It's been almost a year since Shaun joined the herd here in Kansas.  Before he shipped out from Washington state, I asked the folks taking care of him to pull his shoes.  I knew he was stalled in soft shavings, and turnout was also pretty decent footing.  Shipping is better for the horse, better traction, if they are barefoot.  Shaun couldn't tolerate being barefoot, and went lame almost immediatly.  I had him shod right off.  He's been shod ever since.
Race horses are shod before every race, and that starts pretty early in life.  Shaun averaged a race a week before he was retired, and that makes for a lot of nail holes, contracted heels and overall poor hoof condition.  It didn't help that he was starved when he was placed in the kill pen, his hoof wall was horribly thin, and he had little sole to work with.  No wonder he couldn't tolerate being barefoot.
Shaun has been sponsored by Emerald Valley Equine, which has supplied his hoof supplements right from the beginning.  It's some of the best, and most complete supplements I've found.  Now all my horses are on Formula4Feet, and you can tell by their shiny coats and rock hard feet. 
So like I said, one year later and another miracle!  Last week I pulled Shaun's shoes, the trimmer came out and cleaned up his feet, and he is now pasture sound!  Yes!  He is barefoot!  He's still a bit ouchy on gravel, but doing real well in the pasture.  He RUNS!  Nary a misstep!  I didn't think this horse would ever be able to go barefoot! 
Yes, I pulled his shoes.  I didn't intend that part as I had never pulled a shoe in my life!  The barefoot trimmer was supposed to be there in two days for that part.  However, (and isn't there always a "however" with horses?) when I got home from a clinic that Sunday evening, I noticed both Shaun's front shoes were sideways and one was bent!  He was limping on both front feet!  I had already turned out Eclipse, the horse I had just returned with from Missouri. So the mares were literally heading for the back 40 by the time I realized he was in trouble.  I quickly threw the halter and lead I just took off Eclipse onto Shaun and started heading down to the small pasture by the house.  I knew I had a pair of nippers somewhere, and just wanted to contain him so he wouldn't do more damage. 
Nice idea, huh?  Shaun didn't think so!  He danced, he pranced, and even kicked out at me, trying to reunite with the mares that were heading away from us.  I INSISTED he come with me, he screamed for the mares, and thankfully they came running.  I might have done a little screaming myself, just sayin.  Eclipse and Bit joined us, and I headed the herd down to the little pasture, through the gate and hoped everyone would nose dive for the brom hay and stay put while I grabbed my nippers from the house.
I knew things might have that magical flow when the first place I looked, I saw my nippers.  Why do I have nippers? No clue.  Saw them the week before and thought, "I don't remember getting those."  I ran back up the hill, through the gate and there was the herd, right where I left them.  I picked up the lead rope attached to my four legged kite, and true to form, he began to fly around.  Probably because about that time, the mares decided to head for better pickin's down the hill, and we both watched as their well rounded butts disappeared over the hill. Crap.
I had just learned at a centered riding clinic how to do breathing whoa's.  It's a HAAAAaaaaa kind of breath, and it's great for stopping your horse, and sending that big engine right down to idle.  Could it work for Shaun?  Couldn't hurt.  I looked him in his panicked eye and breathed, HAAAAAaaaaaaa.  He stopped dancing around, and practically vibrated with tension.  HAAAAAaaaaaaa.  He looked at me, licked and chewed.  HAAAAaaaaa.  He lowered his head.  HAAAAAaaaaa.  "Shaun, I'm going to pull your shoes so you won't hurt anymore.  You are just going to have to trust me." 
When you pick up one of Shaun's feet?  It's like picking up a something bolted to the ground.  We are working on it, but he's challenging.  Long story.  It's a race horse thang.  My back is bad, I have a shoulder impingement, so I really needed him to stand still and cooperate.  I reached down, and picked up his foot.  It was weightless.  HAAAAaaaaa.  I knelt down on one knee and rested the front of his hoof on my knee.  No hoof jack, I had to improvise.
I tried to remember just how the farrier pulled Shaun's shoes.  HAAAaaaa.  That one was for me.  Oh yeah, nip the nails on the hoof side so you cut off the curvy bit.  There.  It pulled right off.  I trimmed his toe, so he had a nice break over, and then the sides.  Then the other side, all the while breathing those nice, calming breaths.  When I was done, I gave him a rub on the neck and thanked him for being such a good boy.  After removing the halter and lead?  He just stood there with me.  No mares, just me and him.  We HAAAAAaaaa'd together.  He took his first barefoot steps since he was a colt. Tentative at first, expecting pain.  He was a bit off from that darn bent shoe, but not bad. It wasn't because he was barefoot, he was going to be fine.  HAAAAaaaaaa.

