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.