April 20- Ride #29 bareback

This week was Spring in Colorado, which includes a litle bit of snow and several stunning 70-degree days.

Sunday night it snowed and Sherlock got to wear his new blanket, which fits him much better. I went out as early as I could after work to take it off, it never warmed up that much Monday-but he had shed so much under it he almost had mats of hair. Took me a while to scrape them all off.
Taco was added back into the paddock for a few days, then a grand adventure trying to catch him for M, with T helping.
I accepted the trade saddle and am waiting for the saddle-expert's estimate to bring it up to speed. I got a full set of SMB boots for Sherlock, lighty-used off eBay, but they ended up purple instead of the royal blue I was expecting. Maybe will trade those with Liz later.

Annie and Sherlock sharing the hay

Thursday we worked in the indoor arena, I set up a cavaletti (6 inches) and he trotted over it for me. Tried to run out and after a scolding he jumped it twice in a row without asking for a break. Ended on a good jump.
The same day Dr. Deb came to adjust Sherlock, and he did really well. Much less sore, only tried to bite me once. He leaned away from the right side quite a bit, but never so far she couldn't continue to work on him. Picked up all for feet for stretching and really did well. Proud of him.

Saturday I rode Sherlock in the round pen bareback pad and with rope halter. Walked well, feels very good on my stiff back. Whoa and back up good, working on back 2 steps and then walk forward. Then asked him to trot a few steps, tried hard but feels odd bareback. Listening and uncertain. Clucking to maintain rhythm helped. Still 'popping" his front end up to trot- I wonder if he thinks he should be cantering.
Need to get cantering and differentiate the cues. Gnats bothering his ears.
Aztec added to the  paddock, I didn't even notice him but while I was riding I did see them chasing and Zip and Aztec fighting.

Sunday they were still eating breakfast so I groomed Sherlock in the paddock (MUD! From last night's rain). Put Eqyss spray all over his back, and lotion on underside of tail from another recent loose stools episode. Very good manners for this. Wearing Sirah's fly mask with ears- too small but we'll see how it lasts. Put wormer in the grain this time and he didn't want it. I broke up a mint on top but not sure how much medicine actually got through...

Shopping List:
Blanket Rack and a hook/something to hang it on
Fly mask with ears
Maybe feed-through fly control
More wormer- scent free this time

April 14- Happy Birthday Sherlock!

This week the weather has been crazy again. Sherlock hasn't felt very well and lost some weight.

Wednesday I took the possible-trade saddle in for an estimate at Saddle Up. The saddle expert was there and we talked about what would need to be done but I didn't actually get a total price. Needs new tie strings, updated stirrup leathers and buckles, and a cinch holder-buckler. Plus a serious oiling. And I should probably buy new stirrups. I want these cool safety stirrups that I may have mentioned before...

Then Thursday my very good friend Foster heard me talking about saddles and he wants to gift me an old saddle of his. I have no idea how long it's been hanging around or what size or anything but I'm willing to take a look!

Friday I fed Sherlock in the barn. It's been nice to talk with V and T about their TBs.  V has a trailer and might be willing to do "Jack-in-the-Box trailer training". T's sister is a very experienced rider and could be a great help to all of us! Things in the Pony Paddock are much quieter with Taco relegated to the barn to be company for Rocket. Everyone eats together, no new bites (ok just one) and things just look peaceful again.

Sherlock, Annie and Zip.

Saturday AM I did some light free-longe with Sherlock in the indoor. He was a bit stiff turning left and didn't want to go that way at all, but walked out of it ok. Stretches, played with standing in the hula hoops, very nicely done.
Saturday PM G&A came along to the stable, A took pictures with his newly-cobbled-together antique camera while G held back from the shedding horses. Gave Sherlock grain with Banamine but it was still too warm for a blanket.

Sunday got up early, still light rain. Headed out to stable as it turned to snow. Gave Sherlock cookies and did stretches, put new blanket on.

Monday 14th. Arrived during breakfast, took blanket off and hand-curried some of the huge clumps of hair off. Good manners, very sweet.

