention that gives me a
It was a good lesson, Corky was on great behavior, and it was nice riding in the bigger, softer arena. If all goes well this week, I hope to haul her to Springfield on Saturday afternoon and ride in the big indoor after the show is done for the day (the SOQHA Winter Circuit is going on for all those lucky folks who don't have to work every day and can take a half a week off for showing!). Corky despises Springfield for some reason, so we will see if this is still the case or if maybe she is finally growing out of that silliness.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The arena is too hard to ride, so Corky is just getting turned out with the yearlings right now. Dang Tango has a lot of energy...he runs and runs and runs and runs. Pepsi will play with him for a little while, but I think she is a bit too sophisticated for him and gets bored with his silly antics. She has been gravitating more towards Corky, they both share a mutual disdain for Tango the goober gelding.
I took the time to take Corky's tail out of the tail tube and condition it. She had ripped a big chunk of hair off at the roots...ugh. I think I might take it home, wash it, and braid it into a bracelet. Tango hovered over me the entire time I worked on Corky's tail, he was fascinated with what I was doing!
Thursday, March 17, 2011...Making the hard decisions
It's not been a very
The worst news came with the new house last night. I won't bore you with details, but it looks like we are going to need an entire new septic system and tiles run on the property ASAP...to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.
If only I had spent those thousands trying to save Lazlo in 2009...if only I hadn't spent those tens of thousands trying to save Taylor and then saving Tango this past year....yeah. You know, even with hindsight I can honestly say I STILL would have done whatever I could to save those horses. Even though it put me in this position today...I can't say I would have done a darn thing different.
Friday, March 18, 2011
After work, both yearlings got a thorough grooming and de-shedding lesson, and then about 5 minutes each on the longe line (both walked, trotted, and reversed perfectly!). I briefly rode Corky, and she was good. I did a little hand-galloping and then coming back down to a regular canter (tough to do when she is fresh!). Since today was warm and dry, I decided to introduce Tango to the trailer since he hasn't been in one since I brought him home from the hospital at 5 days old. It took quite a while to coax him through the narrow arena door into the old barn. After that, all went well! I intended on only having him put his feet on the ramp and letting him eat, but he seemed eager to follow me all the way in, so I let him. Yay! he walked right in the trailer and stood inside eating his grain. Afterwards I backed him out (also stayed quiet and calm) and then got his feet on the ramp once more and let him eat, then called it a day. Success!
I am going to haul Corky to Springfield tomorrow to ride around when the show finishes for the day. We'll see if her hatred of Springfield has abated at all this year. I am eager to get out and ride.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
I heard somewhere that this is the first day of spring! I believe it...it was I had a fairly good ride, considering the last time Corky rode outside at a show it was early September! The arena was not crowded at all, which helped things
I gave her an hour or two break in the trailer while I watched some of the show, then I got her back out again for a short second ride. It was nearly 7pm at this point, the sun was setting and it was getting
Then I had a moment of sheer and utter panic when I realized the key I had stuck in my pocket was NOT my truck key, and my truck key was locked IN the truck! I tore apart my trailer looking for a spare key, but couldn't find one. I thought maybe when I first got my trailer (as in 11 years ago) I put a spare key somewhere, but it wasn't in any of my usual spots (my junk drawer, lock drawer, etc.). On a whim I started going through bins of stuff in my shelves, and lo ad behold I found a spare key stuck in a
Maybe I am being paranoid, but Corky felt a little weird going to the right that second time I rode her. I don't know if it was because she was fighting me a lot or what. I got off her and pulled her in a tight circle and saw no signs of lameness...no it could very well be that I was paranoid. Or not??? I hate second-guessing myself. I guess we will see how she looks tomorrow. She still has those 3 degree wedge shoes on. Her farrier appointment is this Wednesday, and she might go down to a 2 degree wedge if she has grown enough heel to maintain that angle.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I spent the morning attempting to get good photos of the yearlings. The sun was shining, so I opened up the doors and groomed both horses as best I could (their hair is coming off in buckets!). Here are a few shots:
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PEPSI
