2024- and welcome to our newest addition, Zaphod Beeblebrox

 And we got Beeblebrox in November from a local cat rescue that brought him up here from New Mexico!

2024 one year with Eleven!

 So I purchased Eleven from a family in Pueblo as a basic working ranch horse. He's excellent and really has been doing great. Getting my riding confidence back has been a long haul this year.

Plans for 2023- Horse

 Back to the old drawing board.

SO I am NOT planning on getting a horse with one eye this time. I want to avoid that pitfall. I am also seriously re-thinking getting an Appaloosa because of the congenital late-life eye issues thay often have. 

I would like to do a rescue/rescue-ish again.

So I'm thinking maybe another Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB), maybe a Mustang, maybe a local rescue horse of another breed. 

Do I want a finished horse, maybe older but a known history? Do I want a youngster to train up my own way? Am I too old and un-bouncy to saddle-train a baby again? I haven't decided.

I want to walk, trot, and canter. Jump a few small jumps, maybe go to a schooling show. Trail ride.

RESCUES

There is an excellent rescue here in Longmont called Colorado Horse Rescue, so I am stalking their page. There is also Colorado Horse Rescue Network, whose facility is farther away but they go to the local horse auctions.

There are the local horse auctions. There is a low-end auction every week in close by in Loveland. There are higher-end auctions all over Colorado and Wyoming for ranch horses and sport horses. There are online auctions. I so far like thehorsebay.com, they have several local CO sellers, so if I liked a horse I could go meet them before bidding. 

There is a pre-slaughter feedlot very close by where horses are gathered for a few days to a few weeks before shipping to slaughter. They have a Facebook page I can't seem to stay away from. Low-end auctions and feedlots are of course very high-risk. No history and no pedigree, possibly unsound physically or abused, etc. And lots of pressure to save a horse from a terrible fate.

But this is the kind of video that you get to look at, if you're lucky. Some lots just have still photos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoVruwbGKuY

MUSTANGS

Mustangs in our area usually come from the Canon City Wild Horse Inmate system. Inmates train the horses - either just haltered or under saddle- and they auction them to qualified adopters. There are often two adoptions a month. The facility had an outbreak of Strangles and many horses died. They plan to start adopting out again in Spring 2023.

I could try to adopt from a Mustang event or direct from a trainer. The events are very cool and there are several really really talented trainers I've started following on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXYoZnIsZQk

Honestly, since I would have to board, I'm not sure I could qualify to adopt a newly-trained Mustang. I could look for one that's titled (owned by an adopter for 1 year). 

OTTBS

OTTBs are plentiful close to major racetracks. We do not have a major racetrack in Colorado. There are small tracks in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas,Wyoming, etc. So I have been watching the CANTER site for horses in the western states, including California! I shipped Sherlock all the way from WV, but gas prices are very different now.

Here's what CANTER's videos are like of horses that are still on the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg1qEfAJFZo&t=2s

LOCAL SELLERS/BREEDERS

OK. So if I don't want to rescue I can purchase a horse from a high-end auction, or from a local seller ot breeder. 

I have spoken to a Wyoming QH breeder who has 3 fillies ready to start to saddle. Of course I like the most colorful palomino one.

My riding acquaintances are watching out at their stables for sale horses as well. No news thus far but I see them for lunch every month now!

Another riding acquaintance moved her horse here locally but I haven't been able to connect and see the facility. I was hoping to get some lessons at that place but nothing has come together yet.

I have taken a temp job making cookies until mid-December so I do not have time to shop for horses yet, or even to care for one if I went crazy and got a feedlot horse. I'm doing my freelance Sounds True proofreading when there's work and making cookies Thursday-Sunday. 

These are fantastic cookies. Big chewy, nutty, filling cookies. The kind of cookie you need after you've been hauling firewood in the snow.

https://leckerlee.com/

More news as news becomes available. Love all of you who actually read these!

Plans for 2023- cats

 So, in April we got a new kitten to keep Kaylee company. I don't know how I'd have survived the latter half of this year without Boogiepop Phantom to make me laugh.

Anyway, she is a bit much for 9yo Kaylee sometimes, especially as she is now bigger than Kaylee.

So we will be looking for an older kitten to play with Boogiepop. This SHOULD be a much simpler affair, emotionally and monetarily, than looking for a new horse.

2022- End of an Era

OK. It's been a while again.

This year Grayson and I had to say goodbye to our two elderly black cats and the horse.

Dante we knew had cancer (throat or sinus) and passed peacefully at home 5 minutes before the vet arrived. Sneaky, canny old dude. He hated vets.

 

Ezio I took in for possible urinary tract issues and half his intestine was cancerous. What a lousy day.

 

Sherlock had some vision issues early in the year. His good eye got cloudier again and he cut himself on the fence. He bounced back and we had a few lessons with the local trainers trying to find a good match, but didn't really hit it off with anyone. I didn't really know what to do. Then in July his eye went cloudy again. He got a bad abscess under his jaw - likely from running into something. He hit his head a few times, got more spooky and worried about things he couldn't see anymore. 

