Reconditioning

E had her first riding lesson in months yesterday but about 20 minutes into it we decided that Curly was just too pooped to continue. The boy is way out of shape! Prior to the lesson, E had spent approximately 15 minutes in the round pen with him, doing some ground work and making sure he was ready to attend to her. And then he had about a 30 minute break...but he still just wasn't feeling up to doing much more than a walk after that first 20 of the actual lesson.

It's very obvious that he's had a relaxing past 6 months of doing nothing but being pretty while he healed from his various injuries! And he hadn't been in top shape when we gave him the time off to begin with.

Reconditioning is a top priority now.

Good thing the trail ride on Friday will be done at a sedate walk. :-)

But I want to ride....

It's been crazy-busy at our house lately (no surprise there!) so we haven't had much opportunity to take advantage of Curly's new-found soundness. Just had time to go out to the barn and clean, check on the big guy, give him a rub and a pat and then hop back in the truck to head to the next commitment. I'm tired.....

Anyway, one of our 4-H friends has a little sister (also in the 4-H group) whose horse has contracted pigeon fever. This has been kind of hard for them because both girls want to ride (duh!) but being one horse down, only one can. So last night as they were heading off to their lesson - with one horse and two riders - I offered the use of Curly. As soon as they left I was grumping that I wanted to ride my horse!

Plus, we are going on a family trip over the holiday, and during our vacation the club will be doing a toy drive/trail ride. Our little friend will get to use Curly for that as well....I'm pretty jealous.

But I'm sure Curly is going to enjoy the new activity.

A good ride...

We're back in the saddle again! Yippeee!


The 4-H club planned to ride through our local corn maze yesterday, but due to rain had to change the location to an indoor arena. Both E and I have been crossing our fingers that Curly would be sound enough to participate.

When we arrived to the barnyard, it was pouring rain. Curly was waiting happily at the gate for E. And he got even more excited when she put his halter on and lead him out of the small pasture - he definitely knew that something was up!

E and her trainer worked him for 30 minutes or so on the long lead line before she got up in the saddle. Wanted to make sure all his bucks were out of him. And then she had a wonderful, relaxed ride for the next hour and a half. I even rode him for 20 minutes, weaving in and out of poles. (This was exciting because I was able to direct him through the poles using only leg cues - a first for me!)

Both E and I have fallen in love with our horse all over again. :-)

Rainy Nights

Last night was Curly's second night in the pasture. No big deal, really....except that we had a huge rainstorm come through around 8:00 p.m. with thunder and lightening.

Being the mom-type that I am, I immediately began to worry about our big guy, wondering if he was wet and shivering in the storm. But then I reminded myself that he has a nice thick fur coat and besides, it wasn't that cold outside (about 40 degrees). I had a hard time resisting my urge to rush out to the barn and check up on him, though....

When we got out to see him today he seemed quite content - and dry. :-) The pasture he's in had a little more mud than yesterday, but still much less than his old run.

And the barn manager assured me that she will put his blanket on him if she thinks it's too cold for the boys in the fields.

So now I'll be able to sleep at night.....

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.