Worry Wart....

So, I haul Gus over to Jessica Cole to meet with Dean J - farrier to investigate his cracks in his heels of his front feet. Dean J is an awesome farrier - whom I used for 4 years when I lived at the barn on Military Rd. I haven't used him since (almost 7 years) as we moved and Dean J became the resident farrier at UW Madison Vet Hospital. Jessica Cole has been fortunate to be one of the few barns that Dean J still does "house" calls to.

Dean had wonderful things to say about Roman Miller, our current farrier, and stated that he was doing an excellent job with Gus's shoeing and feet conditions.

A little background on Gus, is that he has had contracted heels for about 2 years. When Roman came to our barn a year and 1/2 ago, he suggested going with a Natural Balance shoe. In about 6 months we saw marked improvement on Gus and his contracted heels. This last year, I have been battling re-curring Thrush in Gus's front feet. This is a common problem with a horse with contracted heels, as there is a deep crevice for the bacteria to thrive. Its seems once the Thrush goes away, it comes back in about 3-4 weeks and we go thru it all over again.

This past July, Gus was having some right sided issues, mostly evident at the lope. When Roman came out mid-August - Gus was unlevel on his right foot - it was lower than the left. Roman put a very small wedge pad under his shoe to balance him back out. In time, the hoof should catch up and we can take it off. That did solve his problem and Gus was back riding like a million bucks. The wedge also seemed to be improving some of the contraction in that heel, and after another re-set we saw some positive growth. The decision was made to leave the Natural Balance shoes on for the winter.

In the last couple of months, Gus has had small cracks or "fissures" running up from this frog area into his heel. These have gradually gotten bigger and more of a "concern" to me. This is what prompted me to haul to Dean J - and get that all important "Dr's second opinion".....Sigh..... I'm happy to report that this is "cosmetic", and is a result of the on-going battle with Thrush. Dean J states that the cracks is where the infection "broke", and that there is positive live tissue and it will go away in time.

So the most important thing that I learned yesterday is in regard to treating Gus's chronic thrush is to basically throw away the "over-the-counter" thrush medicines. Dean J states that most are too caustic and drying - causing additonal problems (aka cracked heels)...and to buy some plain ole iodine at the drug store....His remedy for Gus is to soak small cotton balls in iodine, and pack them in the crevice areas of Gus's hooves. Sure sounds simple to me....can't wait to try it! And lesson here is "if its not broke, dont fix it".....

I also got to see Charisma work yesterday. I'm very happy to report that after being there for only a little over a week, she is very content and quiet, and is learning to learn.... can't ask for more than that!

Kara & Horses

Last night as we were in the driveway alongside the new pasture - Gus was running alongside the car...I hollered to Kara - and said " look at Gus loping along side of us!"...Kara laughed and then asked me if Gus was "HER" horse.....hard question to answer, as it feels like forever that I've wanted to hear her say something like that. Alas, I answered her that "No, Gus was not her horse, he was the whole family's horse". Kara made a big sigh and looked disappointed at that. I then told Kara that if she really spent time with Gus and learned to ride and liked it, then I would give Gus to her then.

I hope that was the right answer......

Machinery Dependence.....

To my stall boarders: I'm sorry the stalls are not very clean right now... The manure spreader was full - and Randy went to take spreader out Wednesday night. HOWEVER - the main component necessary to running the tractor was missing....your right - it was the KEY!.....Sooooo, no starting of the tractor..... I didn't clean stalls yesterday .

Randy did come home yesterday after work with a torch and a propane tank and proceeded to melt the snow under the tractor in search of the KEY.... He started up the torch when I had 3 horses left to bring inside....you can imagine the the funky noise and lights as the tractor is parked right along side the barn, fairly near the back door. I asked Randy to cease & desist until I could finish bringing in the horses. After I had everybody in, he started the torch back up....wow - what a way to light up the night and get EVERYONE in the barn stirred up....I went thru and shut up the stall drop-downs to ensure no one could escape...lol...

Now, Randy was SUCCESSFUL in finding the small key (which has prompted him to want to install a toggle switch on the tractor), and took out the spreader of manure. So now the spreader is empty for use. BUT the stalls have went 2 days, and it is now Friday. The plan is to let them go today - and Saturday morning have a strip it party....and I will have lots of clothes on....ha ha... Most people know I'm picky about the stalls and being clean....but its been a bit of vacation to just let them go!

Charisma leaves tomorrow to go to Jessica Cole's for training. I'm praying that she's not a freak about being moved to another strange place, but I have full confidence that Jessica will handle her fine. I did call her past owner, as I still had not received her registration papers and its been almost 3 weeks since they cashed the check. I left a message to her about that, and she called back this week and told me she was sorry to have "forgotten" them, and was wondering if she had settled down yet. I have not returned the call at this point, as I have a feeling that she knew Charisma was like this and didn't disclose that to me (even though I specifically asked if she had any "vices"). Well, too late now, and hopefully she is a complete star under saddle, and we can "deal" with her stall weaving when she is upset. Luckily she doesn't seem to do it ALL the time.

Well, if anyone wants to come to the "strip-it" party tomorrow.......

Have a good weekend!

Brrrr.......

It was very cold doing chores this morning....I bundled up and headed out at 6:30 to feed all 20 horses - which is quite a few when its only 2 degrees... As I was doing the chores, in my over-alls, boots, gloves, hat etc...marching thru the bit of snow with wheelbarrow filled with hay - and broke out into a sweat....who needs Curves??? I just need to spend about 20 minutes a day pushing the wheelbarrow thru the snow...ha ha....