We tried to keep him in the corrals while the others went to pasture, so he'd go slower and be more predictable. He freaked out. I started going every day to walk him out to the pasture safely in the morning and get him in at night. He just loved running with the other horses and would get so excited and lose track of the fence- or of the people. It was starting to be an accident waiting to happen. 

I thought about moving him to another facility where he could be in a small paddock all day while we saw if the eye would recover again. But time was already up, as he couldn't see well enough to get into a trailer.

So before we had a bad accident that hurt him and possibly someone else, we euthanized Sherlock in late July. It was a very sad day but I know it was the right thing. 

 

June 20, 2021-Down TIme

OK, I'm trying this again. It's been a while. Sherlock and I are at Eden's Aspens Horsemanship North of Longmont. It's a great place-- pasture, trainers, agility course. But no indoor, which makes winter (and sometimes spring )riding difficult.

But we were doing pretty well. Sherlock started having some headshaking issues that I expected might be photic, since he has so much vision damage. He had a bad summer of bucking and resistance just when my trainer Amy couldn't come very often. Then COVID-19 happened.

I basically have ridden 3-4 times a year, last year and this year. We have been doing some agility but we've both had a lot of time off. 

Amy is moving to Austria, so I am starting some lessons with Autumn. I have liked her agility lessons but want to get riding again, and I am much more likely to ride when someone is expecting me. If I can get trail-ready that would be great!

May 31- Rides # 105,106,107

On 5/4 Sherlock came in from the pasture cut. Again. Inner LF, just below the knee. Shallow, swollen only in inside of cannon bone. Bute in grain tonight. Asked them to keep in for me tomorow morning.

5/5 Leg still swollen a bit but not lame. Grain, turnout.

5/7 Leg still swollen but walking perfectly sound. Grain with BL solution.

5/8 ride #105. Grain, rode 30 minutes, walk/trot. Nice quiet ride, poles, turns, contact. Practiced emergency dismount.

5/9 ride #106. AM fed grain, no pasture turnout due to rain. PM rode 20  minutes bareback, walk, turns, whoa, back. Sherlock especially enoyed biting my foot today.


5/10. farrier AM. I was running late and din't stretch him first and he was pretty stiff. Geldings galloping out to pasture very distracting. Not good. Got through it but had some arguments.Wear patterns uneven- growth on RF and LH, the others didn't grow. She couldn't take mush off and he was sore afterwards. Put sole toughener on. Grain w/ Cosequin/ BL solution. Cut looking good, no swelling. Called Dr. Deb for chiro work.


5/13 1PM Dr. Deb Chiro appointment. Neck OK, hips needed work,  SI, T1, R hock. Well-behaved and quiet for adjustments. I told her the farrier admitted she thought I was crazy the first time she saw Sherlock (and the second and third as well) and Dr. Deb said she also thought I might have gone round the bend, but that I had ended up with a really nice horse once he relaxed and didn't have pain.

Preparing for lesson

5PM Ride #107 walk only lesson with Amy. Contact, 20m circle around x, wide hands, bending/counterbending, spiral in/out. Sherlock did very well- after  learning to counterbend he promptly used it against me to avoid going nto the corner. Now that I've taught him this I have to remember how to reverse it.  Archery work at halt and walk. Need guideline for distance, like a ground pole, he kept getting too close. Arrow bounced off edge of target and hit his shoulder- he didn't care. Good boy! No spookiness with new quiver.


Lots of rain and tender feet this week. Hand-grazing along our little road for calories and desensitizing. Be sure to check my next blog post about the Samurai exhibition- lots of horsey stuff there!

5/20 Rode in from pasture in the PM. Bareback with rope halter. Other geldings decided to come in too and galloped by, but Sherlock held up well. Some racehorse jig but settled nicely.

Yummy tall grass.

Muddy. Sherlock's R hip looked sore and stiff when turning.

5/25 Ears itchy, esp. Left. No unusual dirt, looked down in w/ flashlight...

5/26 Rode in from pasture. A little spooky at muskrat swimming in pond but handled it well.

5/28 So rainy lately, it looks like Sherlock has lost weight. Might just be that he's getting unfit again.  weight tape #874

5/29 weight tape #902. Rode in from pasture. Used emergency dismount due to Remington crowding the gate area. Sherlock was very good. Groomed, fed grain, found 4 tick bites on tail bone. Brushed out and applied scarlet oil to all. Ointment on leg, that cut is almost gone.


5/31 Good deep grooming and grain PM. Tickbites medicated and we grazed on the roadside again.

April 30-Bath day, rides #102-104

4/18 Grain/Cosequin/Cool Calories/Flaxseed. Ate well, I groomed him and changed from heavy blanket to rainsheet. No preciptation but it's still muddy- maybe he will stay a little cleaner with the sheet on.

4/19 Ride #102. 45 minutes outdoor arena. Nice ride with trot poles and some strong trots, with Luna following. Sidepass around cone. Was quite scared of Dusty lurking by the arena fence! Grazed 10 minutes and gave Grain/Cosequin/Cool Calories/Flaxseed combo. Pasture all ahoo due to Lady living in round pen today. Dusty and Brownie aggressive at gate when I took Sherlock out, better when we came back in.

