Crossing my fingers

Curly has been given a new spot to call home at the horse barn. Our barn manager has moved him into his very own 1/4 acre pasture - which means less mud and surprisingly fewer rocks as well. There is no shelter there, but one end of the area is next to a barn and has a few trees. These should provide some relief from wind and light rains. It's a pretty nice spot and I'm sincerely hoping the new environment will help us mitigate any future hoof problems. Curly is definitely enjoying the added space.

At the moment, he has this pasture to himself, but other horses may be turned out with him on occasion. I think this will also be great for our guy.

So I'm crossing my fingers that the healthier environment and freedom the small pasture provides will be enough to keep him sound through the winter.

Wish list

After tonight's visit to the barn, my wish list now includes a nice dry, rock-free pasture for my horse to live in.

Mud season has arrived and "Lake Curly" is occupying a large portion of our guy's run.

Sound?

I've been visiting Curly every other day, to clean both his stall and his hoof. We've become quite skilled at the whole Epsom salt solution in the soaking boot thing. The hardest part is getting him clean enough to soak the hoof - mud season is beginning around here and he's a mess.

Anyway, during last night's visit Curly walked normally all around his dry lot and seemed very much his old self. I think we may be through this latest bout of lameness. And an abscess never did appear on that right front hoof.

E was invited on three separate trail rides last weekend. They were all given to her as birthday presents - a wonderful present, I'd say! She will go on the first one this Saturday...and she may even get to ride Curly rather than borrowing a friend's horse. I might get to go too, riding my old friend Q.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Curly stays healthy.