April 8- ride 28, trade saddle

On Monday I didn't work. I went to the chiropractor instead, then came home and slept. After a nap I went  out to see Sherlock and to borrow a cinch to ride the possible trade saddle. L was kind enough to lend a cinch and I met another new boarder, M and her Arabian gelding.

Rode just a few minutes walking in the saddle but it fit well, might need a shim or half-pad at first, but a much better fit. Sherlock accepted a carrot from M and ate it in little teeny bites. So adventurous!

Sherlock shedding.

On Tuesday I went out for a short visit, but the weather was so stunning, finally sunny and 70 degrees, and the barn was opened up. So I brought Sherlock up to the indoor arena, groomed and did some free longing over a cavaletti (little tiny jump) which he did very well with. Then I lured him to walk over the crinkly tarp a few times with cookies. Gave him his grain and hand-grazed for a minute before escorting him home. Sherlock's manners have really been exceptional since the spook on Saturday.

April 6- ouchie, new neighbor

This week the weather was crazy, with high winds, light snow, and one day of freezing rain.
Our local therapeutic riding center had their yearly tack sale and I got Sherlock a winter blanket. Of course it was still out getting washed when the freezing rain arrived, so he had to wear the old one this last time.

Saturday the 5th I got Sherlock out to ride. After I closed the gate behind us I realized his halter was quite loose. I reached over the adjust it and startled him, and he hit me with his head, then stood there looking quite shocked and the untied halter fell off. I said "whoa" and "it's okay" and "oh my aching head", clambered up, and put the halter back on him.

Not much in the mood to ride any longer, I took Sherlock to the outdoor arena where we schooled walking over and through the flower box jumps. Then I lunged him over them, and went back to the barn for grooming- and grain, which he flung all over the aisle. People going out to ride told me he has respect issues if he hit me with his head. How can I explain he can't see me? Or am I letting him get away with too much?

I was a little grumpy with him going back to the paddock (headache!), so no grazing allowed and I got tired of him stopping and drove him a little to make him move. When I returned to the barn to clean up, T was there getting a stall ready for her new OTTB, Rocket. Talking to her really cheered me up.

Icepack on my head in the evening. And the hip I landed on stiffened up. Downton Abbey, Aleve and hot chocolate to the rescue! Did some research, esp. on the Blind Horse Rescue site, and Blind Horse Care and decided getting bumped is just part of having a sight-impaired horse. I do want to practice my ground work, but I can't get mad at him for not seeing me. Still, he saw my hand moving, where he used to see nothing. The eye is improving. Called Dr. Deb, the horse chiropractor.

Sunday I did some work cleaning in the garage, broke down a ton of boxes and got the leg-straightener thingies off my synthetic leather saddle to take it for trading. They keep the torque off the kness when riding Western. Anyway, I took the saddle up to Berthoud to meet a gal wanting to trade. We had coffee and talked horses, great a good time. We even both worked at Bi-Polar Farm, her just a couple years ago. Sounds like not much had changed.

So I brought her saddle back to try on Sherlock. I saw that the new horse had arrived ansd he was eating. Just after I set the saddle down and got Sherlock's grain made and wet down for less flinging, T and her sister arrived and I helped them put together a likit toy and chatted. Rocket just arrtived from Golden Gate Fields- he is also a 5yo bay gelding. He is sired by Street Cry, Zenyatta's sire! Some kind of TB royalty we have around here nowadays.

I went and got Sherlock from the paddock where they were still eating- Maybe they had some lunch, he could use a few more calories. Have to thank Tyler. Back to the barn, I put him in the cross-ties for his grain and he was pretty good. Many admirers.

Tried the saddle on, to some face-making. But I think it might be ok. Regina will be back Monday and I can have her take a look. I need a girth, but I was planning on buying a wool felt one anyway.

Free-longed Sherlock a few minutes in the indoor, he did very well even though he got a bit anxious when the rain began to make a lot of noise on the roof. He stopped and came to hide behind me. Said hello to Rocket through the bars, very calm, no squealing. Walked back to the paddock very nicely, better balance today. Great manners, very sweet today despite minor cookie begging.