4/20 Came in nicely from pasture for grain and grazing in in-between zone. I think the little clover like plants that are his favorite are alfalfa coming up. Yum yum. Saw fox crossing the driveway today!

4/21 2pm came in from pasture well, Grain/Cosequin/Cool Calories/Flaxseed plus some grazing time. Flies were bad so I went back for fly mask and caught him again for mask. He was great. Flyover of 4 military helicopters didn't interest him very much. 3 single-rotors and a big 2-rotor. Saw the big one landed at Longmont Airport! Saw the whole crew again heading South when I was in Louisville.

Before bath.

4/22 Ride #103 BATH! Bucket bath with minimal soap while he ate his grain. Took him and grain outdoors for to dry, while I shortened his mane and cleaned it up. When dry enough I rode 10 minjutes bareback, working on bending w/t. Then let him roll in the arena. Looking skinny after a couple big storms and paddockmate changes.

After bath! 

4/23 Grain/Cosequin/Cool Calories/Flaxseed plus some extra hay in paddock.
4/24 added Ulcergard to grain today- no CoolCal. Grazed.
4/25 Ulcergard grain day 2/4. Grazed
4/26 Grain/cosequin with added alfalfa pellets. Increased grain. Good manners. Rainy and cold again.

4/27 Ride #104 30 min indoors. Sherlock jumped something in the paddock running to me when I called- Ditch? Log? He looked good! Grain, hay. Sherlock was a bit grumpy about girth but we went slow. Bending lines, trot 10 steps, trot 20 steps, trot once around. Several reps. Practiced drifting hind end out on turns, turn on haunhes from a backup. Stand on one side of barrel, sidepass and turn on forehand until on other side of barrel facing the same direction as before. After ride practiced "touch" command with hand, pole, barrel, ball and mounting block. Getting very smart!

4/28 Snowing AM. Got him blanketed before he got wet. Not really that cold so did rain sheet. Very grouchy about blanket- biting and bucking- but after Banamine was his old self.

4/29 Snowing AM.  When I got there Sherlock was soaked through his rain sheet! Shaking cold - got him in and pulled rainsheet off in indoor arena through threats to kick and nasty faces. Left him there while I got the grain out and soaked. Watched him pacing, pawing and rearing up while I got ready. Took him a handful of hay and he walked politely with me to his grain with day 3/4 Ulcergard. put backup blanket on and towel-dried him off, then put heavy blanket on.  H arrived and asked me to put him back with Joe, Tashi, and Scout instead. Grey and Brownie don't let anyone else in the shelter. Happy to do that!

4/30 Light snow AM. Back in top next-to-arena paddock but has Joe, Tashi, Perry, and Scout with him! Yay! Much more peaceful group. Groomed, cleaned muddy feet, trimmed mane and bridle path. Thinning shears worked great on bridle path! Looks very nice and he tolerates the lighter sound better than a normal scissor. Day 4/4 of my Ulcergard supply. Hard to tell if it helped with such a small sample that I was not able to give 4 days in a row, in such a high-stress time with bad housemates and bad weather.
Enjoying watching some Rolex eventing  and cleaning house in prep for Second Thanksgiving this weekend!

April 17- ride #100, 101

Heading back out to pasture

3/21 ride #100- hooray a milestone! Sherlock was very fussy for cinching up, worked indoors on fitness. Trotting 3x around arena then a minute to catch his breath playing with the tarp, cones, ball, hula hoops, whatever he could grab and fling.

3/22 Groomed, grain with Banamine as snow is coming again. Talked to another boarder who I hadn't really met before about TBs. She follows the current racers. Cool.

3/24 Grain, Snow. Sherlock was eating the snow so I hiked/slid down to check the water tank. It was fine. ?

3/25 Grain. Still very muddy and slick. Groundwork day, leading over pole, then did a teensy crossrail, dragging stuff, turning around barrels, mounting block.



3/27 Ride #101. Grain, groomed. Rode 20 min indoor bareback. Walking, stretching my sore back. Good for mounting, played with tarp with anxious horse watching him. Very good boy.

3/28 Grain, grooming. Moved to Eagles paddock. New eldery horses arrive tomorrow.

3/29 Grain w/Banamine. Groomed, very sore belly but improved. Great for farrier! Really perfect. LF angle has turned a bit negative to where it usually is. She worked on fixing that.

3/30 Muddy, rain/snow mix. New pair hogging shelter. Sherlock wore rain sheet but seemed fine

4/1 Grain. Out in East Pasture, called him in easily though he missed me at the middle gate and went to the one they use to go in at night, then had to come back. Everyone enjoying first turnout in a while!
PM Barn called- Sherlock resting LH and walking very stiff. I got there and checked, Walking wobbly/stiff downhill (remember he was just trimmed). No obvious sore spots, wounds, swelling. Didn't want to take weight on LH for hoof cleaning but once he did he was fine. Grain with 1g Bute.


