March 30- Ride #27

Sunday 3/22 after the snow I took Sherlock out to the round pen and did some grooming. I brushed out and thinned his mane. He seemed a bit uncomfortable, holding onto my sleeve with his teeth. Did some leg stretches and food with Banamine in it. Weight-taped 888#. Tyler keen on about upping their hay a little bit.

Over the course of the week we had alternating sunny 60-degree days and patches of snow. G was ill again a few days and with linmited time I did see Sherlock everyday for feeding. Met new boarder V and her TB Sam and mini Pixie.

Saturday 3/29 Groundwork day. There's a coop in the round pen and we de-spooked with that. Did back-and-stops, and practiced sidepass, as well as turns on forehand and haunches. Brushed out and conditioned his tail.


Sunday 3/30 ride #27. Groomed in round pen, light free longe. A little low energy but not belly-sore. Rode very light bareback in round pen, walk, whoa, back 2 steps. Got down when he decided he was ready to roll, and he let me take everything off before lying down.

Pixie escaped turnout paddock into the Pony Pasture while Sherlock was eating his grain. I ran to tell the girls and we eventually got the little one out again and noted the wide spot in the fence where she slipped through.

March 22- ride #26

So I did get sick. Quite sick. Luckily we had anti-nausea meds from G's trip to urgent care.

On Saturday the 15th we both wobbled weakly out to the stable for vaccination clinic. G came in case I was too weak to hold Sherlock for shots. I took Sherlock to the round pen for a few minutes of frolicking and squealing, he showed off a very nice relaxed canter and his big trot which I am never going to get on film... Then he was very good for his shots, a little nervous when the vet switched sides but a mint solved that.

Sunday I went out to check on him and woke him up from a nap. He lets me come up and give him a pat and then he gets up. Grain and some shedding blade work. No reactions in shot areas.

Fed in paddock and shedded a few times over the week. Areas that were very muddy and got showsheened are staying cleaner.

Friday the 21st rode in the round pen. Sherlock was pawing while grooming, which he never does. But other people were feeding their horses grain. and I was trying to clip his muddy
bridle path. I was hoping to trot some poles in the outdoor arena, but he was being so fussy- So I tacked up and out we went to the round pen to work off the excess energy. But there was no energy. He walked slowly and trotted just a few steps. When I got down I realized the wind was getting colder and the clouds dropping over the mountains. Weather must be changing.

So I put Sherlock away and went home for the Banamine. Came back, put the meds in a bran mash and fed it to Sherlock, who was not excited at first but slurped it all down.

Snowing today.

March 12- Ride 24&25, Past and Present

After riding with advice from Jo, I paid for a set of lessons to be started after Horse Expo. It snowed for several days, blowing my plan to ride as much as possible before the farrier, since Sherlock is usually a bit footsore for a few days afterwards.

Th 3/6 The farrier did come and Sherlock was very good except for the last foot, Left Hind this time. Snorty when he saw racing bikes going by on the road. Round pen afterwards, he was very squealy and needed to run. Note to self: exercise before cleanliness on farrier days. Yes it's nice to have his feet clean but better to have him stand quiet. Worked up a sweat, got a few bucks in.

Sherlock towering over Annie and Tooie

Fri 3/7 Off early from work to go to Ft. Collins in the sleet to sign Brand Inspection for Sirah to J&D. Horrible drive, was early so stopeed at World Market and bought a snow globe Eiffel Tower for protection (long story). Anyway, the inspector was there on time and we went into the paddock to identify the horse and note her markings. I whistled and she whinnied! It was good to see her, she looked good- Mirah is taller than her by a goodly amount.
At last J appeared but he had no paperwork. I was supposed to have the old Brand Inspection papers. No, they would have been handed over with everything else, I said. J went to look for them. I knew he wouldn't find them, and he came back eventually and the inspector had to call the office to look it up on the computer. Got everything done and signed but just a little extra stress.

Decided to go home the slower, safer way and stopped at Latigo Lariat. Window-shopped a bunch of saddles and bought a red,white and blue nylon bridle for Halloween costume, and a blue and white sparkly bat. Just for old times' sake I also drove past GF. It was locked up tight at 4:30 pm with not a horse in sight.

Went by the stable to feed and Sherlock was really cold- shaking like his knees were going to give it up. Got the blanket and came back, he wouldn't let me get close to put it on as Zip and Taco were being aggressive. Got the halter and followed him- nothing- got a handful of grain and caught him, shooed everyone off. Put blanket on. He really didn't want it at all until I spread it over his back then he settled right down. Let him go, got the grain, got him fed. Went home cold, wet, covered head to toe in filthy mud.

Saturday 3/8 Warming and sunny. Unblanketed the beast, Eqyss spray all over his back, light grooming in paddock, fed. Sherlock still anxious.

Sunday 3/9 Ride 24. Stunning day! Really bright, high 60's . Turned Sherlock out in outdoor arena, groomed, very muddy but I cleared a spot for the saddle. Super-nice smooth canter in turnout- I can't wait to sit that canter. His belly was a little tight so very light work under saddle, walking, strong walk, light trot. Steering over a few poles, single, double then a set of 4. Steering a bit tricky in rope halter, esp at trot, but did well.

Monday 3/10 Ride 25. Worked at ST, came home early and did some mud cleaning. Picked up feet well, put up with lots of Showsheen in forelock and mane. Areas that were heavily Showsheened are staying cleaner. BUT Showsheen may cause the saddle to slip. So the one area I'd like to stay clean I don't really want to Showsheen. I will probably do it anyway and take the chance. Cleaned him up some, ran out of time before Chiropractor Appointment so rode about 20 minutes, light work w/t but trotted pair of poles. Much more forward when I am carrying the crop on the side he can see it. Snoopy's people working in indoor, Sherlock had to go see them as they were in the shade, hard for him to see. Sniffed all the kids and behaved very well.

Tuesday 3/11  G came down with a stomach virus. It was cold and nasty all day with horizontal blowing snow, perfect for a trip to Urgent Care and 2 pharmacies for meds. Exhausted. Worked a little from home.

Wed 3/12 G still sick and needs someone here to help. I'm very paranoid about my stomach and am watching its every move. I do not want to get sick.