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After I was all done, I decided to see if Tango would load in the trailer again. He walked right through the arena gate and right up in the trailer with NO hesitation! I let him eat for a bit, backed him out slowly, and he walked right back in for me. He even backs out slowly and easily. I am excited...he could be the
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tango walked right in the trailer, again with no hesitation, twice! Here is something he did
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I was taking Corky out of the cross ties when one of the studs in the stall went nuts, kicked his door open, and came after us. It was a scary moment, especially when Corky got her hind legs tangled in the aluminum ladder leaning against the wall...but all was OK in the end. I think I saw my life flash before my eyes (
It is so weird - Corky, being in heat, was letting Tango boss all over her. At one point Tango looked like he was trying to nurse off of her, and she was letting him? What is up with that??? I kept a close eye on them because if he starts chewing her tail, he will be banned from being turned out with her. I think Corky is just too submissive and Tango is figuring that out. He needs some turnout time with a crabby old mare to teach him how to respect other horses' space.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Corky seemed a little weird today on her "new" feet. Granted, her shoes weren't new since the wedges were the same ones reset. She wasn't lame, just kind of lazy moving...either she was not energetic today or she felt weird with her feet trimmed. Or, a good possibility is that I am just plain I went to go turn Tango out and he was laying down. I tried to get him up, and he really struggled to stand. It was then I noticed that his left hock was really swollen and hot. There was a tiny scrape on it, I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not. He didn't want to put much weight on it, and limped when he walked, so I left him in his stall.
These pictures really don't show the swelling very well, it is fairly large (baseball-sized?). Ugh, more worries. Tomorrow I will pray it is a bit better, if it is worse then I will have to figure out a place to haul him on a Saturday to have it looked at. Always a worry with these horses...
Friday, March 25, 2011
When it rains it pours! I ended up having the vet come out this afternoon to check not Tango, but
Tango still has swelling on his hock, but he is moving a little bit better today. I was almost afraid to even look at Corky, but she looks fine today, so I DO have at least one healthy horse!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Corky had a dentist appointment today. Did I mention when it rains, it pours? In my world, when it rains, it
Pepsi's hematoma is starting to settle lower in her hip, so that means the inflammation is starting to disperse. That's a good thing. She is just so sweet about the whole ordeal. I figured she would be hating people, but she is still letting me rub and love all over her. Tango still has the swelling, but by this evening he was running and playing and using that hock really deep, so I think it must be feeling a lot better. I just need to get rid of that swelling!
To top off my "rainy" weekend. I got a bridge put in on Tuesday for that tooth I lost when I had the jaw infection back in September. Got the bill yesterday for $1300. Today the dang thing broke completely off. So much for a "permanent" bridge! I am thoroughly annoyed by it...dental issues are the biggest pain in the butt. All this trouble and money stemming from a dumb dentist back in 1984 that broke off a metal tool in my root and left it in there, causing damage to my jaw decades later. Grrr!
On another side note, I am off tomorrow to chaperon our senior class trip to New York City. I guess you can call it one of the perks of my job, though how much of a perk it is we will have to see LOL!
Friday, April 1, 2011...I am THE April Fool!
I am finally back from chaperoning the trip to New York, only to find that Pepsi's hematoma has taken a bad turn and is now huge, swollen, and the hair is coming off. That vet that came out last week did NOTHING, didn't even put her hand on it to feel the heat, and basically said it was no big deal. Well sorry, but now it IS a big deal and there is a raging infection inside. The vet came back out this morning while I was at work, she opened up the swelling and put in a drain. Tons of icky liquid was pouring out of it all afternoon. Poor Pepsi has been really really sore. I think after the gunk started draining, she felt a lot better. She is such a good girl, I know she hurt to the touch but she let me take a wet rag and wash all of the dried gunk off of her hip and back leg. I feel so awful. I am sincerely angry at this vet. What could have been a minor issue solved a week ago has now turned into a major problem and will take more than a month to heal. I pray it doesn't leave a dimple in her muscle. It's going to get uglier before it gets better, I am afraid.