A lot has happened in the life of Shaun since my last post.  I decided to take Shaun and my two mares to a Peter Campbell clinic.  I wanted to put Shaun in the morning ground work class and ride my Missouri Fox Trotter, Eclipse in the afternoon class.  I couldn't very well leave Bit at home alone, so loaded everyone up and off we went to Missouri! 
You know how life can sometimes take on this almost magical quality?  With Shaun, he seems to be in the constant company of angels.  One of the ladies at the clinic had brought a very troubled mare who she was afraid to ride.  It just so happens a cowboy by the name of Steven Thompson also decided to audit Peter's clinic that weekend.  Terrie met Steven, and Steven ended up working with and riding her very troubled mare for the first two days of the four day clinic.  They got on so well (you should see Steven ride!) that Terrie ended up sending her mare home with him as his forever horse.  Cool, huh?  Now I'm watching how Steven is riding and getting on with this mare thinkiing, that's the guy I want to put the first ride on Shaun.  The morning ground work bit of the clinic had very little on the ground work, and was mostly in the saddle, so that left me out.  I approached this gentle cowboy and asked if he would be interested in riding Shaun.  I let him know all about Shaun's history.  We asked Peter if it would be ok, and the next day, Shaun met Steven.
I'm not going to say my sweet ottb was a willing partner, at first.  I'm pretty sure it's the first wade saddle he'd ever known.  I'm pretty sure he hadn't been ridden since 2007.  And Shaun did have an "opinion" about the whole thing.  Yes he did!  Steven ended up riding Shaun the whole day, and I watched as my very skeptical, fearful horse got softer and more at peace with the ride.  Someone leaned over and said, "He's never been offered this before", and indeed I was sure he hadn't.  Race horses (I'm assuming all of them) are never offered pure horsemanship.  A soft feel.  Time to think and process.  Kindness.  Love. 
Gradually, I watched Shaun change.  From wide open eyes, and I mean I could see the whites, to softness.  by the end of the day?  He was working cows!  Yep, got him a job and he really liked it!  Steven said that he had to hold him back a bit, because Shaun was offering to really move those bovines, and he didn't want to undo all that good stuff he'd built on. 
The second change in Shaun's life, he is now barefoot.  It's taken a year to completely grow out his hoof, which is pretty typical.  Shaun has been on Formula4Feet by Emerald Valley, and that had built a rather lovely hoof structure and a great foundation for him to go barefoot.  Emerald Valley has been sponsoring Shaun since the beginning, so I have them to thank for his great feet.  No sugar, no grain, just timothy hay pellets, good grass hay, and msm and his hoof has grown out to be healthy and pasture sound.
Terrie Yordy came by yesterday and gave him his first bare foot trim.  Terrie puts the word soft into her handling of horses.  She does a lot of work with extreme hoof issues at rescues.  Shaun messed with her a bit, just to see if she knew what she was doing.  Then settled in and Terrie crafted the perfect barefoot hoof. 
Shaun has had a lot of changes this month.  His first ride, his first experience being bare foot, his first big clinic, his first experience of true horsemanship.  He's changed a lot this month.  More connected.  More willing. Lots of touching, sighing, and yawning.  I think he's happier.  I sure am.
I just purchased a Kieffer dressage saddle for him.  I'm hoping to put my first ride on Shaun next week.  Nothing long, no pressure.  Just sit up there and see Canada.  He is very TALL!

