Grrrr! Again.

So I get all excited on Saturday with my big plans to tack up that girl and take a stroll around the arena for the first time in months. Then my hopes were dashed when I saw that by the time I got to the barn mid-afternoon, no one was there. No one. The place was totally locked up. I wasn't about to ride my quick-footed girl for the first time in months all by myself, but I figured it's been a few months, so waiting another day won't be the end of the world.

Except when I went to get my girl out of the pasture for a little TLC, this was what her leg looked like.

See bump on the left side (inside of her left foreleg).
Damn thing.

Yeah, I'm talking about the weird bump between her knee and fetlock. It's about the size of a half a walnut, and slightly soft, meaning not bony but not squishy either. It's not particularly hot, and it doesn't seem to bother her. At all. Not when I mash it (which I only do gently, as I don't want to hurt her or damage her) and not when she puts weight on that leg. I watched her and she puts full weight on it, both at rest and in motion. So what is it?

I did some Internet research, and it sounded at first like it could be a "splint," which is a bump that arises from damage to the splint bone in the leg. However, those are a lot more common in young horses and Girlfriend is fast approaching 13.  Another thing I read made me think it could be a burst blood vessel, but it didn't feel as squishy as that sounded.

I showed it to Erin the next day, who basically agreed that we don't know what the devil it is, so I need to call the vet. But it's the holiday, so it will be after tomorrow, as I don't know for sure what my schedule is for Wednesday. So, dammit, I don't think I should get on her again until we know at least what it is.

On the positive side, I've been just bringing Skye in and loving on her, and she seems to enjoy it. She is still meeting me at the gate and being perfect about being led in and groomed. While this doesn't sound like much, I keep remembering that not too long ago she didn't even want to come in from the pasture at the Greenway. And not long after that, she didn't relax in cross ties, particularly the one in the entrance to the barn. Now she is cool as a cucumber. Or actually pretty toasty. I've been worrying about her as it is getting chillier, but dealing with her yesterday I could feel that she is pretty good at generating her own heat. I was cuddling up to her as she was a lot warmer than I was. She seemed to know what I was doing, and didn't mind at all.

You would not know from this picture that she is a snuggle bunny.

Also, Erin was doing some ground work with Reebok (or as I call him, Sweet Meat), and mentioned she wished she had more time to work with him. I told her I would have some time coming up and would be happy to work with him. She took me up on it! I am going to start doing ground work on him and get on his back as soon as possible. She wants to make him available to the barn members but can't do it until he has been ridden more. And he is gaited, so it should be interesting.

See? Interesting. He looks like a tank here.
A muddy tank. But sweet.

I'm pulling out my books and looking at them in a new way since he clearly does not have the good background that my girl has, and his personality is completely different. Skye is rather confident and even proud. Reebok is quite shy, with people and horses, and is more tentative. I am also going to assume that he is probably not quite as bright as she is, mostly because I haven't met that many horses that are. And he is the low man on the totem pole in the pasture, so his demeanor will be different. The good thing is that since he has been in that pasture, I have always sought him out to pet him or to give him a treat so he already trusts me. Yesterday, he spooked when he stepped on his lead line and came right over the pasture where I had let Skye out, and he came right to me.  I'm really looking forward to working with him. I already love him so.

Speaking of love, I also love this guy.

He is actually a lot cuter than his picture shows.
See his most excellent buckskin dapples.

This is Smoke'em, a little buckskin paint who is privately owned by an awesome kid who loves him like nobody's business and who is just great with him. I don't see her out there much, but she is a very talented little horsewoman. I like him mostly because he is cute, and he has a sweet spirit.

A little more cuteness from Skye's pasture.

Chloe. Very pretty girl. Her attitude is improving
by leaps and bounds lately.

Happy New Year! Fresh starts all around.

Peppermint Patty

I've had Dave and the boys at home and Christmas clean-up going on, so I've not had time to spend with my girl. Yesterday, however, we were taking some stuff to the landfill, which is just a few minutes away from the barn. Dave was the one who suggested we swing by and say hello to that girl, even though we were not dressed for it. (Specifically, we were not shod for it, as I had on my Toms, which are not really stable shoes, and he had on his work shoes.) I can tell he really likes her if he is the one wanted to see her. Of course he likes her. Who can resist a pretty girl?

Beautiful, even when blurry.