Tango's swelling in his hock has gone almost completely away. You can clearly see the scrape on the outside of the hock now that the swelling is down. He either knocked it on someone, or someone kicked him. I am sure if he was kicked, he probably deserved it LOL! That horse cannot seem to keep his mouth to himself. He is always picking with someone. Once I was done doctoring Pepsi, I put Tango on the longe line. I haven't done any training stuff with him for several weeks. He is so smart, he did really well with the walking, trotting, and reversing. We even did about 3 strides at the canter. I feel sad that Pepsi will now be out of commission for a while. She had been doing so well. I don't want to push her until that hole closes up and is on the healing end...that will take weeks.
No, I did nothing with Corky today other than take her bell boots off when I put her back in her stall. After all this yearling drama, I was exhausted and starving. It's so hard to work a job until almost 5pm and then go to the barn, clean stalls, and then find the desire and energy to ride.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
After a long day at work (solo and ensemble contest for junior high) I ran out to the barn to clean stalls and get Pepsi cleaned up. It's pretty gross what I have to do - stick this plastic tube up in that hole in her hip and push a syringe of saline into it to flush it, then press on the lump and squeeze the liquid (and blood and pus
I know it's really disgusting, but I will post pictures on here to show the treatment and healing process. It might help someone else out in the future who has this same problem. I have never ever had a reaction to a vaccine like this. It is testing my ability to handle gross bloody things...I tend to have a weak stomach when it comes to that.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
I finally got a chance to ride Corky today. It's been forever! She, as I expected, was a bit belligerent and didn't want to work hard. I always face this problem when I give her a long time off, and in these past 2 weeks I haven't even had much of a chance to free longe her. I am thinking I will try and ride again tomorrow and get on a regular schedule. Show season is approaching! I sat down and gave a long hard look at what will happen this year. With the new property and all the buckets of problems that it came with, money is going to be a huge issue. Once I saw how insane the gas price was for me just to haul to Springfield to ride around 2 weeks ago, I am thinking I am going to really try and show at some cheaper shows that aren't quite so far away. I would love to find some open shows with longe line since I have
More blood and a little pus (and some icky lumpy stuff) came out of Pepsi's hematoma today. Fun fun fun!
Tango was a total brat today when I led him to the arena to turn out, so we had a little schooling session on proper leading manners. After he ran and played for a while, I worked him on the longe line again. I tried a little more cantering today. He always wants to take the wrong lead when going to the left, but is great going to the right. Eventually I got him to do a couple rounds on the correct lead going to the left, and quit on a good note. He is great on the longe line, probably because he doesn't have his mouth in reach of anything he can play with! Monday, April 4, 2011
It's time for our daily dose of icky hematoma photos! We took the drain off since it wasn't doing anything other than flapping around hanging by a stitch. Again I flushed the hole with saline and then expressed the fluid - saline, blood, pus, and a little bit of lumpy stuff that someone e-mailed me to tell me it is necrotic muscle tissues. I appreciate any info and advice as I am kind of working blind here. Glad to know I am not alone in the world with this issue.
I longed Pepsi a little bit to get her moving. Then she chilled in her stall while I rode Corky. Tango got a patience lesson being tied to the wall while I rode. He did well, other than chewing up my lead rope. I soaked the darn thing in chew stop spray but it didn't faze him. Any other suggestions to stop rope chewing?
My ride on Corky was...well...let's just say not much of an improvement from yesterday. I longed her briefly with side reins and then hopped on. I really didn't intend on doing any heavy schooling on the spur slow today but it became necessary when she ignored my slight leg pressure and went about her own way. Our supposed quiet ride became a tough ride, and we were both warm when we were done. I will give her tomorrow off and try again on Wednesday. I fully expect her to test me as we get into spring, so I can't let myself get too discouraged. Gotta love horse training!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Pepsi's abscess bump seemed smaller today. I did the usual flush and express treatment, and GOBS if icky stuff came out. I don't want to gross out people here with photos, but I know some people might actually be interested in what comes out of a vaccination abscess, so instead I will link to the photos...click at your own risk!