Not a lot has been going on with the herd.  It seems my very picky Missouri Fox Trotter mare has chosen Shaun as her best friend.  This is a big deal.  She's always so grumpy, but has had a change of heart towards Shaun and me.  Shaun has shed out quite nicely, muscled up a bit, and has been playing more.  The other day he actually reared, came off the ground with is back feet and then threw in a buck, back feet over his head.  Much rearing that day, lots of snakey necks, bucking and running about like a wild pony.  I'm hoping he's ready, because tomorrow we head for Archie, Missouri and a Peter Campbell clinic.  Four fun filled days, and who knows, maybe a ride on this bad boy.  Taking the whole herd, too! Can't leave Bit by herself, so everyone comes!  Hoping Shuan doesn't give me too much grief loading in the new trailer.  The opening is quite a bit smaller than the old trailer, but I'll load his girl friend first, and maybe that will motivate him some.  I'll take lots of pictures and let you know how it goes!

"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred.  Hot they are.  Too fast they be.  Forever on the fly.  But I stayed the course and have no remorse.  I love my off the track race horse."

March 18, 2012 Day one of groundwork

I think I finally got to sleep close to 4 a.m. I had stayed up researching how to start an ottb, and then stressed about whether I was good enough. Shaun is huge, athletic, intelligent, synsetive, and strong. The thing I've learned about life? There are no wasted moments, and everything you've ever done prepared you for this moment in time.
I stopped riding regularly when I was 24. I realized I might as well have been on a motorcycle. There was no connection, no relationship, and the poor horses were nothing more than robots. My favorite was a mare that could jump like an impala. She would also try to kill you if she could. I walked away from horses, thinking maybe I don't love horses, maybe I just love to ride. My Black Beauty, Flicka, and Fury dreams dashed, I walked away. Oh I rode on occasion. It was always the same. No connection.
In 2003, a woman I knew got a caretaking job on a sweet piece of pasture taking care of 6 ranch horses. Now I didn't like her much, but I sure missed horses, so I put up with her controlling, manic self, although I didn't see her that much. I did manage to see the horses just about every day. She would beat the crap out of them, traditional kind of horse person I guess. I couldn't stand her or how she treated her horses, so I jumped ship and started riding with a friend at the local equestrian center. I rode a dream of a palamino horse, Jody. His gallop was smooth as glass, Eidie and I loved going fast, so I spent the next couple of years as Jody's partner and then moved on to a mare by the name of Cash. I really wanted my own horse, and fell in love with a mare by the name of Little Bit, a double driftwood quarter horse. Her days were spent tied to a post, saddled and waiting for someone that could handle her. She would spin hard if a horse put thier nose in her butt, a typical rental horse thing to do. Nose to tail, they carried tourists all over the Sierra's. Not Bit. She hated it. So there she stood all day, and then back in her small pen next to the porta potty at night. She was lonely, and she was bored. So I kept her company and dreamed of her being mine. I promised her that some day she would be. She believed me.
Edie told me about a guy coming to Reno named Pat Parelli. She didn't like him much, no one did but it might be a nice horsey day. I called my friend that lived up that way and she invited me, a friend with free tickets, and another for a bbq the night before. I told my story about Bit, and one woman there said she grew up with Bit's owner. She offered to buy her and pay her board until I could afford it. If this wasn't enough, I found out that a relationship is indeed possible with a horse. I sat there and just cried (along with everyone else) as Pat and Linda demonstrated true connection with their horses. Finally. It IS possible. I bought everything they sold, I think.
I guess you could say Parelli was the foundation of my natural horsemanship. I've moved on to Brent Graef, Buck, Peter Cambell, Carolyn Resnick and others. They all teach about the same thing, some better than others. They have all contributed to what I know now. And, it's enough. I am enough, and so Shaun's first day of ground work began today. We started with Carolyn's Water Hole Rituals, a little Parelli (minus the carrot stick), topped it off with Brent Graef's leading with excellance, some Buck, and then on to playing with some obstacles. He was amazing! He learned almost as fast as I could teach him. He had fun. He didn't want to stop. We won't. I promise, we won't. And the day will come, my sweet horse, and we shall ride!

