Spring Checkup

The vet came yesterday for shots, fecal samples, and sheath cleaning. I had stalled the boys about an hour before Dr. Jen arrived and gave them some hay in hopes we would have fresh fecal samples. Success! The piles of poo were still steamy on the inside. Perfect for checking out pesky parasites.

Rupert was a good boy for his shots and sheath cleaning, but Kid was not. Usually spring checkups involve teeth floating, but since I'm not working, I hall the boys to a much cheaper equine dental school for a $35 float by graduating students (they do a great job). Even though Kid didn't get his teeth done, we still had to sedate for sheath cleaning. He does NOT like his junk messed with and will try to kick you even while half asleep. He kicked out several times but never made contact and now has a clean thingie.

Dr. Jen said their weight is good and they look great - yea!

Current feeding plan that works:

AM
3 quarts pellets
4 pounds timothy pellets (pre-soak weight)
7 pounds coastal hay
Joint supplement - Rupert
2 tablets Acetazolamide for HYPP - Kid

PM
3 quarts pellets
2 pounds beet pulp shreds (pre-soak weight). Beet pulp is drained and then re-rinsed to get rid of excess potassium.
7 pounds coast hay

All Day
Grass in the field

Feeding in the Rain

We have huge thunderstorms moving through North Texas today which inspired our BO to feed earlier than usual this morning since most of the horses are fed outside. She only feeds once a day so my husband and I usually go out in the evening to give our horses a second feeding. I had to go buy feed and beet pulp this afternoon and then went to the barn to unload and feed early (again before the storms moved through). The grass is getting quite nice and tasty but I usually don't have any problems getting Kid and Rupert to come up for dinner. Today was different.

Winds were gusting over 40 miles an hour so calling the horses didn't work because I don't think they could hear me. I walked out into the pasture where Rupert was and he actually ran off. I'm not going to chase him for feeding so went back to the feeding pens, picked up their lovely hay, and put it back in the trailer. We will try again this evening as long as it's not lightening out. I don't want them to go without their food, but we need to stay safe.

Silly ponies...

In like a Lion...

March has proven to be very windy and somewhat wet so far here in North Texas. It was supposed to rain every day this week so I didn't plan to ride. Guess what? No rain. Steven and I went out around 11:00 today to feed Kid and Rupert and ended up have a spa day with the horses. Rupert especially, had weird, funky yak hair but most of it is now blowing in the wind. They both look a lot better and their hooves look great too.

Rain is predicted again for most of the coming week which is fine since we really need the hay to grow so we can buy locally and maybe bring the prices down. Sometime this week I must make a trip to the feed store for feed, timothy pellets, beet pulp, and hay. I don't want the hay to get rained on so must plan my trip around the weather.

Exploring Where We Board

The place where we board the horses has a creek running along the property boundry. Last week we road in the creek for the first and second times. Kid was so good with just the tiniest spook on the first day and a little bigger spook on the second. He and Big Red (horse on the right with Bethann) willing went in the water and splashed around. Steve at the barn told us in the spring it's really fun to ride because the creek is filled bank to bank.

Blogging Greatness

Since it has been awhile since my last post, blogging greatness has come and gone again and again. Andrea at http://eventing-a-gogo.blogspot.com/ has come out several times to trim Kid and Rupert. We are getting ever closer to hooves of steel.

Rupert has a club foot(LF)and is pigeon-toed which has meant his hooves have been an ongoing problem most of his life. He had always been shod in the front to either try to correct the problem or at least "make do". In the photo (still wearing shoes), it's obvious that his left foot in the clubbed one and it forces his left knee to be higher.

When I first contacted Andrea, she asked tons of questions about both Kid and Rupert, but Rupert especially. She came out the last weekend in August, just after we moved to the new barn. I was sooooo excited.

Kid's feet weren't bad, just really dry. Rupert's were awful. His hooves were narrow, frogs atrophied, and he looked like he was standing on his toes. She observed him walking and noted that instead of heel-toe, he walked toe-heel (not good). His front legs were also very stiff.

I had let Andrea know that Rupert tended to be very sore after shoeing so we had decided to put Equisocks on his front feet until they fell off or until he was trimmed again. They stayed on until Andrea returned.
With every trim his feet get better and better. The hooves are widening, frogs are healthier, AND Rupert is walking heel-toe now. The angles of his front legs are different and are more balanced. He seems to be happier when walking and running.

We haven't taken him down in the creek yet but I did take Kid and he handled the rocks with no problems. Thank you Andrea!

Saddle Pad Contest

I entered a contest at http://lucysquest.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-hand-painted-saddle-pad.html to win a hand-painted saddle pad. This of course means I need to remind Heidi (again) to send my English saddle down to Texas.

My entry haiku:

My Kid and Rupert
Patiently waiting for me
To kiss sweet noses

I really hope I win.

Kid and Rupert's New Home

Last Sunday, we moved Kid and Rupert to a new barn which is much closer to home. Our friend, Bethann, moved Big Red also. The horses have 40 acres to graze and run around on. The arena and round pen are very nice and I can't wait to ride in them.

The decision to move was a difficult one but barn drama and more importantly, horse weight issues ultimately made moving necessary. The horrible Texas drought has made forage in many places non-existent. The place we were boarding was no exception and the horses were losing weight rapidly. Our new place has been watering their pastures and it shows. The grass is green and apparently tasty. Kid was very clingy the first few days he was there but he is definitely over that now. I went to catch him yesterday and he was awful - pinned ears, walking away, etc. Didn't want to leave his grass.

Everyone we have met has been so nice and Lesley, the BO, has been so helpful. We can't wait to begin taking lessons again.



Saturday, we had blogging greatness visit us for new adventures with hooves. Details to come.