Hematoma picture #1
After expressing all of the lumpy, bloody pus, I scrubbed her clean (I think she actually enjoys this part of the treatment). She also got another antibiotic shot - can't remember the exact name but it is one that is given every 4 days. I was shocked at how good she was, she stood like a ROCK for that needle jab. I guess after what I've been doing with that abscess hole every day, a little needle prick ain't nothin'!
Tango got a crosstie lesson today. He was
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I got a lot done today...kinda. Pepsi's hematoma looked a lot better today, and just fluid and blood was expressed today (very little lumpy stuff).
I did a lot of leading with Tango today. He has been getting rather full of himself and needed a strong lesson in leading properly. He pouted after he was disciplined, but did a lot better after I laid down the law. We worked on the longe line a bit and I did a little more cantering. I finally got him to go 2 complete rounds at the canter to the left (he always wants to take the wrong lead that direction). He looks soooo much better cantering to the right than the left, he just hasn't settled into a comfortable frame in that direction. After the longeing lesson, we had another trailer loading session. Once again he walked right in. He was slightly hesitant in backing out, but did it willingly. How did I end up so lucky? I need to get Pepsi in next, that might end up being this weekend's project.
I had a super short ride on Corky (got distracted with a phone call LOL!)..she felt a little weird so I didn't push it. It might be due to the arena being as hard as a rock today. I don't want to risk injury until the arena gets worked.
I am a little frustrated (ok, make that
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Today's hematoma pictures...looking much better!
I did a quick measuring of Tango and Pepsi. Today's measurements:
Tango: 14'3" at the withers, 15'2" at the hip (still strangely unbalanced!)
Pepsi: 14'2" at the withers, 15' at the hip
Friday, April 8, 2011
The hematoma is really looking good. I can only expel a little bit of fluid from it. I think it's well on it's way to healing! So far the skin looks pretty good on top of the hole. I am crossing my fingers that the skin regenerates and doesn't end up sloughing off. Only time will tell! Once again Pepsi was the perfect patient. Weirdly enough, since I have been treating this abscess every day, she actually seeks me out when I go in her stall. I would have thought that after all the pain I cause her with the flushing and pushing on it that she would hate me, but quite the opposite is true.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
I had a great day at Equine Affaire with a couple of friends. I stocked up on the essentials: fly spray, Show Sheen, and a gallon of Quik Braid!After I got home, I headed out to the barn to ride. My ride with Corky was middle of the road - we had some great moments and some ones where she tried to test me, but overall it was pretty good. I MUST get riding more off the rail, it seemed that every time I went to do a circle she tensed up (maybe because she associates circles with schooling???). My goal for the next 2-3 weeks is to ride off the rail as much as possible - do more circles and such. I just wish our indoor was bigger so I could do more things off the rail...go too far off the rail and you are ending up on the other rail LOL!
I worked both yearlings today. Once again Tango had a cross tie lesson. What a goober. He pulls back again and again to test the ties. Luckily everything is holding tight. I am doing it in his stall so he really can't pull back very hard or he hits the wall. He is just so tense in the cross ties. I am hoping he gets out of this as he gets more experience. He longed great for me today - did some very nice canters on the correct lead! Pepsi seemed really stiff in that right hip at the trot. In the past few weeks she has had some swelling in that leg down near the bottom as a result from the infection in her hip, but until today I hadn't noticed it bothering her when she moves. I am not sure what to think.