March 19, 2012

Those tight lips and glassy eyes are gone. I was just looking at his picture at the kill pen, and saw how very worried he was. Tonight I sat on the big, round bale while he snuggled up close and munched his way through. I softly whispered, (he stopped eating, turned and listened)..."you'll never have to be hungry again. You'll always have as much as you want, your own herd, and green pastures. You'll always know love". He sniffed me from the top of my head, all the way down to my boots, and then back to my face, and lingered there. It's a love affair, really. I'm not sure if it's me feeling something, him, or there just isn't a line anymore. Same with Ecipse and Bit. I can feel the pull of the herd, how powerful it is. If I go somewhere else, I'm thinking about the horses, and wishing I was there. When I'm with one or all of them, I feel safety, comfort and joy. Dare say, I am herd bound.
Guess I will be taking all three horses down to Wichita to work cattle. Not Shaun, but he'll be along for the adventure. Maybe David can help me with him a bit. David studied with Ray Hunt an is a remarkable horseman...hell of a guy, too. I really love this horse.

It's summer

We hit 80 degrees today, which doesn't mean it can't snow at any time. For now, we are in full blown spring, flowers are blooming and pasture is starting to look scary green. Scary in that the sugar levels are going up, which can mean founder. Have pulled the herd off the big pasture in hopes that they will remain healthy and be able to maintain their nice, thin waistlines. Shaun looks good, but he does not need to gain any weight.
April 7th is coming up fast. It will be the first clinic that Shaun and I will go to together and hopefully it'll mark the official start of our riding. Or......I'll go really, really, fast and may set a new land speed record. :)

March 2012

We will be heading for our first clinic, Shaun and I. If we can get him loaded into the trailer. Tony and Jenny Vought will be putting on a young horse handling/ground work clinic for horses that need starting or restarting. That would be Shaun. It will be the first of his many encounters with Tony and Jenny. I may take all three horses to the five day horsemanship clinic at the end of the month. They all need a tune up.
He is comfortable being a horse, his feet are looking much better thanks to a great supplement, Formula 4 Feet. He is shiny, and healthy and has figured out his horsey behavior within the herd. It's still a bit funny to watch my 13 hh quarter horse, Bit push him around. Eclipse, my mft mare is a little more patient with him. Funny, when Ecilpse leaves with me, my lead mare, Shaun takes over lead horse position until we get back. Bit is a follower, and does not like the lead mare job. She's bossy, but she's not that confident. Shuan takes the job quite seriously. All he needs is a pocket protector and some nerdy glasses. I'm thinking he'll be that kind of ride, too. Yes, I plan on riding this big boy. A saddle may be the biggest challenge. His withers are so high, I'm not sure what kind of western saddle will work.

the winter that wasn't

It's Feb, which is always my most unfavorite month. Ugly cold, snow, and horses see me briefly for feeding, water and to check for boo boo's. I'm no whimp, but it's dang cold here in Feb. Cold enough to loose all feeling in hands and feet in a very short amount of time. You keep it short and sweet, just so you can make it back to the house before you die of exposure.
I've heard Kansas can have mild winters, but this winter has been blissfully warm. 40's and 50's, and perfectly rideable. No, Shaun has not been getting any saddle time, but he has been getting some ground work and lots of company. He's one fuzzy dude, and will sweat like crazy when he starts playing. You can watch the steam rise off his back in the morning. Tb's truly are a hot breed, and they eat a lot! He consumes twice what my mares do, and in the same amount of time! Fortunately, it's been so warm, there is plenty of grazing to be had, so not a lot of hay eaten. His feet are looking good, and he's holding weight well. He's moving better, more symetrical. Both sides moving the same, nice trot and his canter is looking better. I think this last nine months of pasture therapy has done him a world of good. Having two mares to hang with, well...he's a patient horse.

pretty ears!

It's been a journey, getting Shaun to relax at feeding time. Asking him to go to a certain place, wait, and then put those ears up, instead of pinning them at me. Oh, maybe not AT me, but they were pinned. Hard to change old habits. Sure has taught me about release and timing. It's taught me how important timing is, and how bad I am at it. You have to release as the horse decides to do what you are asking, which happens before the horse does what you want. He is teaching me how to be as soft as possible, to ask with a whisper, and celebrate those small steps quietly...together.