All we did was pull up to her pasture and give her a couple of the peppermints I hoard for her and keep in the cup holder in my car. She loves them, and spend about 5 minutes licking her lips and asking for more. It wasn't much, but it was a little something. And she looks so good.  I'm very happy that Dave sees what I see in her. I would still have her, but I feel so guilty over having this big expense that is just for me. When we see her together though, she isn't an expense, she's my horse. My horse. Immutable.

Today I had to go to the dentist and drop off my id and business cards at work. Tomorrow I hope to get on her back though. Fingers crossed.

Soundness

Aaaahh! Finally, we have news of soundness with a little tenderness.

The past week had good news and bad news, and I just realized when I sat down to write that I haven't written for 9 days.  I was out of town, then worked a "double day" to make up for it and get ready to get done for the Christmas holiday and the rest of the year, and - cue scary music - was struck down by a virus from Hell. But I am back, full of resolutions to write more regularly with high hopes that I will have more riding to write about.

Waitin'.

I was missing my girl something terrible this week and finally got out there Wednesday mid-day. The barn was hoppin', which is unusual for that time of day, but one reason was because Erin was giving a trail ride and was also waiting for the vet to get there. I was already feeling pretty sick and had planned on it being somewhat of a drive-by visit, but when I heard the vet was on her way, I got my girl, stuck her in a stall and sat down to wait.

Once Dr. Hobbs was there and had taken a look at Black's eye, she told me to take Skye to the round pen so she could see her move. She asked me to work her off line (at liberty) so Skye would have more room and move more freely. I hadn't worked her at liberty in the pen ever, remembering how tense Skye got with the trainer, but decided to wing it, hoping all the reading I've been doing about round pen work would kick in.

Well, what kicked in was Skye's AWESOMENESS! I unhooked my long lead line and pointed to the right, indicating I wanted her on the rail going clockwise. Girlfriend went right out there and started walking, her inside ear cocked to me and her right eye on me. I told her walk on, and she did a nice working listening walk, and looked very sound. Then I told her to trot, and she trotted right out, perfectly. When she sped up a little too much, I said "easy" and she took it down a notch. And the best part was she looked pretty sound. I had Skye walk again, took my eye off her, bend over a little and backed up slightly. She turned in went right back out, with her ear and eye to me waiting to be told to trot. I told her and she picked it right up. Damn, that girl made me look like Clinton Anderson. I was so proud of her. She was so in tune with me and just listening so well.

And it gets better. She wasn't really lame at the trot going counterclockwise like she has been. Dr. Hobbs thought if there was any tenderness it was the left front foot, not the left hind foot, but thought she looked much much better, and that her trimming and shoeing was now where it needed to be. All good.  When I stopped and indicated for Skye to come in, she came in and let me rub her forehead and gave me the big sigh. I left her there to go talk to the Dr. Hobbs at the rail, but she followed me over like a big dog. Dr. Hobbs gave me a big smile said what a good girl Skye is. She is. She is so amazing she can make an amateur like me look like she knows what's she doing.

I told her about the ouchy back problem, so she took her over in the sun and ran a needle case over her back looking for soreness. At one point Skye did move away from it, but the vet said she didn't see any real reason for concern. She did tell me to start with 10 rides at a good walk in the big arena and/or on soft ground to get her legs a little stronger, then move to trotting just on the straightaways. I'm not to work in round pen or to do circles, as they stress the joint that I'm trying to strengthen.

Of course, that evening I got really sick and ended up staying in bed full-time Wednesday night through Saturday morning. Saturday I was still tired, but we managed to get out there to get some pictures of the boys with Skye for what will now be a New Year's card. Dave hadn't seen Skye for a while, but fell back in love with her again, as she looked as beautiful as ever and, even though she was in a bit of a grumpy mood, was pretty sweet with him. He has seen her do some frightening things, so having him see her being her normal good girl self is pretty good.

Today I managed to get out there very briefly, and it was like a ghost town. She met me at the fence for a rub, then stayed by the fence when I went in the tack room for cookies. After doing a little dinky duty (to the extent allowed by that cookie thief, Munchkin), I went into the pasture to give her some cookies.

Since she didn't meet me at the gate, I managed to get over to Reebok and give him a few cookies. He is such a sweetheart. My new nickname for him is Sweet Meat (since he had been destined for slaughter). She ambled over for her share of cookies, but didn't shoo him away and even stood for him being given another cookie in her presence. I'm not sure if this was from respect for me since I was feeding or a special dispensation to him (also possible, as he gets away with stuff that she won't let the other horses think about, like drinking when she is drinking), but I'll take either one. Ginger and Chloe came over, hoping, but Skye swung her big head at them and gave them the stink eye. No cookies for them!