4/2 AM came early for grain with Bute. Sherlock did his stretches, back up, haunches yield. Swollen L side neck just at shoulder. Walk and trot on longe very stiff, twisting L hock and making it pop every step. Reduced forward range of motion. No turnout for you today.
Came at Lunchtime for Barn meeting. Grain with Buteless, Cosequin and wormer! Walked better, walked over poles and turned. Less stiff more willing. Sore walking uphill to paddock.

All my attempts came out like this.

4/3 Grain with Bute, cosequin. Walking better, not as unbalanced-looking. Hand-stretched all legs, did very well.

4/4 AM Grain with Bute, cosequin. Walk/Trot sound, if a bit stiff. Downhuill well, turned out to pasture!

4/5 Vaccination clinic. Rabies, 4-way, West Nile. Well-behaved, barely noticed vet as he had some extra hay. Stiff turning but otherwise sound. Grain w/ Cosequin.

4/9 Grain w/Cosequin all week. Doing well. New bite mark not breaking the skin L back right close to the spine.

4/10 Grain between the East and Meadow Pastures, some grass there now. Galloping the pasture looks great.
4/11 Exactly the same but now when I leave sherlock hangs around the middle gate trying to figure out how to get to that grass. Sorry, my boy.


4/12 Grooming, grain/cosequin. Light w/t free longe over poles. Dr Deb came and adjusted Sherlock, he was great for her. A few faces when she was working on the R side. T1 bilat, also withers bilat, low back, SI joint. Walked well after, kicking out with LH after adjustment but settled.

4/15 Grain/Bananine. We did stretches, walk over poles and coached "touch" with both ball and mounting block.
English saddle fitter Bev came today!  Sherlock was still sore ribs on R side. But he is very even bilaterally with good even mucle development. Long withers dropping slowly down his back.Wide shoulders but not as wide in the back. Change to MED gullet using my good sheepskin pad and recheck in 3 months. He was excellent for her and she loved him. Blanketed for storm coming

4/16 Sherlock was the only one still eating in the snowstorm. Everyone else in shelter. Gave Grain. Added Cool Calories and some Ground Flaxseed to convince him to eat the CoolCal. Blanket looked soaked through but he was not wet. Dried his neck and face while in barn. Nicely behaved. Got partway into shelter as I left.

But I LIKE my food on the floor!

March 18-rides 91-99 New Saddles!

Wow! So busy it's been hard to keep up.

2/17 Ride 91- 15 minutes indoors bareback/sidepull. BIG trot, jeez he has a huge trot bareback. I'm used to sitting any trot bareback, he is more athletic than I am right now, though! practiced emergency dismount.

Windy days, longing and free-longing, watching leg cuts heal up.

2/24 Ride 92- 30 Minutes indoors. walk, trot, over poles. Trot really excellent, self-carriage really feeling it!

Sherlock keeps a weather eye on the Canadian geese

2/25 Ride 93- New Western saddle. Walk, trot 5 minutes.Nice long strides, but poppy into trot. Saddle rings rattle and need silencing (fleece strips tied on or something). Feels like twist is a bit wide, stirrups still need adjusting.

2/27 Ride 94-indoors in new Western saddle one hour. Shortened stirrups massively. Tashi and his people riding, Sherlock was a bit anxious. Worked on Stand for 1 minute straight. 10-steps walk/trot transitions. Trot transitions poppy but my balance was really quite bad today. Sherlock a bit mouthy today- enjoyed playing with hula hoops and cones.

2/28 Ride 95- 15 minutes indoors new Western saddle, stirrups better today but my ankles are sore.Walk excellent, one trot transition super nice! Cinchy, didn't push today. Remounted after picking up tarp he wanted to play with, dismounted from right side.


Windy and rainy. light free longing, teaching "touch" command . Mostly with ball.

3/5 Barn meeting with Animal Control about Evacuation plans, IDs etc. Nice ladies.
Ride 96- 1 hour indoors with lots of horses. Playing with tarp so I put it between 2 poles and walked over it a lot. Figure-8s around cones with pushing hindquarters out on turns. Backup through cones. Good day, horses in pasture again now that mud has dried a bit.



3/6 Ride 97- English saddle FITS! Light ride walk only, over poles, around cones. Flinchy when steered left, even striking out a bit under saddle, really needs teeth done. Practiced loading in trailer since T left it for us to practice. Slow going but loaded twice and even backed out once.

3/7 Sharon rode! Amy's student got a beginner lesson on Sherlock and he was amazing. Walk, whoa, steering. Very patient and kind. Very proud of my boy!

3/11 Ride 98- 30 min indoor. English/sidepull. Walk, nice trot but new stirrup leathers are squeaky so I did 2-point position at trot all the time. Good leg and balance workout. Trot poles, backup 10 steps nice and light. Played with ball.

3/12 Vet, teeth and sheath. Significant hooks, esp. caudal (back teeth).Yes, very sharp on right side. Floated all, blunted L bottom canine (R bottom one never came in). Slightly parrot-mouthed so she evened out incisors as well. Again took a little extra tranq to finish. Sheath not bad but 3-4 small beans. Recommended both every year.

3/14 weather changing. Played with ball, "touch" command, stretches. Let barn worker's kids help groom- he was fussy at first and stomped around but soon settled into the attention. Grain.