April 10, 2011
Pepsi's hematoma is looking better and better. Today it was a little bit more swollen when I came, and right away I was able to express fluid out of it before I even flushed it. The fluid was mostly clear with a little blood. It looks like there is hair growing back on the site, which is
I changed up things a bit with Corky - I had been riding her in a big plain snaffle. Today I used the twist and a training fork. She was light light
When I was done riding, I practiced a little bit of showmanship with Corky. Several times she stopped square when I stopped. I like that she is thinking ahead as we are doing things. I even did a little bit of halter practice with Tango...mainly just having his stand still while I switched side to side, and allowing me to move and place a front leg. I haven't even attempted to set the hind legs yet. I need to get started on that!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hematoma's lookin' good! Not much of anything came out, and the plastic tube barely went in (this tells me that it is healing from the inside). Look at all the hair growing back on the skin...amazing!
Two more horses suddenly came down with this same exact site reaction from the flu shot. The odd thing about it is that the shot was given over a month ago, and yet these two other horses showed NO signs of a reaction until just a day or two ago. I don't understand it...all of us at the barn are very puzzled. All of the horses were given the vaccine from the same 10-dose bottle, each with a fresh and sterile needle. Pepsi started showing a reaction about 5 days after the vaccination. I can understand that. I cannot understand how two more horses can show NOTHING until over a month has passed. One of the colts is already losing hair around the swelling just like Pepsi did. How odd is that? I'd love any feedback if any of you have experienced this. The vaccine given was the
Tango got another cross tie lesson. He was very bad at first, eventually settled and stood quietly. It's sure taking him a long time to get used to these darn things. I think he has just got it in his head that he is NOT going to like the crossties, and he reacts as soon as I put him in them.
Tuesday morning, April 12, 2011
Tuesday evening, April 12, 2011
I had another good ride on Corky. I rode her in the twist again and once again she was very light. Unfortunately she was also extremely light to my leg aids and over-reacted to every bit of leg pressure I used. I spent a while pushing her into two-tracking and sidepassing to desensitize her to my leg pressure. Why do I have to do this almost every other week? You'd think she would be used to it by now after spending 4 years under saddle, but she often acts like she has never felt my leg before!
Tango was a star in the crossties today - he didn't pull back once! Yay...progress (
He was very good on the longe line! I took a couple pics with my phone, aand then on the spur of the moment decided to grab a little video with my phone.
I can't figure out what is going on with his tail. He barely has any hair. He never has...it's been a stump ever since he was a baby. No one chews on it, it just doesn't grow at all. I wish there was some magic supplement or cream to use, but I know hair growth is basically genetics and he might be one with a sparse "Appaloosa" tail his whole life. What a bummer...Taylor had such a gorgeous tail!Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Ugh, I have such a terrible cold, it's wiping me out. It is especially depressing since today was such a gorgeous day and I felt too crappy to ride. Pepsi's hematoma is completely healed over - enough so that I cannot get the plastic tube inside it to flush. I think that is a good sign. It must have healed from the inside...I
Tango had fun playing with the shavings bag when I was done cleaning stalls. Pepsi showed a lot of interest in it also. At one point I thought they might join in a tug-of-war game.
I love the look on Corky's face in this shot. She is really eyeballing that bag - her most hated fear!
Pepsi wants in on the action!
Flinging it in the air...what fun!
Friday, April 15, 2011 HAPPY (not!) TAX DAY!
Yeah, I mailed my taxes in yesterday. I owed a crapton of money...put off paying until the last possible minute. Could taxes be any more confusing to do by yourself? Insane!
After work I came out to the barn and found a freshly dragged arena...
Tango was full of himself today and did not behave well on the longe line. Normally he never pulls on the line (which strikes me as unusual since he pulls constantly when I lead him), but today he was bracing and pulling against the line at times, trying to make his own decisions as to where the longe circle should be. I ended up having to use the chain, and eventually got the issue worked out and he traveled in a nice, round circle for me with a relaxed line.