Jan, 2012

It's been a pretty mild winter, considering we've had some brutally cold one's in the past. Yes, there have been cold days, but mostly 40's and 50's. That's not bad. Snowed last night, ugly storm, but snow is mostly melted off this afternoon. Had to put metal shoes back on Shaun because Epona's would not stay on. He tends to spin on his front foot, which torks the shoe and rips it off, doing some damage to the already flakey hoof wall. This time, Eli put snow pads on with the metal shoes, and Shaunie seems to be doing fine.
Ottb's typically have bad ground manners. Now, the horses I worked with at the track and training center had very good ground manners. Depends on the trainer, I guess. As long as the horse is winning, he can do whatever he wants. Attempts (usually never follows through) to bite, kick and other wise maime are tolerated by the grooms who just keep doing what they need to do. Ottb's really do want to please, but like children without boundaries, they appear to be difficult. They are not, and are lovely horses, once they know how to be. They want to be calm and happy. When Shaun arrived, he was pretty fussy about just about everything. Don't pick up my feet, don't move my feet, and don't touch me, either. I can see how a human might get a bit frustrated and give up. Course, that wasn't going to work for me, so we've been working on that.
He's now pretty fluent in "horse". He didn't even know how to greet another horse. This human had to teach him. He likes "saying hello" a lot now. He's fine with picking up his feet, and is learning to give "pretty ears" when it's feeding time. Pinned ears do not earn you breakfast. They delay it, and it gets cold. Giving to me, getting those ears forward, transfers right to the saddle. I'm asking for softness, and he's learning that softness feels good.
Instead of frantically running everywhere, the mares are teaching him to mosey. Oh, he'll still kick up his heels and race around, but it's playing and not because he's afraid or worried. This spring I'll be taking him down to Tony and Jenny Vought's to be restarted. They are amazing trainers, their horses lining up, competing to be chosen to be played with and ridden. I'm going to pack up all three horses and go spend some time down there. He won't go alone, his herd is coming too.

winter 2011/12

Shaun is about as fuzzy as a horse gets. Twice the hair of my mares, and of course we are having a very warm winter for Kansas. 60 the next two days, and the poor guy breaks into a sweat if he gets out and moves around. Has a scratch on his butt when he hit Kansas mud and took a slider across the pasture, all four feet in the air. Kansas mud can be the slipperiest stuff on the planet. He's learned "go to your spot" and will immediately turn, go and wait at his spot for meals. Smart boy! He's loving his life, I think. Lots of room, freedom (as much as I can give him with a 40 acre fence line) and a herd to follow. His feet are growing well, and he's doing real well in the epona shoes. My mare, Bit is always spotless with nary a mud bit on her. Shaun? His new name is mud muffin. I can't believe how dirty he gets. When I saw him in the kill pen, he was very muddy. Now I realize, he just likes it that way. He was very thin, but the mud was his idea.
He's put on an amazing amount of weight, and muscle. He looks good, is moving well, and I think he's going to be ok. The only issue is his choke, which I manage by soaking his food WELL. It takes him a lot longer to eat, and I think he feels satisfied. Always first to greet me in the pasture, and walks with me up to the tack room to feed. Hope to be riding him this summer.

day with the chiropractor!

Today we drove 2.5 hours to see Dr Randy Huenefeld near Kansas City, Missouri. He's one of the best equine chiro's in the area, and we were fortunate enough to have him work on Shaun today. He said he'd probably been worked on, being a race horse. Shaun seemed to know Dr. Randy was trying to help him, and was a great patient. Most of the time his eyes were soft and he tried to stand still so he could be helped. There were a couple of times I know things hurt. I've been to the chiro, so I know. We took home a pretty pricey rx for ulcer's, which will take about a month to get things where they need to be. It's fairly typical for a race horse to have ulcers, but hoping it will be a thing of his past real soon.

Any horse that gets a couple of flakes of hay doled out to them a.m. and p.m. will have tummy issues. Add a ton of grain, lots of sugar content and a crazy lifestyle? You get ulcers. Horses are built to graze 24/7, head down, and moving. And that's exactly what Shaun has been doing for the past 6 mos. Dr. Randy said it was the best thing that could have happened to him. Yeah, I know. This was Shaun's miracle.