3/15 Ride 99- 30 min indoor. Nice walk/trot. I need to work on maintaining contact when downward transitioning, both times to the R I just dropped him and felt his hind feet stumble. Still doing 2-point all the trot. Break times playing with ball while I catch my breath. Too close to gate turning L and broke peacock stirrup rubber band. Grain with banamine, blanketed.

Came by in the evening and ended up helping Sarah move house.



3/16 Again helped Sarah pack. Said hi to Sherlock and gave him some treats. If he hears me, he comes to the gate and whinnies for me. So sweet.

3/17, 3/18 Snowstorm ! and my R ankle  locked up very badly so stuck in the house. Watching Seane Corn do lots of yoga for conty $ . I do really like her but 32 hours of yoga is beyond the beyond.

February 14- Snow, ride 90

Happy Valentine's Day!

So we sended January with some quiet days, and then the snow began. Three days of snow. We did grain and free-longing walk/trot/canter in the indoor.

2/6 Ride #90. Indoors, bareback pad and sidepull bridle. 45 minutes indoors with 4 other horses! Sherlock was anxious about the other horses but again no battles broke out and it was a good experience. Practiced gate-opening types of skills, narrow spaces, shallow bends, standing next to other horses in a lineup. Stable meeting afterwards.

2/9 Farrier came. Sherlock was very good, a bit stiff RH both moving forward and stretching back. Hind hooves are really taking shape nicely. Fronts still a bit contracted, could use to grow out a bit.

One of the ladies at the stable just tried the Wintec AP I bought but it's not the right fit for her and her horse. Darn. I have put the flyer up at the barn with the 3 saddles for sale. I guess it's eBay time. CTRC's tack sale is in March -I could donate all 3 saddles and take it off next year's taxes if all else fails.

Peaceful days- Specs watching over napping Sherlock

Jan 29- rides #84-89, loss and gain

Pink for the new year!

When I came home from Christmas travels, Sherlock was wearing an unfamiliar blanket. His old blanket was not in the laundry. So I went to Murdoch's (just take my paycheck already) and bought a new blanket, and attired him properly (in pink).

We had our first all-stable meeting at a local pizza place on January 2nd. Yes, my blanket was in the shop after being shredded. Fun meeting, I was only reprimanded for not having leg straps on my blanket, but now Sherlock has a new one so already all fixed!

1/3 ride 84- Belly tight with some edema. Brief walk only with bareback pad indoors. He was scared of the light coming through the partly-open doors. Walked sound, well-behaved. Had a good scratch and roll afterwards.  Grain w/Banamine.


1/4 ride 85- Rode outside 30 minutes. Walk/trot. Footing passable on rail with some decent passages across arena. English with halter. New pad makes mounting such a trial! Saddle tries to slip and girth is always super-loose once I get into the saddle. Sherlock was good for mounting after some initial begging for treats. Luna was with us and followed everywhere. Good transitions, practiced backing up around cone. L bad, R improved lightness.

1/5 ride 86- Rode indoor 10 minutes. Grain with banamine. Wasn't planning to ride but Amy lent me her riser pad so I got on for a few minutes. Not as slippery but seriously cantle-high- I kept sliding forward.  Not the solution. Lesson scheduled.

1/6 Blankets off, Groomed, grain. Sherlock didn't want to go back in the paddock. "Aren't you going to ride?"

Lots of heavy work, came every day for grain and blanket checks. I don't have many notes.
Strange time, one of the barn workers passed away of a heart attack this week. Nice guy, younger than me I think. A bit of a curmudgeon, perhaps, but witty and I will miss his greeting, "Well good morning, sunshine!"
Got a FB message from Alissa that she needed more barn work so called her in to help. She and Clover are at Green Tree, very close by. She will be helping out in the mornings at least for a while.

1/16 ride 87- Rode 1 hour indoor bareback. Walk/trot. Other horses in arena, good for him to follow Jinny. Trotted 4 poles very tough, 2 trot poles more his level right now. A bit fussy physically, but really on mentally. Loved weaving the poles, stopping at barrel for me to touch it, pulled down the hula hoops to play with.

Nice ride in sidepull

1/17 ride 88- Lesson with Amy 1 hour English. Trotting 2 poles, transitions every 7 steps, trot all the way around arena. Anxious with other horses around but handled it. Sidepull halter is starting to wear out. Homework: bring leather/rope sidepull, trotting 5 times around, at least 2 rounds in 2-point position. Amy was surprised he was so sound, had looked sore in paddock earlier in the week. Cuts on legs all almost healed up, just small white scabby spots.

1/19 ride 89- Outdoors 1 hour English with Lissa's old sidepull. Fits him pretty well. Nice trot esp. with me in 2-point (getting in shape), and he walks when I put my hands down to balance. Racehorse training, I think. Trotted all the way around once, walked diagonal, all the way around again. Nice strong free trot with Amy's saddle on. Sidepass-circles both ways around cones, with breaks to chew on and fling the cones.



Worked on lunging this week as well, he prefers to be right next to the gate so we worked on staying in the far corners instead.Was able to turn him out after for some canter work free lunging. Tired pretty quick.