Mistletoe. Christmasy name, Billy-Goat-Gruff beard.

It rained last night all night, so I'm hoping it will be drier this evening, and maybe even sunny tomorrow to dry the ring up so I can ride my girl.

Best of all, this was the very first Christmas where the little girl in my heart didn't have to be sad that she didn't have a Christmas pony!

Still out of commission

So I was terribly busy wrapping things up for the holidays, and only managed to see my girl Wednesday and Saturday.  She has completed her shots, her feet are now pretty even and striking correctly, and yet, damn it (!) she is still lame. Today rather than trust my judgment alone, I had several people watch me trotting her, and it was unanimous. She is lame.

Later Craig from the barn felt around her back, and he found a definite tender spot the right side of her back, whereas it is the left hind leg that she appears to be favoring. I don't know if this is good or bad, as her gait could be causing the soreness in her back, or straining her back could be making her limp and bob her head. In any case, I need to get the vet out there and really talk to her. The bute she was on months ago helped, but that is not a long term solution. Needless to say, I am very very frustrated and discouraged. Just when I was making progress with her, I can't get back on her back.

She was great in the round pen on Wednesday, but slightly obnoxious in the cross ties. She was pretty good all around today, but is still trying to slam down her foot when I'm cleaning it. She is always coming to me in the pasture. We also enjoy our grazing time before I put her up. There is a lovely green patch near her pasture with grass and clover so lush and green, it makes me want to try a little myself. She loves it more than apple cookies, and we can be together for a few minutes. I have noticed that I am more and more comfortable with her, but I would love the opportunity to get more comfortable with her on her back too! Ugh.

In brighter news, I visited the mini pasture to day to visit my favorite little guys and little girl.

Here is the dinky duty of the day picture. Please hold your applause.

Even their little Eyeore butts are cute.

And here is the sole female in that pasture, looking a bit like a billy goat, her boyfriend looking on.

Nice 'do, Mistletoe!

Munchkin also remained on hand in case any cookies were in danger of going to waste.

Ready, willing and able to eat a cookie.
As evidenced by his considerable girth.

Several of my favorite people were out there today, so I still had a great time, but I am getting really tired of never being able to ride.

Temptation Alley

Monday, Erin texted me to let me know the farrier was there to shoe Skye. She later let me know she had been a good girl and that the farrier says her feet appear to be striking evenly. Tuesday I ran out to the barn (though I had hardly any time) to see that girl and give her the shot. She was wonderful, as usual. I had no time to work her to check the lameness, but she looked good at the walk.

I had a similar time crunch today but I just wanted to see her, so down I went. As I pulled up the gravel road, Skye saw me and walked quickly to the fence to see me. She knows at the very least that I will roll down the window and sweet talk her. Today I happened to have some peppermints that were put in my lunch bag, and I had no one behind me, so I hopped out and handed her a peppermint. She loves them, and makes such funny faces with her tongue. I got back in the car and started toward the barn, and she trotted alongside the van! So cute. I was driving so I couldn't really see her gait to judge lameness, but I have all my fingers crossed that we will be able to see a sound girl tomorrow.

No one was there at all today, as it was the middle of the day, and the weather was chilly and cloudy. I wasn't all that interested in messing around with her with no one around. (I'm such a snob now. I used to be alone all the time dealing with her.) And, I recognized that if I played my cards right, I could go home a different way and go the way I call "Temptation Alley." So I visited Skye in the pasture and loved on her a little, then jumped in the car and headed home the long way.

There are two reasons I call the long way home Temptation Alley. The first is the Carolina Country Store which is on the right on the highway. It's a feed store that sells a small selection of horse stuff, so it counts as a tack shop to me! I try to avoid it because it's one of the few places I will buy things I absolutely don't need, just because. It's crazy. And today, sadly, was no different. I bought Skye some of the carrot cookies, an extra hoof pick and a long bristled brush that I really liked and really didn't need. But I did get one thing that could count as a need, assuming Skye is sound again, or will be in the near future - some winter riding gloves.

Here they are:

My new neato riding gloves.
Can I pull off a zebra print? We'll see.

They fit perfectly and have a suede-like palm and fingers. And they are funky.  They are not really made for very cold weather, but we don't usually have very cold weather, and when we do I don't ride in it. And they are nice and grippy. I can't wait to try them. I also helped a local business, which is always good too.

