High spirits

I'm beginning to wonder if Curly has always been in some sort of pain since we've known him. Reflecting back, I recall that we have been dealing with hoof issues since at least July. And if I remember correctly, he was even a little tender-footed before that. Plus we had the issue with his back being out of alignment. Oh, and I can't forget all the extra weight he was carrying at the beginning, which can't be good for a horse's energy level.

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that we have been experiencing a different side to his personality this last week or so. He is much more energetic and feisty, and well, just darn right naughty! Yesterday, after we had finished our cleaning chores, he chose to run around like a maniac when we tried to catch him. He was bucking and ran straight towards us at one point! I wasn't afraid - in fact it was kind of fun to see him so wild - but it definitely wasn't the actions of a submissive, cooperative horse!

I talked to E. on the way home to be sure that she is aware that although it may be nice to see him moving again, we need to quickly re-establish his place in the pecking order. Training begins in earnest - as soon as we get back from Hawaii, that is!

Rasta-horse

It's that time of year when our horse doesn't get brushed as regularly as he probably should...and the consequence is the formation of dreadlocks in his mane. E. and I spent a good 20 minutes trying to work two of these knotted hair clumps out this afternoon. We managed to untangle one but I finally succumbed to the use of scissors for the second. Luckily, those were the only two that had formed so far; we have vowed to be more vigilant in the future and not allow our horse to go so long between brushings.

It was supposed to be a lesson night but with the wind howling through the trees E. decided that she really didn't want to get up on Curly's back. It was nice to spend a more leisurely afternoon cleaning instead. We had been out to the barn on both Monday and Tuesday (to have hooves trimmed and deliver hay, respectively) but had not had time to take care of some basic, yet essential, chores.

The girls reached new heights, literally, on Monday in their pursuit of climbing all available hay stacks. While we loaded the truck up they climbed to the top of a stack of hay bales that was at least 25 feet tall. I couldn't watch.

Ignorance is bliss...

We went to a 4-H event last night and during the course of conversation I learned that Curly was not as well behaved at that last lesson as I had originally thought. I guess while I was chatting away with other parents on the sidelines, he was attempting to seriously buck E. off a couple of times! Luckily her coach was right there to tell her to yank him into a tight circle, regaining control before he could follow through with his threat.

We definitely need to start working that boy! He's forgotten his manners....and no wonder she said she was nervous on his back.

Nervous Nellies....

As we attempted to brush the mud off of Curly yesterday afternoon, he was a bundle of nerves. He was surprised when E. led him past the gate to the pasture and towards the front of the barn; it has been months since he has been in that area. Q, on the other hand, calmly stood there munching on any grass he could reach.

E.'s ride went better than I had anticipated. I was afraid that he would attempt to bolt, but for the most part he attended to her signals. His training has definitely back-slid, however. He was tossing his head and generally acting like the horse he had been during the mid-summer. The only stomach-clenching moment was when he decided that the dirt in the arena looked like a wonderful rolling spot and he started to buckle all his legs and go down, with E. on his back! She kicked him back up and forward before he got there but it did frighten her a bit.

E. spent most of the hour walking him; she didn't want to push his feet too much. He appeared to be in no pain and moved smoothly the whole hour. After the ride she said that when she asked for his trot, he moved into it immediately and it was way too fast. I reminded her that perhaps she had just gotten used to the plodding motions of old Q! She agreed, saying that Curly's energy made her a little nervous during the lesson. (Hmmmm, sounds like something I said when I tried riding him!).

But she was extremely happy to have ridden her horse....and can't wait to go out again!

Canceled due to weather...

I had hoped to be writing about E.'s first ride on Curly in 10 weeks but the lesson tonight had to be canceled. It is 4:18 p.m. and the temperature is already down to 28. Too cold to be riding outside and too icy to be pulling a loaded horse trailer around.

When we went to clean stalls yesterday, we joyfully watched as Curly cantered around an open field. It was so nice to see him moving again.

The girls are both in school holiday programs tomorrow night, so no riding at the 4-H ride night either. Hopefully the temps will be above 35 by Wednesday and we can go have fun then...

Curly's doing better and better...

Just a quick hoof-health update for those interested. Curly is doing so much better that we even considered saddling him up today for an easy walk around the covered arena at the fairgrounds. The dirt is soft and rock-free there, a necessity at the moment. He spent three hours out in the pasture yesterday and did fine. No increase in his lameness - in fact his soreness seemed to be almost completely gone today. He is definitely bored. For the first time in weeks, he tried to escape from his run when he saw that the gate was open. A good sign, I think.

But E. decided she really needed to do homework, so Curly's fun was delayed.

R. had a lesson on Q and did great. It was a wonderful evening at the horse barn.

Wild weather...

It snowed last week! On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the lovely white flakes fell from the sky for hours and hours each day. Too bad the ground was too warm for it to really stick - we only saw an accumulation of a couple of inches overall. Plus on Saturday, everything froze which made driving a real adventure. Thank goodness for curbs and empty roads! E. and I almost went into a ditch when we drove out to the barn to take care of our horses. The snow did make everything look so pretty out at the barn, though.

Yesterday a warm wind came through and melted everything. It's been blowing so hard that I'm surprised we haven't lost a few tree branches. We did have to cancel our hay run; the rain was falling sideways and I wasn't about to drive the truck with a semi-stable load in this craziness!

Curly is beginning to heal noticeably in both back hooves now. He still limps a bit but we can see definite improvement. I was teasing E. last night that she might get to ride her horse next year. :-)