1/24 Missed the memorial service as had previous plans for Broncos game. All horses got green ribbons in their manes. Sounds like it was very sweet.
Wormed 1/26. Green ribbon still there. Last to hang on.
Turnout 1/28- at last back in the Meadow Pasture! Re-introducing the two groups of geldings exciting screeches and stomps. Sherlock came when called, setting off a cavalry charge as everyone followed. Cookies and a quick check of his eyes (poked him with my thumb trying to take halter off the day before!) which look fine. Still has green ribbon.
1/29 Groomed, got all the mud off again. Ribbon finally lost. Grain with Banamine as snow is expected soon!

I put 3 of my 5 saddles up for sale and am searching for one to fit Sherlock. In the meantime I have Amy's Wintec to borrow, thank goodness.

Dec 19- recovery time, ride #83

Sherlock has been improving steadily with his cut legs, and has been sound for light lunging and extreme rampaging about at dinnertime. We don't remember very well how to lunge with the rope on, must practice.

I find myself saying he doesn't remember how to do things, but then I realize I am not holding up my part of the bargain- by not giving him the cues he understands. Lunging is tough for him, and if I don't move my feet to make some noise he has to keep looking for me when I am on his blind side. So it's both of us who need to practice.

12/11 Massage/chiropractor came and worked on a bunch of horses. She used a massager-machine that is put on like a saddle. Sherlock was a bit twitchy but settled into it. His back was sore and some ribs out on the right side.
After massage I let Sherlock eat a little bit and grabbed out both my new saddle and Amy's. I have purchased the wrong saddle model. Mine has the deeper seat, with a stronger cantle angle. Which makes the cantle higher. Still it seems to fit the same- if I can just balance it.

Busy week with a big blizzard. Not much turnout. Backing off meds to 1g Bute every other day. I can give more grain on days with no Bute. If he has a whole scoop of grain with Bute in it, he skips the bad-tasting part. If he has a half-scoop he eats it all no matter what's in it.

12/19 ride #83 Rode 30 minutes mostly walking. New saddle and reverse-wedge pad, rope halter. Mounting tough with saddle slipping around- pad compresses once weight hits it, and that makes the girth very loose when I try to get on. Might cut it back off the withers. Sherlock did stop to have the pad adjusted once- will need more duct tape to secure pad. Better with pad adjusted, trotted well. A bit stiff for sure. Neck stretches, turns on forehand, shallow serpentines.
Good ride, willing if a bit creaky. Nice ride to end the year on!

Dec 10- saddle woes, ride #82

OK!  November checkin!

After the lovely Halloween party, the weather changed and Sherlock was keen never to have his belly touched again.  Ride #79 November 6th I rode and practiced doing the usual walk/trot workout with voice and weight cues ONLY, almost no leg. Nice to build those skills for the days when he has bad-weather-belly.

Snowed- blanket bingo.

November 14th Ride #80. walk/trot, stretches, lots of transitions, shallow serpentines NO LEG. Sherlock is looking for a cookie whenever we go to the mounting block. Offering to bow instead of stand for mounting. No cookies in pocket during rides. He knows how to stand well now, he can take it.



November 22 Ride #81. Got new Wintec saddle just like Amy's, changed black Medium gullet to red Wide gullet with an hour of cursing and whining. Yes, it's easier than having the whole saddle re-flocked or buying yet another saddle. (I have 5 saddles now. Where is my brain?) BUT the screws were rusted in and stripped, got all 4 screws out and went to Ace Hardware. At some point in the endless parade of screws I mentioned these saddles are made in Australia and we finally found the METRIC screws for the outer slots. The inner ones are by inches. The outer ones are metric. WHAT!?
Anyway, I put my new pride and joy up on my horse and it's very cantle-high. Severely downhill. Just walked Sherlock a  little to stretch out my back, but couldn't really work with the saddle fitting so poorly. Ordered a reverse-wedge pad to lift the front of the saddle.

November 28th I opened up Amy's saddle a bit and her gullet is white- Extra Wide. Ordered white gullet. Maybe I will send the pad back. Accidentlly walked Sherlock into the barn door instead of the doorway. I think in the snowbright, he couldn't see which dark shape was the doorway.  Pay attention, Cooper.

December 2nd I got a call at 4:00- Sherlock cut his leg. Went straight out, RF knee very swollen, 2 cuts. One deep, one long across the inside of the knee. No sign of joint fluid. Knee very stiff. Mud all down R side. Gave small amount of PM grain with Banamine. Barn management walked the entire fenceline and made minor repairs.

Ouchie.

December 3rd Cleaned and rewrapped, Banamine in grain. R hock also swollen today, 1 cut and some surface scrapes. Did he fall off the little bridge in the pasture?  Hock was too sore and swollen to wrap. Turnout in small Doves paddock with Prince and Dusty and Vern.

December 4 Cleaned and rewrapped, Sherlock is walking well. Swelling much reduced, Grain with Buteless. Turnout in Doves.

December 5 Whole leg swollen again and knee stiffened up. Should have stuck with meds. Bute in grain, rewrapped knee, hand-grazed. Turnout in Doves.