Pepsi's hematoma is completely closed up now. Yay...(I think!). I am hoping the infection is totally cleared, because if it isn't then the closing up of the hole is not a god thing. So far it looks good.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I headed out in the morning to ride. It was a cold, gloomy, rainy day that made me thankful for the indoor arena where I board! I rode Corky in just a plain fat snaffle. She rode great! At first she was a bit heavy in the bridle (she never did lighten up as well as she is with the twist) but that improved as we rode. Her spur slow at the canter was pretty crappy, it has been all week. I can get her to slow for a stride or two but as soon as I take my leg off, she picks right back up with her speed. She is also overreacting to my leg so I started today's session with longeing with the tires. She was a little better with my legs, but when I slow her with my legs at the canter she gets very hoppy. I am at a bit of a loss as to what my next step should be.
Tango was as good as gold in the cross ties today (as he was yesterday also - I forgot to mention). Both Pepsi and Tango got a good grooming. I walked Tango around a bit and actually worked a little in having him stand still and I manually set his feet. Amazingly enough he does stand fairly still for me while I switch sides. He is just so goofy-legged at this age that getting him to stand square is almost impossible! I have been doing more trotting with him in hand so he is a lot more comfortable and doesn't freak out having me run next to him.
Sunday, April 17. 2011
I worked all day and evening on the plumbing at the new house yesterday...I was SORE today! I opted not to ride. Instead I worked both yearlings on the longe line. Pepsi did pretty well in holding her circle true. She just doesn't settle comfortably on the line yet, she looks much better when she is moving free in the arena. Tango has it all figured out and it's all
Monday, April 18, 2011
I rode today, even though it was
When I was done, I took Tango for a walk around the arena while I picked up rocks. This is something I like to do with my yearlings - it teaches them patience to walk and stop with me a lot (and it also accomplishes making the arena nicer). He was a bit annoyed. I kept the chain over his nose and only a once did I have to get after him when he became bored and decided it would be fun to chew on me. After that he was a lot better, and walked around with me while I bent over to pick up the rocks. Yep, another fun day at the ranch LOL!
A fourth horse has come down with a late vaccine site reaction just like Pepsi's - to the same vaccine, but about 4+ weeks after the injection. This is so weird - Pepsi got her abscess about 5 days after we gave the vaccine, the seond horse got his about 3 weeks, the third about a month, and now this one at nearly 5 weeks. I sent a detailed e-mail to the manufacturer of the vaccine with the serial number of the bottle. We'll see if they even bother to respond.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
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Heck, I thought yesterday was cold...today was ridiculous! Add to that a driving rain, it made hauling manure out to the pile a real adventure. I opted not to ride today, and turned everyone out while I cleaned. I couldn't resist tossing the balls out in the arena and watching the yearlings play with them. I think you learn a lot about your horses' personalities by watching them ina group setting. Tango was wildly excited to see the ball, and was jumping on it and kicking it madly. Pepsi watched for a moment and then went over and actually jumped on the ball a few times and nosed it around. I think she is slightly the boss over Tango, at times she tried to drive him away from the ball so she could play with it on her own. He's not very afraid of her, so he never went far. Corky then decides to get into the action, and when she shows up, the yearling scatter. Tango can't resist coming back to mess with Corky while she investigates the ball, and they do a lot of picking with each other. Corky should be the boss, she's twice the size of everyone, but instead she does tolerate some abuse from Tango. Occasionally she gets fed up and gets after him. I wish she would do that more often, because the more Tango plays with others that let him egt away with aggression, the more full of himself he becomes. Then this becomes my problem when handling him. It seems every day we have a I wonder if this is because he had a nursemare that raised him and virtually ignored him. Oreo never disciplined him. Tango would rear up and jump on her and she would just stand there and tolerate it. I heard back from the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the vaccine that caused the reactions in 4 horses at our barn(including Pepsi). They e-mailed me and asked me to call to discuss this matter with them. I gathered my information and will be calling them back at lunch time today. Those scientific types make me nervous, I don't like having to dealwith this but I guess I will...I need some information as to why this happened! |
How could you not love this personality? It's frustrating, but so fun. Probably a lot like my own personality. I think I drive a lot of people crazy just like he does!