All the horses were happy to see me, which is always nice...there are 8 horses in the barn, and even with the low temps - the 2 buckets that are not heated only had only a little bit of ice...I have 6 heated water buckets - which I love even if they give me just a little bit more work in the AM's - as I go thru and empty and unplug them for the day. It just doesn't seem to make much sense to have them plugged in all day when no one is in the barn. But it does add another 5 minutes to my crazy mornings.

The outside horses were in good spirits this morning too, so they were more than prepared for the cold snap this week than us humans.

I am anxiously awaiting time to ride. Gus leaves in 2 weeks to go to Kari's - and I will start riding him every day to get ready for the "clinic".. I dont want to spend $400 to go with a fat horse and a fat me.... Lee Barthel, who just brought her show horse before Christmas, is going to attend the clinic with me, so we can split gas costs. We decided to haul in each day vs staying overnight, as Germantown isn't that far away.

I spent some time looking at show schedules last night...and its hard to see which way the summer is going yet in January. I have about 6 NBHA shows that I want to attend for sure, and a barrel bash in the end of October. I want to go to more NBHA & 4-D format shows this year vs going to BHSA or open shows. With Sammy already running at the top of the 4-D division with little seasoning and exposure, I'm hoping to see some 2-D times by the end of summer. Shelley & I are going to ride share when we can, and Amanda Coyle has also expressed interest at ride sharing to some shows with me too. So hopefully can save on the gas bill when I can.

This is Kara's last year to ride as a "leadline" rider - as the ages is 6 & under. So will probably get her to as many of the BHSA pleasure shows for her to ride in that class. She will be riding Gus again. And I hope that Randy will be showing Gus mostly this year, and I will be riding Charisma. I'm hoping that Kara will be showing more interest in riding by the end of summer. I've been anxiously awaiting that to happen...I've done my best to tone it down and not push for her to ride....

Charisma

I actually made time to work with Charisma this weekend. This is the first time since we brought her home after Thanksgiving that I have done anything with her besides lead her outside and brush her on occasion.

I started with some basic round pen work and she did very well. She was extremely sensitive to the whip - to the point that all I had to do was pick it up and she'd take off at a run. I wouldn't say she was frightened of it, but she certainly understood that whip=go.. so I spent considerable amount of time desensitizing her with the whip. I've been a fan of Clinton Anderson for quite a few years and really believe and understand most of his concepts. BUT some of its easier said than done! lol... Charisma really hated having me move the whip over her head...she would take off running. Ok - Clinton says to NOT take "it" away, until the horse stands, then remove the scary object at that point. Soooooo, picture me holding the line, the whip swirling over her head, and her running away....the difficulty here was trying to hold crazy said horse and keep whip moving, which was just at that point making her go faster...ha ha.... it eventually worked, and I think I only tied myself up 3 times, and only whacked myself in the head once.... This was Saturday. She was much much better on Sunday. Her ears were flat back on her head, but she stood for it.

My boarder, Cindy, was there riding and her fiancee stood on the fence and watched Sunday's session with what I felt was a great deal of interest. He asked some very good questions and really seemed to understand why I would want to desensitize her to the whip (which even I know sounds a little backward). No mind you, that HE is a beginner, and only has ridden a few time.

By my end session with Charisma on Sunday - she was flexing on both sides really good, grasped the idea of yielding her hind quarters, was reversing by me switching hands on the line, and would stand for the whip being moved all over and swung over her head. She never got sweaty, crazy or silly. I am pretty impressed with her at this point. Plus what an athletic little thing she is. She could slide to a stop and roll back faster than a lick. Plus she can lope a circle around me on a 6' length of rope....COOL....

Truck Whoas ( oh Woes)

After several weeks of silence from Hill Ford - we got a call today that we can pick up our truck tomorrow... complete with a newly rebuilt engine....they replaced, gears, pistons, rings, bearings, and other more complicated pieces that I can't recall off the top of my head.. Anyway, lets hope that we no longer use a quart of oil to go to the friggin gas station...haha..... After all, we just spent $17,995 on the damn thing...and that is of course considered a cheap truck....but not to me!

Thankfully, the whole engine deal only costs us $100.00 - lets bless that warranty thing! And the fact that I said lets drive the damn truck every day of that 3 months....he he....

Though previous dealings with Hill Ford had always left a bad taste in my mouth - I have to give kudos to the Service Dept there - they were excellent and very willing to do what it took to make it right. So heres to hoping its right....I think we've got about 2 days left of that warranty!

Who invited the FLU for New Years?

For several years now, we have gotten together with Shelley and the Bandt's for New Years, and have rotated houses every year. This year was hosted by the Bandt's. We needed to pick up Bo from his Dad's in the Dells and had him by 6:30. On the way to Bo, Kara said her stomach felt sick. Well, she was watching her new DVD player and I didn't know if that might make her feel queasy. She said that maybe she was hungry....I told Kara that we would eat when we got to the Bandt's. Let me just say she was NOT hungry... we got into the Bandt's house, where Kara promptly threw up all over the living room....and I mean ALL OVER! It's bad enough when they get sick on your OWN carpet, much less anyone else! YUCK....course a bucket or bowl never came until it was too late....and my ownself happened to already be parked on the toilet anyway.... so we get everything cleaned up, and lay her down. We did manage to eat dinner, but Kara was sick again, so we went home. We were home before 9 pm. Kara was sick all night and pretty much slept all day New Years Day.

Of course, I had to catch this silly bug, and was sick all day Tuesday - HOWEVER - due to year end closing and payroll, I had to go to work anyway....now that was nasty.....I left early, and got home about 4:30 and went to sleep, and didn't get back up until 6 this morning. I feel much better today....thankfully!

So much fun ringing in the new year!