December 6 Walking well- AM rewrapped, Bute. Walking very well. Trotted after haycart for dinner! Got wrap off, rewrapped for the night.Turnout in Doves.

December 7 AM grain with Bute. Turnout in Doves. Galloping and playing in turnout. Removed wrap PM.

December 8 AM grain with Bute. Turnout in Doves. Walking great, swelling nearly gone- only localized to front of knee. Deep knee cut closing, long one making some efforts, hock cut weepy. Reportedly showing off some flying changes in the paddock!

December 9 AM grain with Bute. Walking well, all cuts closing up, long knee cut making a scab at last. Turnout into pasture.

December 10 Ride #82. So I got both the reverse-wedge pad and the gullet. Haven't unpacked the pad since I think I won't need it once I have the right gullet plate in. I changed the gullet with less cursing this time but the gullet set came with only 3 screws. So I still have one of my Ace Hardware best-matches in. Very happy, all set. Sherlock walking great, all cuts scabbing up. AM grain with a bit less Bute today. Saddled up and it looked downhill. Got on and it felt downhill. Should have brought the pad. Mounted fine with minimal cookie-begging, walked a just a few minutes since the saddle was not right.
Now Amy's saddle fits perfect with no extra pads. Maybe I need to change the flocking- this is an air-flocked saddle. Instead of wool between the tree and the horse, it's basically a balloon, or 4. More research needed. Will ask Amy to help me out. There must be a solution.

Getting ready for the holidays- tons of chores, shopping, and work to be done before I can leave!

Enjoying the sunny day

Nov 2- Halloween party, ride 78

SO Busy! Working really hard on new Sounds True project and doing a huge warehouse re-arrange at Serenity Tibet with new helper Eric.

Have had a couple excellent riding lessons with A! Working on transitions and lateral movement, and keeping my hands in the middle instead of crossing over the horse's neck. Rode Sirah mostly Western so getting back to English Equitation is a challenge...

Sherlock in his hat

Sherlock has been very game in the lessons, he does get tired and has to be convinced to try once more, but he tries hard. I've been riding in A's Wintec saddle that fits Sherlock well, and finally have a winning bid on one just the same off eBay! Saddle that fits. Finally. It's a WIDE gullet, I really didn't think he was that wide but A has a Wintec gullet-measure-er like I have been trying to find ALL summer. And Sherlock should be wearing a Wide.

Rode bareback outdoor one day and Sherlock was happy and eager to go forward, with no pinching saddle- very sore the next day but it was fun.

One day of cold rain the 22nd, had to use Sirah's wool-lined blanket that is a little small but warm.

Halloween Party was great! Had a lesson beforehand so got Sherlock and me all dressed up at about 11:30, rode over poles and moving away from leg, soft serpentines on weight, rode her horse Hope a little bit as well when Sherlock got tired. Then the party! I gave Sherlock a break in between since everyone but me was running late (What? Again? Always!). Drink of water and some hay. Then back to a very busy arena full of little kids on hippety-hops!

Sherlock and Watson!

Sherlock drank from the bobbing for apples bucket but didn't try for an apple. We won the egg-and-spoon race on a good length of trot- even with a jerky transition, he maintained it well. He was a bit treat-happy but overall really excellent. We were supposed to play horse soccer with the big ball, but some horses were scared of it- esp. Hope! Sherlock was casual about the ball rolling at him and bouncing off, and even pushed it and played a bit.

SUPER proud of my easygoing and brave boy!

Yesterday I rode outside- having trouble reconciling aids that Sherlock thinks are working against each other. Back, then stop- is very difficult but we broke through some of that and backed out of an L! Introduced the vacuum, good on R but more anxious on L side- looking at cord. Needed it again today, but I just turned him out to get dusty again. Turnout in Meadow pasture again, he is very comfortable there and is making friends with a new horse Scout.

OH- and I heard the Cs lost their lease. About time. I hope someone cool will buy the place and board horses there again.

Oct 3- Busy-ness and rides 70,71,72

Wow- I have been working a lot! Another trade show and desperately working on finishing one Sounds True project so I can get going on the next one! Still, I've been at the stable almost every morning to give Sherlock his grain and turn him out. The geldings have been out in the Meadow pasture for several weeks, which has been great for Sherlock. Meadow is closer to the barn and very comfortable for him.

Anyway, I've been riding Sherlock just a little bit, getting him used to the indoor arena, building fitness for both of us. I started longing him lightly every morning last week to get some muscle building. He's gaining weight and remembering some things about being a riding horse.


This week Sherlock had dewormer, vaccinations and started going to the West Pasture. First day I walked him out to the waterer and when I let him go he galloped off with the other horse, and raced them around. So glad to see him happy and having some fun. Later in the day he came up the breezeway for water and had trouble figuring out how to get back- they thought he was going to bust the gate to Meadow- but he settled once his name was called and they took him back down.

Yesterday no drama going down to West pasture, I hope he is settling there.

New trainer A has arrived and I'm going to take a lesson tomorrow, wish us luck!

Looks like most of my pics from last week are of our super-adorable new kitten, Kaylee!
Here she is for your viewing pleasure. It's tiring but super-amusing to have a kitten around again...