Friday, April 2, 2011
Today is my spring break -
I worked Tango for a little bit on the longe line. He was great! He is a lot more comfortable at the canter both directions now. I did a little halter work with him - setting him up and making him stand still. He stood like a rock. What is UP with my horses today? They are all so good! I even longed Pepsi. My young friend was out to help groom her, so I showed her the basics of longeing and she walked and trotted her. Pepsi was a ball of tension at first, but the more she trotted them more she relaxed into her stride. I didn't canter her today, I wanted to keep her relaxed. I think tomorrow I will bring the clippers out and do my first attempt at clipping the youngsters. I might even try getting Pepsi in the trailer (weather permitting). The clipper thing has me worried, I hate this part of training. I was so spoiled with Corky, she is so easy to clip her ears. Here is my prediction - Pepsi will be tense and afraid but will give in and let me clip her ears with minimal fuss. I predict Tango will be a wild man and I will have a battle on my hands. Is my prediction correct? We'll know tomorrow!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
What a beautiful day...finally some sunshine! First on the agenda was riding Corky. I rode her for a bit, and then had a friend video our ride so I could go home and see what she looked like. I was really pleased, her canter and trot look great, everything looks smooth and relaxed. It was a very good ride for us. I feel better about show season approaching...IF I can ever get her to a show!
Next on the agenda was longeing both yearlings. First was Tango - here is his longe session:
He was great! I also longed Pepsi. She was much more relaxed today, it was one of our best longe sessions this year. So far so good!
Next was the moment I was dreading - clipping the yearlings. I decided to do Tango first, get the hardest one over with. You know what? I obviously do not know my own yearlings. He stood like a
Next I decided to introduce Pepsi to the trailer. She hasn't been on a trailer since she came from North Dakota in early January. I figured today I would just let her stick her head in and check it out. once again I misjudged her - she walked up to the trailer and walked right in! I let her eat some grain out of a bucket, backed her out (it was tougher to back her out than walk her in!), and then walked her in again. What a good girl, and what a relief that
Pepsi
Tango
I can't leave Corky out of the picture-taking bonanza, even though she didn't get clipped today.
Tuesday, May 26, 2011
You ever have one of those
A lot of my overall feeling of sadness has to do with tomorrow. Normally I love to celebrate my yearling's one-year birthday. What fun that is! It's hard for me to celebrate the day that I lost Taylor. It's such a bittersweet date. I can't believe she has been gone a year. What a disaster. My horse life has not been the same since. After losing her and all that money in vet bills, it's like I dropped off the face of the earth in the horse world. How drastically things have changed for me since 2007! It's like I am still struggling to get my head above water. Every year a new disaster. What does 2011 hold? I had approached this new year with such optimism, but today as I think about all the bad things that happened to me in 2008, 2009, and 2010, I can't help but wait for the next shoe to fall.
OK, enough with that self-pitying, gloomy outlook! It's definitely spring, and I will find lots of things to look forward to. Lots of little goals to aim for...life goes on, right?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TANGO!
Yes, it's Tango's first birthday today! I only had a quick moment to get my stalls cleaned and snap a couple pictures before heading back to work. Tango refused to wear his party hat today. Instead he tried to eat it, and then flung it around his stall several times. Today is a happy-sad day. I tried not to temper it with sad feelings about Taylor. I need to look
Just for remembrances. here are a few pictures of Tango's mother "Spare Me The Details" ("Taylor") - June 1, 1998-April 27, 2010
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Saturday, April 30, 2011
I had planned on hauling Tango to a local show to walk around, but I was too exhausted from the week of work, so we stayed home. The arena was too hard to ride again, so I just worked with the yearlings. Tango was a little bratty on the longe line- did not want to move forward until I persuaded him. Pepsi was much better. Both yearlings got a mane-cut to an appropriate braiding length. Yep, it's almost that time! Tango was a complete butthead on the ground today. He was determined to pester me and be impatient and work against me.
On to page 3....(May and June 2011)
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