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

November 27- No-slaughter brand

 I hope our local CANTER section will get these brands. I know a half-blind horse might just be unsellable, and if anything crazy happens I'd like Sherlock to have some extra protection.

Today Remember Me Rescue registered a freeze brand for thoroughbreds that will let slaughter buyers and plants know they were treated with a medication that made them unfit for slaughter for the rest of their life. If you are interested in branding your horse please email remembermerescue@live.com for more information We will begin branding in January as well as notifying every known kill buyer and sale barn in the country to be watching out for this brand.

November 26- ride #16

This week the weather was very unpredictable, and I mostly fed Sherlock at his paddock. I hgave him some Banamine in a bran mash when the snow arrived, and he did not show any signs of colic. He did bang his knee on something and it's been minorly swollen.

Flying off out of frame

Tuesday Grayson the husband and Luna the dog joined me at the stable. Luna provided much support in the "make the horse go" department for a bit of turnout. Sherlock was showing me a huge trot! Very impressive! Since he didn't look sore I tacked up (it was cold so I tried the rope halter sidepull). During the saddling process Stable Manager M joined his horse in the round pen and worked him with the flag- very loud flappy flag noises and clangs as the horse tested the fence a few times. Sherlock was staring at them quite a while, but once he settled I got on as planned.

Sherlock did really well at steering today, but it was hard for me to tell if he was sore so I asked for a trot and I got a "no way!" He stopped outright and threw his head up twice- told me that if I continued to squeeze him with my legs, we would rear up. So I ceased and desisted that and we walked a bit more, then I asked for the trot again and he trotted for me a few strides, but I stopped him right away as he was certainly lame at the trot.

 Still, gaining in the steering department and a nice whoa. Maybe a trail walk next time as his knee heals.  Really impressed with his handling of the very spook-worthy stuff going on in the round pen. I need to remember we are building a shared language and it should include ways for either party to say no. I'd prefer the word for "no" not be to rear- and we didn't have to get that extreme today. I love that Sherlock is so sensitive and that he came right back and tried again when I understood his complaint and complied. He also didn't seem to mind being followed by the dog while riding.

I suspect many trainers would think Sherlock shouldn't be telling me what to do. And I say they can get themselves flipped over on, but I'm going to listen to my horse. I'm going to trust that he has a point. I can always be a little more gentle, more patient. He doesn't need strong aids, and he will understand what I'm saying as we continue on.

Grayson took lots of photos for me and hauled tack and played the "feed the horse" mini-game. This game involves the person trying to get the feed into the horse and the horse trying to throw the feed on the ground. Sherlock starts out just pushing the feed around in the pan, then he tries to shovel it out the sides, then he tries to pull the pan out of your hands by grabbing the handle, then he looks around and dribbles the feed all over, then we wants to scratch his face on the outside of the pan and bring his head up under it to knock it away. I think Grayson got a great score on this game. Enjoy the pictures and Happy Thankgiving to all!

November 17- ride #15

Tuesday and Wednesday Sherlock had a runny nose and I had a ton of work, so we took it easy and just had feeding days. I did go to the used tack store and ended up falling for a new Western bridle with easy-change buckles for the bit.

Thursday the farrier M came, Sherlock was very good except for the left hind, the last one she tried to do. Assigned more yo-yo game, wher the horse has to back up away from you and then come forward. and holding the hinds up longer. Still a great improvement. Feed with BL-Solution to hyelp the sore feet he usually gets the next day.

Friday Sherlock was very stocked up in all four legs. I expect he was a bit footsore from the trim and didn't walk enough over the course of the day and night. Did a few minutes of ground work, mainly lower-impact like sideways rather than yo-yo which causes more pounding. Massaged his legs and put more BL-Solution in the feed.

Saturday Sherlock was looking good, I groomed in the barn and fitted the breastplate (to keep the saddle from slipping back) to the English saddle. Then built the new Western bridle I got with the Myler bit and fitted that with little trouble. Very windy out in the outdoor arena but Sherlock was not spooky. He wanted to stay closer to the gate this time but was also comfortable on the short arena side closest to his own paddock. Walking only this time to help circulation.

Cowboy up

Sherlock's whoa was not very good during this ride, so we practiced it a lot, but steering is coming along. He took a light contact today readily. Small serpentines with more leg than hand, and also did some nice half-passes along the short side. Did look like he wanted to roll once, so after our 20 minutes of walking I dismounted and took off all his tack, but then he just wanted to follow me. Tacked him back up very calmly, and took him back to the barn for his grain, which he flung cheerfully all over the floor and gradually cleaned up.

Sherlock has some trouble with his vision when he goes into the barn from the sunlight, or vice versa. Most horses' eyes adjust slower than human eyes do, but Sherlock gets a little wobbly looking for where to put his feet. Just something I need to keep in mind. I commented about his eyes to the barn manager and He was surprised to hear Sherlock has vision problems.

Sunday I went out to feed and realized I had no photos for this week's blog. So I put the Happy Mouth bit on the new bridle and put it on him for a few photos before I gave him his grain for the day. Such a good guy, miles from the horse who wouldn't take the bit.