Sept 8- The In Crowd, Ride #69

So Sherlock is still working on fitting in with the larger herd of geldings at Heart&Soul. He's willing to go out in the large East Pasture but he comes in again shortly, all the way up the breezeway and stands as close to the barn as he can get. He has been in the smaller Meadow Pasture and liked that better, but it was rotated out of use for 2 weeks.

Sherlock in the East Pasture

Next week we'll introduce him to the West Pasture, also a big pasture facing the road. This one has its own water and does not usually connect with the breezeway. So he will be stuck there, though there should be plenty of distance to be had between him and the herd if he wants to stay away from them.  I sure do miss Sebastian.

It's frustrating to walk all the way down to the pasture and leave him with the quietest friendliest horses and have him still follow me all the way back to the barn, or even have to follow him back there if he doesn't feel like waiting for me or listening to my protests that he should like it here.

Anyway, I go out pretty much every morning or evening and give him grain and love. He's such a sweet-natured horse, he always seems to be getting petted by someone.  I moved him here so he would be happy and healthy. He's not happy yet. He's gaining weight, though he is getting bitten by someone.



I rode on September 9th, just saddled up Western and made a short introduction to both arenas. He was very calm in both, actually. I am very pleased with that.

I bought a half-blind horse. That's my reality. Really, I have a wonderful horse. He just needs some extra time to fit into this herd, and lots of space.

Sherlock hiding behind the halter rack. Note the VERY long walk downhill to the pasture.

August 30 More moving

So, on 8-21 we moved Sherlock to Heart and Soul. I am so happy. He did gain weight at Kiowa Creek and I was sad to leave super-cute mustang Sebastian behind.

Sherlock and his little friend Sebastian

Sebastian hiding behind Sherlock

But Heart and Soul was one of my top choices -just on the edge of my acceptable price and distance range. Sherlock is doing well there and starting to learn to go out to pasture with a whole herd!

Sherlock in the round pen at Heart&Soul

Sherlock eating hay like it was his job

More pictures later as Sherlock learns how he fits into the herd and we get to use our arena!

July 4th- Today

And today, Sherlock is in his new home! It's a bit further East but not too much further to drive.

Sherlock grazing under the cottonwood tree.

I watched Max pass his pre-purchase exam, and then loaded Sherlock to be Liz's first horse move of the day! She took Max to his new home in Colorado Springs and then moved her own 2 horses and Clover and the foal. Yikes! What a day!
Sherlock loaded very nicely, waited for me to get out and close the door, and came to the window to have his halter off. Perfect. Could not ask for more. When we arrived I stepped back in, put the halter on, and he stepped carefully out. He was so excited! We went in and started walking the fenceline, but anytime the little mustang Sebastian cam close Sherlock get very nervous. We circled back to the trees where there was a shady spot to graze, then tried the other side of the pasture, working back towards the gate to the water tank. He looked at the next-door horses a bit then we went back to the gate and I let him go. I got my white duct tape and watched sherlock run away from Sebastian for a few tense minutes.
"Pay attention!" I kept shouting as he neared the fence- and he'd put his head down and look, and turn. No mishaps. He followed me all the way out to the South end of the pasture along the fence before fleeing Sebastian again. Sherlock outruns him easily, and after a couple of laps settled again under the trees.

Water-cooler conversations 

When I reached the water tank this time Sherlock came to meet the others. He sniffed noses politely then tried to bite. Every time. Sniff- Squeal of anger from other horse. Sniff-Squeal. He wasn't so sure about the new water but I used it to cool his sweaty neck and shoulders and nose, and soon he was drinking it. I left him under the trees, with water, grass and a large amount of hay.

Sherlock and Sebastian

The next day things were calmer. Sherlock came running when I called and we walked to the water tank, and I gave him more hay. Lots of petting and no pressure.

Yesterday when I went to check on Sherlock,  I whistled and called to no avail. I loaded up the hay feeder and got my brush box out, then started hiking out to get him. Suddenly he saw me and came running in, whinnying frantically. OK, that's better.  Was starting to think I was forgotten. He ate his hay while I gave him a good grooming and slathered him with just about every fly repellent that can be purchased in Colorado.  Sebastian was quite shocked that Sherlock allowed himself to be sprayed with smelly, scary hissy stuff.

So, I am very happy with the new place. I don't have a key yet for the tack room but fellow boarder D let me put my saddle in. Sherlock is gaining weight already and looks happy. I hope to walk sherlock from his pasture up to the tack area and introduce sheep and very large horses into his life experience.

July 4th- Yesterday

So we moved Sherlock! Thank you, Liz for the ride!

These are pics of the old stable, look back a few posts if you want the name but I'm not naming them here. There are still people I like there. But 12 boarding horses did leave June 31st, and A and her trainer are moving theirs as well. The stable owner sold one of their own horses to buy hay to last until the first cutting could be made on the back hayfield. I think maybe they will lose their lease, and I hope someone with more experience takes over. I love the facility when it is in good condition and would like to return there.

Max almost knee-deep in mud

Other TB almost knee-deep in mud

Sherlock's ribs showing. Time to GO!