So I drove away feeling happy, and even strong enough to withstand the second temptation:

I'm talking, of course, about Krispy Kreme.
And the hot doughnuts light was ON.

Yup. I drove right past it! Between that and not buying Skye some of her apple cookies, it is clear that I am made of steel.

Quiet Sunday

Today was really beautiful, but I had a ton to do around the house. But what did I do? I went to see my girl! I've got a few things on my mind, but spending time with her is the best stress reliever I know, so I figured it was a medical necessity.

As I drove in, I slowed down, and saw this.

Skye looking pensive. Strawberry candy looks on, and Reebok heading in for look.

And I instantly felt better.  I went in and got her halter, and sure enough, she saw me coming and met me at the gate. I cannot overemphasize how much it means to me that she does this. She isn't the most affectionate horse (although admittedly I was a bit spoiled by Goliath, who will lick you if he likes you; and he likes everybody), but knowing that she comes in to see me voluntarily makes me like we do have a bond.

We didn't do much. I just groomed her and then let her graze on a really nice green patch I found near her pasture. She loved it, and I loved just hanging out with her. When I put her up, she hung out with me for a few minutes in the pasture even though I assured her I did not have any treats.

I also attempted Dinky Duty and managed to pet two of the three of them before Munchkin and Mistletoe horned in on the action. They ran the dinkies off and demanded petting, which they got. I have no immunity built up to their cuteness.

Blankie!

Yesterday I finally got around to seeing if Skye's swanky new blanket fit. For the last two weeks, by the time I would think of it, everybody would have their hands full or be riding or have left, and I figured since she still eyes the saddle pad pretty warily, it would be a lot easier to have someone hold her while I wrestled two-handed with the sheet and blanket to try it on. The company said they can't take it back if it is dirty or has horse hair on it, so I brought a white sheet from home to put on under it in case it didn't fit.

So Erin held and we put it on. Skye gave the sheet the hairy eyeball for a second, but then, of course, acted perfectly, like she gets a blanket put on her every day. This no doubt made me look like a nervous Nellie about doing anything new with my horse. I still think it was justified because I don't see us using the blanket often (or maybe not as all as it is just not that cold here, and it would have been very cold and wet to justify it), so every experience counts. I didn't want her to have any fear.

Well, she didn't, and she looked awesome.

Stylin'!

This isn't a great picture, but I was in a hurry so Erin could get back to one of the million things she had to do. (Though she wasn't rushing me.) But it does show my girl was just as cool as a cucumber about it. And so good looking.

Before we did that though I watched Erin give a couple of short groundwork lessons in the round pen. One was with Dakota, a little Saddlebred mare recently bought by one of the nicest people out there. A young rider was working her for the owner, and it was good for me to watch instruction for working her at liberty in the round pen. Watching the trainer I had used was a anxiety-ridden affair, as she was very forceful and both Skye and I were very stressed by it. Seeing that you can push pressure on the horse to do what you want without being a bully about it is always a good reminder. (I am never a bully to Skye; my problem will using be not putting enough pressure. Luckily for both of us, my girl is pretty good at figuring out what I'm looking for.)

Then I watched  AJ, an off the track Thoroughbred rescue work in the round pen with his owner, another young (18 or so) rider who is just great with him. He was such a good boy. He had had very little groundwork training, but he is so bonded with his owner that he was really trying to figure out what she wanted in a calm way. It was very cool to see the relationship playing itself out in a learning situation. And he is awesome, as you can see.

A.J., whose racing name was Second Coming
He is such a sweet horse.

While I was watching all this, my girl was hanging out in her stall. I don't put her in there often, but I don't want it to be foreign to her in case the weather gets really terrible or she gets injured and needs to be in there. So she hung her head out and watched, and seemed pretty comfortable. She doesn't act up or freak out in there, but she is always ready to be put back out.

Watching the action

She has started really pulling her right front foot out of my hand after cleaning it, and it doesn't appear to be related to the frog so much as not wanting to be standing in that position. She doesn't do it with any other foot, so I am really going to try to get the vet out there to look her over again, make sure I am giving the shot correctly and talk to her. This lameness is getting really really old.

And of course on my way out, I did some Dinky Duty with carrots. All three came up to me and all three wanted, and received, carrots. I only got to pet Echo though, as they dodged my hands. How I love them though.

Bravo and Echo, after Zulu scooted off.
I did get to give Zulu a treat this time though.