The Highs And The Lows

It's been pretty awesome around here the last week or so.

I'm getting horses rode, teeth done, feet done, Bugs is going, Jet is next, the trainer even agreed to take our only 'bronc' and give him a 30 day whirl this winter.

If you've been reading for some time, I'm sure you remember Roan Dog...
He has been rechristened, Jake and Levi(I was given permission to use his full name;) said he would take him for a month and see what he could come up with.

After that, there are 2 more mares to send to Levi to get started and we will be all caught up on the shoulda-woulda-coulda's of the previous generation.

Myself, I have no problem starting the colts I have raised. I know these babies like the back of my hand.

On the down side, Mighty Mouse took a turn for the worse this last week and after several days I made the decision to put him down. I couldn't fight it anymore and neither could he. The only change that happened was a change in the weather. You just can't stop that and if it causes him misery...it was time. He was such a good pony and I will miss his gentle little nicker at feeding time. He was always so polite, but wanted to make sure you didn't forget him. Now, he can be pain free and eat all the green grass his little heart desires.

My last big fix-it projectm besides the fact that everyone needs more riding, is in the form of Spooks...
There is something going on with this horse's hind end that just isn't right. My last option-since I have already done the teeth, trimming on my own and chiro, is to take him to Turk's farrier and see what he thinks.

I'm ending up with more horses with shoes on than I have had in many, many years, but with access to someone who can actually improve and/or fix them, I'm not going to let the opportunity pass me by. In Spook's case, I think shoeing may be a short term project. After having been left sit for so many years, he has a lot of spread. A few good shoeing jobs and his feet will start coming back to where they need to be.

Now, if I had Mrs. Mom handy, I'm sure we could accomplish the same thing leaving him barefoot. Since that is not an option(darn it!), I'm going with the next best thing I can do for the horse.

Speaking of feet, we went from this...


To this...


To this...
On Turk's injured foot. See how much shallower the groove is? That damaged heel is dropping into place nicely. Progress, real progress!

His uninjured foot is actually looking darn near normal again as well...
The blowing out and flares are almost gone after only one shoeing. Turk is traveling square and sound. His muscles are starting to even out and he feels much more balanced when I am riding him. That of course, doesn't stop him from acting like a pig quite a bit of the time, but at least now, I can work on correcting his piggish behavior and not feel bad thinking he is doing it out of pain avoidance. Nope...just him being a pain. We are coming to terms though. Occasionally he tries to act decent and I still give him the benefit of a doubt knowing he still has a ways to go to figure out how to travel with all of his body parts working in unison.