He said that Shaun may be compensating for his injury, even though the injury has healed. That's what got his body all crooked, and his fear of moving is keeping it that way. Now I have no idea where he was after 2007. I know he didn't get enough to eat. I know where ever it was, he wasn't able to heal his body properly. And now, he's exactly where he needs to be.

We have the ok to start training, and that will get that his muscle mass back where it needs to be, and then...flying lessons. I can't wait. We will fly, again. And this time, it will be a joyful thing.

day at the dentist

I guess we are extremely fortunate to have an equine dentist who is such an amazing horseman, never uses drugs (doesn't have to) and only charges the most minimal of fees to float my horses teeth. He is a gift. Today Ed came out to float Shaun's teeth. I noticed he was dropping a lot of food and thought those pesky back teeth just might be the problem. The minute Ed put the spec on Shaun, he closed his eyes and acted like he was getting the best massage EVER. He waited patiently, sort of, while Bit got her teeth done. Helped that I did some tick removal under his throat latch and then scratched all his boo boos throughly. If I stopped, he asked for more. We passed the time just fine.

I've used the excuse of too thin, no top line, sore feet, not ready yet...because I guess I'm treating him like a fragile child. Ed noticed today that he was more confident, and bit frisky...ok, completely full of himself. It got me thinking it might be time to get him back to work. I called a chiro to schedule a treatment, and I'll see what she says about what I can do with him. His top line isn't something I'd want to sit on bareback, lol. I do think he is saddle ready. Depending on what the chiro says, I guess it's time to at least start him on some ground work.

looking better

Shaun's top line is looking almost rideable. The atrophy he had is gone, replaced by a good coat of winter fuz and muscle. The supplement,, formula 4 feet has made a huge difference in the quality of his hoof wall. He's holding a shoe and the dry line cracks going up his feet have stopped right at the growth place where I started him on the supplement. Very dramatic difference, and you can really see it in his coat. He's actually growing a lot of tail and mane, too. I don't pull manes, or trim a bridle path. Lol, hippie horses in this heard. He's doing reall well.

Three inches of rain on the way for Monday, so he'll be sporting his Matrix like rain sheet since it will be a cold rain.

I think the best part of all is how loving and connected this horse is. Always checking in, happy to see you, runs in for breakfast every morning, and loves human company. He trusts me. When I whisper that I love him, his eyes soften and he breaths me in. It's a love affair that both the man and my life, and my daughter envy. He is such a gentle soul. I'm so glad he's here.

cat fight

Had just pulled fly masks in back pasture when I heard one of my barn cats making quite the ruckus. Sounded a bit like a coyote attack, which had me running as fast as my short legs would carry me. I sent the border collie ahead in an explosion of fur and teeth. I ran as fast as I could, adrenelin racing through my veins, whites of my eyes flashing, single minded and ready to do damage! What I didn't realize, Shaun was right behind me, my wing man! We both got back to where the kitty was in trouble at exactly the same time, breathing hard, heads high and wildly looking around for the sounds of trouble. I had no doubt he would have fought side by side with me, battling rabid, cat killing coyotes, ripping fur from snapping jaws and freeing terrorized kitties in defense of all cat kind! Sorry. Nice to know your horse has your back.
Just before I pulled his mask, I did protect him from the angus bull calf across the road who dared look his way. Guess it was pay back. Love this horse. Cat was fine. Tinker was picking on Bob, again.

actha

Just got an invite to audition for America's Greatest Trail Horse. Considering I haven't ridden Shaun yet, I don't think he'll be heading to Texas this year. His top line is just getting enough muscle to think about a saddle. Comparing the picture of him in the kill pen, to how he looks now, he's a different horse. He's not scared anymore. I catch glimpses of who he might have been before humans did what they did to him. No one wants to talk about it, after that last race. I think they must be afraid I'm going to do some bashing. It would help to know how he was injured, what was done, where he was sent, and why it didn't work out for him. A horses history can be real helpful when dealing with physical challenges. I wish I knew more.
I have bought Shaun a heavy blanket for winter, but I swear he generates so much heat, I don't know if he'll need it. I worry about arthritis, and the cold. His trot is better. It doesn't look so much like he's got too much leg. He used to look like a fawn trying to move. His canter is still off in the rear end. I wonder if he just needs time to heal. I can give him that.

