January 21- Ride 19, 20

Last week I spent catching up at work, with only short visiting time for Sherlock.

Saturday the 18th Gray, Luna and I headed out there. Woke Sherlock up, he has a favorite nap spot now but got right up when called. Turned out first and he had a nice run, unfortunately didn't see a small jump standard that was in shadow and ran right over top of it. Not hurt- I moved those standards into full sunlight and he didn't have a problem with them later.



Tried the sheepskin pad again with the Happy Mouth D-ring bit. He was fiddling with it quite a lot but willing to go forward, walked and trotted well but not much contact. Fussy for turns on forehand, doesn't like the combination of cues. Sidepassed along fenceline well, whoa not great, back was ok. I felt like my leg was very loose and pics show saddle a bit crooked. Had grain and a nice roll. Gray took pictures!

Monday I was back again for ride #20. I groomed and rode in the round pen using the Aurigan eggbutt bit that was Lissa's fave. Sherlock hated it and could barely be steered with it as he was too busy chewing on it. Gave him 10 minutes carrying it and then took it off and rode in rope halter with leadline tied together under the chin. Worked on serpentines steering with leg/weight, whoa on weight alone, and back then walk off straight. Nice ride, low pressure, did some 2-point to strengthen my leg. Practiced dismounting on off side, then worked on not passing me back to pasture. Good progress.

So, I guess I'm going to be using the Myler D-ring for the moment, and the rope halter sidepull. Sherlock being very good, moving forward well, almost decided to canter but my leg felt too weak, got to get more secure first.

Good horse, good weather!

January 13- Ride17,18 "What others think"

Returning to riding at last, after a very cold and snowy week,

Tuesday the 8th, I met up with E for a "trail ride" around the property. Sherlock was a bit of a baby, just nervous his first time riding out, in the snow. Especially when Annie and the others threw a fit when we rode past. He started backing up and taking advantage of circling to get closer to the paddock, but he didn't panic and started forward again when E's horse walked on. He wouldn't go up the snowy hill behind hay barn to the pond, we went back to the outdoor arena and worked walk/trot for a few minutes, then came back but he had a fit there again. This time I dismounted and led him up and down the hill, then continued a while on foot on the road, met up with E at the pond and re-mounted from the fishing boat, and finished up well. A bit messy but I felt it was a success, he eventually did everything I'd asked and didn't rear up or slip in the snow.

Shaggy Sherlock

In the evening E texted me an offer to ride Sherlock for me and "make him" behave. I know it was meant well and she is a very experienced trainer but I declined, feeling very depressed about the possibility of having her as my next trainer. Woke up in the dead of night mad about it. Thought about the techniques that worked best for Sherlock in his most problematic time so far- trailer loading. Joe Andrews loaded him calmly and with no bribes or threats. I want that relationship-first type of training.


Thursday the 10th I rode in the indoor before the farrier arrived. Tried out my oldest sheepskin as an English saddle pad- hard to put on straight but he rode quite well in it. Walk/trot wearing the sidepull halter, turned a barrel, carried the lunge whip in both hands as a prelude to archery training. Calm and well-behaved. Great ride.

He was quite good for the farrier, he did flail a bit with his hind feet but every time with a little correction on the halter he relaxed and released without having to put his foot down. Lots of pets and a mint at the end. Farrier M very pleased- she said he's really improving and clearly our relationship is getting really special. I was very pleased and hummed all the way home.

So this week seems to be about handling what other people think. I know we as human social animals are made to socialze and care what each other think.  I wish I didn't care so much- but I have also not given in to advice that I thought was wrong for me and Sherlock. People thought I was failing with Lissa when I trained her but I refused to let anyone help and I got the best horse out of it. I will remember Sherlock is just a 5 year-old half-blind racehorse newly off the track, be forgiving, take my time, and love Sherlock for himself and what we can enjoy together rather than what other people think he should do.

I plan to call J to see if she might still have lessons spaces this spring.

January 3- Happy New Year

Sherlock checks out Flat Stanley

Happy New Year!

What a year it has been. From retiring Sirah through the stresses of the horse search to finding Sherlock and getting started riding him.

Just returned from a week's travels to reconnect with my horse. I seem to think he's going to forget everything while I'm gone but he was glad to see me and the feed bucket the first day back, and yesterday he was great for grooming and very light work.

He had diaper scald- must have had a bad day while we were gone- but accepted cleaning and lotion without any fuss. Such a good boy. Bitten up a bit, and he looks afraid of Taco. But he's in good weight, and his coat is heavy and warm.


Sherlock checked out my Flat Stanley, who is traveling the country as part of my friend S's daughter's geography class. And then we did some light free longe, just walk and trot to test his soundness. He looked very well but his hocks were a bit loud at first, worked out of it quickly. Thought it might be his right hock and stifle twisting just a bit as he walked. Chiropractor time again soon.

December 18-sound

Sherlock is sound again just in time for me to leave on vacation. Maybe I will get a short ride in beforehand. Sherlock's feet are doing great- I took off the old boots and left them off, as he was walking well without them and his feet needed some drying out time.

