Old post I never posted- Getting Dani up to Snuff Again

This is an OLD POST I never posted.....it should read months ago I began working with Dani

A few weeks months ago I began working with Dani on the lungeline.  She's not had the attitude I expected after so much time off.  She was great honestly and listened well and was calm.

I made sure the get her tack fitted right, wasn't sure if the girths I had would still fit since she's gone up and then down in weight.  The stirrups had been adjusted for me by a tack fitter since they'd always been so long and I need them fairly short to fit my short legs.

I added my stirrup turners again even though the tack guy had twisted the leather to turn the stirrups it still hurt my knees a bit. I got everything set with the tack and continued some ground work with Dani including getting her to come up to the mounting block which she was a good about.

 

The next time I went out to work with her I did only a little bit of ground work to check on her mindset and then I got up on her and rode around the barn.  We worked on some bends and turns and halts, nothing crazy.  She enjoyed it, at least it seemed like she did.  She likes being engaged and being with her human.

Another ride we went out to our little culdesac road and road up and down a bit.  We had Steve and Chance with us and our older dog.  Chance was really excited to be out and about and was prancing a bit in hand with Steve.  Then Chance spooked at our dog and blowing and snorting in the air.  Silly Arabian!  Dani just looked at them with curiosity.  

I'm happy that Dani retains what she learned and that even with over year off she is just about the same horse under saddle.  She's by no means perfect and there are things we can and will work on.  I still don't really see her going on long trail rides with me for several reasons.

1. The trailering issues, I'd need to put a lot of work into getting her on the trailer and consistently too.  It's been about 7 years since she was last on a trailer.
2. Her tender feet, how long can she last being ridden in boots on a rocky trail? Could she be prone to injury more easily?  Then what do I do miles away from home?
3. If I take her out and about Chance will be left alone at the barn and he'll get upset like he does with her just down the road. I can't leave him like that for a whole day!

Since I'm looking for a third horse it makes sense to get a younger horse I can work with and go to training and clinics and do some trail riding when we are ready.  I'll have two horses that can stay home, content to chill and be ridden (Dani at least) around the property and neighborhood. It doesn't make sense to me to get an older companion horse while I try and take Dani places to ride with the issues stated above.

Can you tell I'm still conflicted though? She has such a great mind and is such a sweet horse.  I love her so much.  How did I find such a great horse for so cheap 10 years ago?

When I look at the horses advertised now with harsh bits and minimal training and a huge price tag I'm really shocked. I don't have a deadline to find a new horse and now that Dani is back under saddle and her feet are doing well so happy I can play with her. She's a great friend to spend time with, my future of horsing where I go out and about like I've wanted will come and I will be ready when it does! I'm so happy to be riding my Daenerys again.  She's such a good horse!

First Hoof Trim for Seamus at Geek Acres

When I got Seamus he'd been in the pasture for several months and really needed a trim.  It seems that his shoes had been left on and let to fall off....these are just the assumptions of my farrier. In the first picture of a hoof you can see there were still some nail heads in the hoof.  This hoof also had a piece of hoof wall "notched" out.  My farrier showed me a scar that looks like he'd had a coronary band injury in the past few months.  Nothing came up at the vet exam but I remember noting those back hooves being longer and one I did a double glance at thinking it was club.

The nails were removed and his hooves were trimmed not long after I brought him home.  My farrier is a great barefoot farrier. Both my horses hooves have improved since I came to NC and found her.  She's the farrier I suggest to anyone who wants a barefoot trimmer.  She knows so much more than hooves too!

His back feet were the worst with big wall flares but they are strong since the wall didn't crack or break off.  I'm still working with him on picking up his feet easily.  I ask with poking his chestnuts but sometimes use the hoof pick as a hook to scoop up his foot from the area of the ergot....hope that makes sense.

His hindlegs are easier to pick up and each time he gets better.  Below you can see the trimmed foot on the left and the untrimmed on the right.  It's always nice to see freshly trimmed hooves.

The angles were off on all four feet, especially the back so my farrier got them trimmed up nicely.

Below you can see the trauma that had occurred to the hoof wall and the possible site of the coronary band injury.  We'll see how it grows out.

Freshly trimmed back feet from the far side below,

Freshly trimmed back feet from the near side below,

Nice rounded edges of the wall.  I'm sure his feet will expand some being 100% barefoot here.  It will be interesting to get some comparative pics 6 months from now and a year from now. I'm glad he wasn't one of those Tennessee Walkers with the big pads on their feet.  He just had been a little long between trims and my experience is that trims are different for a shod horse and I'm learning that there is still that old school thought that horses need to have long toes to gait.

It's so not true.  For the longevity of the horse their feet should be trimmed for their conformation and have the best angles to keep their legs aligned properly.  Too high a heel, too long a toe or compressed heels....these all lead to long term problems that don't just affect the hoof but the entire horse. Bad angles in the hoof and legs and add strain to ligaments up the leg and into the spine. Needless to say we have a chiropractor appointment soon so we can make sure he's not been thrown off kilter. 

Kentucky Horse Park

While in Kentucky since we had time it only made sense to check out the Kentucky Horse Park....also known as Mecca in the horse world.  It was off season so there was not a lot going on.  I still want to go for a Breyerfest or some other crazy weekend.

We had a beautiful day but it was slightly chilly, I loved the temperature by the hubby certainly needed to be kept warm.  The gift shop was awesome, lots of Breyers, teeshirts and many derby winner halters complete with a tuft of tail were for sale.

Everywhere you looked there was a famous statue or memorial to some famous horse.  Reckless was awesome to see. Also a memorial plaque for Bask++, a famous Arabian sire. I don't think he was buried there but there were memorial plaques for many famous horses.

We made it to the parade of breeds, the draft horse and then the racehorse talks.  Perfect timing for each. The draft horse barn showed us a belgian, percheron and then a shire.  All beautiful horses that everyone could pet afterwards.  My little 14 hand something horses are so tiny comparatively.

Funny Cide was the retired racehorse we got to meet and hear the story of his winnings and the gamble that group of friends who owned him had taken.  He was a grumpy old man and showed lots of personality as he watched the crowd gathered around to see him.

We didn't stay to see the full documentary, narrated by William Shatner, in the "Mane Theater" but saw the end 15 minutes.  I just found it cute with the pun on word spelling.

The red carpet was perfect as well. There was more to see in this area but we had already had a long weekend of looking at horses to buy so a nap was in our future. We honestly would need a full weekend to really see the park when it's in full swing during visitor season.

Of course the Man O' War's statue was something not to miss.  Unknown to me this is his final resting place, the entire story of his shaky beginnings with sales from the Ridley farms and his temperament were written out on the plaques around the statue.  Man O War is my favorite book of Walter Farley's.  He brought the story to life and did his research.  This was sacred ground.

We certainly will have to go back when there is more going on but it was neat to at least check it out for a couple hours.