Road trip

I sent two of my horses down to Missouri for training, which just left my retired quarter horse, Bit and Shaun in my pasture. I got an invite to go down and sort cows in Wichata, and I really wanted to go. Hadn't ridden Bit for three lyears, and didn't know if she'd ever been around cattle. If I took Bit, I had to take Shaun.

Got the ok to bring both horses, so I loaded them up and we were off to some of the prettiest country I've driven through. Full of history, old and new ranches, and tons of prarie as far as you can see. We arrived at the ranch, and I got Bit and Shaun all tucked in for the night. They stayed in a large round pen, high wooden walls with an attached shelter. Perfect! I knew Shaun would pitch a fit when I took Bit out, and it was the perfect place for him to do just that. He settled into the routine of Bit leaving for work (she did amazing. A little over 13 hands, she was moving heifers bigger than she was) and he kicked back, ate hay and kept the two 4 h calves company while we were gone.

I don't think it was a vacation he would have chosen, but all in all, he did great. Loaded just fine, traveled well, and was real glad to get home! Three days of dried up ole hay? Yuk! He was so happy to get back to his nice, green brom grass!

Half a herd

I just took Eclipse, my lead mare and Hawk, the dominate gelding down to Missouri for training, which leaves Bit and Shaun wondering what the heck happened to the herd. Bit never really liked Shaun all that much, so this has been good for them to buddy up and graze nose to nose. I'll be taking them both down to s. Kansas to help move some cattle on a ranch. Shaun will be hanging out with some other ranch horses, and Bit (who I haven't ridden in three years) and I will be moving cattle. If you don't hear from me again, it did not go well. lol! I won't be riding Mr. Shaun any time this winter. His top line is still not where it needs to be for a saddle, and he still needs to put on a lot more muscle. He is happy and enjoying all the grass and room he has to run. He's pretty attached to me and Bit and seems more content when the three of us are out "grazing" together. Headed out to throw a saddle on my sweet little quarter horse and hope she isn't too put out by the intrusion on her day. Shaun, as always, will be right by our side.

Nice afternoon gallop

I rode Eclipse out in the pasture so that the herd could get some exercise too. Where the lead mare goes, the herd follows. Hawk, my arabian and Shaun were racing each other across the pasture, tails flying. They have become "fast friends" and love competing to see who gets there first. It's so nice to see Shaun running again. He loves to run, I can tell. Not because some human is on his back urging him faster. It's a joyful thing, only a 1/4 mile or so, with lots of snakey necking and crow hopping. He's still running a bit like a new pup with his back end a little sideways. I think because of that pin in his left leg.

His winter blanket arrived and it should keep him nice and warm on those cold Kansas nights. I'm concerned about the cold and the pin in his leg. I want to keep him as comfortable as possible. Maybe we will have a mild, snowless winter and by next year we can pull his shoes for the winter. Now wouldn't that be wonderful?

The supplement I'm feeding everyone has the manes and tails growing like crazy. I hope the feet are experiencing that same growth spurt. Lots of wall and sole!

Shaun eats all the time. He looks up sometimes, and I think he still is so overwhelmed by the all you can eat buffet. He's putting on good weight, he's shiney and his coat feels like velvet. Have to take some pics tomorrow. He's turning into a beautiful horse.

I think he's ok

The farrier came out and made custom shoes for Shaun. The nail holes were close to the outer edge of the shoe, so he could attach them to the foot. Shaun took one, shakey test step, weighted it, took another, and then he started walking. He's not 100 per cent. Not galloping. But he's walking. He had a tough time trusting that it wouldn't hurt, but he's walking.

He was by himself in the shelter after I fed him dinner. The herd had moved down to the well pasture, about 2 acres away. I asked him to come with me, and he just stood there. I walked a little ways and asked again, he took a step. Good boy! Eventually, he started following me down. Two acres later, he was with his herd, grazing, and happy. Finally.