Walk/trot longe in the round pen, and then a long grooming session trying to get the worst of the mud off. Not completely gorgeous but better. Ground work in the indoor arena, walking over poles, sidepassing over pole and along the wall. He doesn't like much pressure- I need to get the dressage whip out for clarity of cue without having to push on him.

Hay on top of mud- good insulation

December 14-sore foot

As the title suggests, Sherlock has a sore foot. I was starting to be concerned that it might be a broken pedal or coffin bone but a few days in the stall wearing an Easyboot helped a lot. Removal of the Easyboot made him very lame, putting it back on helped immediately. So, a bruised sole.

Shelock and Max

Sherlock did very well in the stall overall, but was starting to fight with the Paint next door. They both had cut legs, probably from kicking the fence between them. I left my feed pan within someone's reach and found it broken in the Paint's stall the next day. So I put Easyboots on both his front feet and took Sherlock back to his paddock. I walked him in the round pen a bit first but once he realized he was heading home he got really excited. He still walked well and stood for taking the halter off nicely, but then was very excited greeting everyone and meeting Taco for the first time- M's horse whose stall we borrowed. They got butt-to-butt and pushed on each other but minimal kicking and screaming later Sherlock and Max were hanging out together and Zip was protecting the ponies.

Sherlock has a HUGE trot he shows when he's really excited. I hope to catch this on film someday. Maybe he will do well with dressage if we choose to do some.

So a tough week but warming up and getting muddy instead of icy. I ordered Easyboots that are meant more for everyday wear, but the old ones are doing well, he hasn't lost one yet.

Gray had a good birthday. I worked a lot, both for ST and Ziji. We went to the ST office party, got bored and went home to watch the Broncos lose their game. Holiday plans are coming together, with car chosen and dogsitter acquired. Tonight making mac and cheese. Tomorrow The Hobbit and last gaming day before vacation.

December 5- SO COLD

WOW, has it been cold.  -10 at night and +12 high during the day. At least we are starting to see the sun. I have been checking on Sherlock daily but he is still lame. This blanket is really too small for several day's use. Need to budget for a new one in the right size.

I think he may have a bad sole bruise or hoof abscess, putting an Easyboot on the foot helped a bit. Today I decided he might have fractured a bone in his foot-not as serious as a break in a larger bone- and so I called the stable about moving him to stall rest for a few days.

Shaggy Sherlock

When I got there it turns out the water is not working (likely frozen?) to the paddock we were talking about. But Stable Manager M moved his horse so Sherlock could have a stall with run for the weekend. Sherlock's bandage/boot were still holding up and he actually walked pretty well. He was pawing at his feed tub as well which is a bit of improvement from the last couple of days.

Today I refreshed the bandage and found a new swollen spot- on the outside of the cannon bone just below the knee. The only place that has been tender in all of this was just below the knee to the inside. So I wrapped it with a very loose wrap. Interesting development-more research. Tomorrow I'd like to get a polo wrap on the whole thing for cheaper cleanliness. My fingers keep going numb when bandaging.


 So today Sherlock's in the stall with a stack of hay, a grain tub with lots of BL-Solution in the feed, and a fresh bandage/boot. He seemed perfectly happy with his huge pile of hay, and I hope he remains so all day. I finally remembered the turquoise beads and blessed them and braided one into Sherlock's mane this morning. I also did a little energy cycling but he seemed uncomfortable with that. 

December 2- trail walk, sore knee

Wednesday Sherlock and I went for a trail walk with Grayson and Luna the dog. I led Sherlock and Luna got some off-leash time.  Relaxed grazing along the way. Walked out well when interested, he can really stretch those legs when he wants. A bit spooky over ditch crossing when walking between truck ruts, but really did well.

Got Mints?

Thursday Sherlock was visibly lame in the paddock, fed only with extra BL-Solution.
Friday he trotted in to get his feed but was lame on the Right side. Right leg swollen only on the pastern, sore only behind the knee. I thought maybe it was a tendon strain. Cold water sponging while he ate his grain. Slow walk just from paddock to round pen and back. Watched people working with flag in round pen. BL-Solution in feed.

Saturday BL-Solution in feed. swelling much improved, small area of tightness and soreness inside and below R knee. Sponged again with a full bucket of cold water.
Sunday much the same but his belly seemed a bit tight in the morning, so I added 100# dose of Banamine to an afternoon bran mash. Snow is coming, maybe Tuesday, and several horses have colicked.


Monday no swelling except for small area behind knee which feels more tight than puffy. BL- Solution and 100# dose of Banamaine today in feed. Very windy today so I put on his fly mask as well to protect his eyes from flying dust and debris.

So no great achievements - well, going on a trail walk was quite good. Sherlock did well and was not too nervous out in the open away from all other horses. He's taking a small dose of Banamine willingly in his bran mash so no arguments about medicine. And he's been very good having his leg prodded and ice-watered. Snow and cold weather expected for the next few days and we are ready for it.

In out of the wind- Max, Sherlock in fly mask and Zip