rafer johnson's progress

I haven't mentioned this specifically lately, but something that happened yesterday made me stop and think about how well he's doing.

After his broken leg mended, and he got his first post-break hoof trim, he has literally not taken an off step, and I have not seen him resting a hind leg. He walks, trots, and does the fast donkey run. He lays down. He rolls. He jumps, he rears when playing with Redford, he pivots, and he has no qualms about going through a certain part of our fencing that is not board or HorseGuard tape. Fortunately the part he goes through only leads to the big barnyard, which is secure. But in all ways I can see, he is back to his normal Rafer self.

I went out yesterday with my big dosing syringe and Salina's Lubrisyn gel. It is clear gel, and has no smell I can discern, but neither she nor Keil Bay like it. I suspect it's the consistency - gel not being something horses really encounter when grazing or nibbling.

So Salina sees the big syringe, and although she doesn't walk away from me, she looks disgusted. I give her dose. There's a little bit left in the syringe.

Rafer walks up and as clear as can be, asks me for some of the good joint lubricant stuff. I thought maybe if he smelled it, and realized it wasn't a treat, he'd back off, but he smelled it, licked it, and asked for his own dose. So I gave him that little bit left over, which was about what a donkey dose would be, and he was satisfied.

The last medicine I had to give him with the big dosing syringe was what we named the "applesauce antibiotic" and he came to hate it. He came to hate the dosing syringe, and he came to hate the halter. About the time we got him over that, he broke his leg, and then the halter meant vet, and needles. So we've worked off and on during the months since making the halter only come out when good things are happening. He considers getting his hooves trimmed a good thing, and taking a walk with one of us, and going into the arena to "work."

I generally give medicines, including injections, without halters, using a lead line draped over the top of the neck if necessary just to let them know they should stay with me.

Rafer hasn't had any issues with dewormer pastes, but I was so happy to see yesterday that the big fat dosing syringe is now a neutral thing again, and that in fact, he is not only happy but seeks out something he thinks might be good for him.

The funny thing is Redford, who huddles up with Rafer, and so far I just let him lick the end of the syringe, and see that Rafer likes it, in hopes that when Redford has his own encounter with the "applesauce antiobiotic," post gelding, it at least won't be scary to him. Just yucky for a few weeks and then we'll let him come back to neutral with it like his brother has.

wednesday got a bit wild

The wind was whipping here yesterday, although it was very warm. My ride on the Big Bay was good. He had his very alert ears on, but always responded when I asked him to flick back and stay connected. We worked into his big trot going to the right, and tried to work on his inflexibility to the left, which has always been an issue for him.

Keil has a rather large scar on his right barrel, and you can feel the thick scar tissue there. I have always wondered if going left pulls on that old scar tissue in some way. But in any case, he and I have to work harder going left to stay straight and get a nice, genuine bend. I also wonder if my own crookedness is in that direction, and between the two, we really have a tough time. But we got a few good strides in and will continue working on it.

I was so pleased with myself that despite the roaring wind I got my ride in, got shavings in stalls, got evening chores done, and launched out of here at 6 to get to my office.

Sometimes when things go so easily, you know a hitch is coming.

Last night was the first time I've had to use the new alarm system in my building. I unlocked the door, went in to the keypad, typed in my code, and then felt my anxiety rise as the scary computer voice told me to enter it again. And again. I wondered if I was supposed to close the door - I'd been so nervous about not getting the code typed in before the allotted time elapsed, I'd left it open. So I ran back and closed it and locked it.

By this time the computer voice was seeming more insistent and then suddenly the alarm went off. The voice of a live person came blasting into the hallway.

Identify yourself.

I said my name, gave my code, and then she said I needed to give another code. Which I didn't have.

You are unauthorized. Leave the premises immediately. Police officers are on the way.

By this point I was so discombobulated I went to the front door, opened it, and set off a series of motion detectors, which told me every step I took that unauthorized motion was detected. I felt like I was in a scene from the Twilight Zone.

Fortunately, the owners live quite close to the office, and they drove up within minutes, letting me know they'd canceled the police call and offering to walk me through the routine.

My client session started late, ran late to make up that lost time, and when I got home last night, all I wanted to do was have a glass of wine, a little dinner, and watch the remaining episode on my Netflix disk. MacLoud's Daughters.

My husband thinks it was crazy that I didn't know what was coming. Without spoiling anything for anyone who might watch this series, I'll just say that something that I sort of knew was coming, but not how it would actually happen, happened. And it was heartbreaking. I was in tears by the last few minutes, and I still feel brutalized by the writers. How could they have written that?

Of course, it's to their credit that they write so well. I was completely involved in their story and thus taken completely by surprise, denied the little bit I knew, and then crashed and burned as it played out.

Fortunately, today is sunny and even though it looks like it might end up even windier than yesterday, their is no rush to be anywhere, and we can deal with the wind if it comes.

*******

My bird messengers are all coming 'round to settle things down this morning. First, my husband came in from throwing morning hay and said the redtail was sitting on the fence post.

I just opened the front door to let Moomin in and the three crows were all in the front field.

It's one of those days where you open your eyes and all the signs are there. It makes me think of the last lines of two of my favorite poems.

The whole wide world pours down.

-William Stafford


What we need is here.

-Wendell Berry

good rides

I keep meaning to take the camera out with me to the barn, but the focus for the past week has been on riding and enjoying this gorgeous weather, so I keep forgetting!

Yesterday was my day to ride Cody and it was a pleasure. He stretched and rounded up and we even did a bit of shoulder in. My daughter rode the pony in his bareback pad, and he did his very big, very beautiful pony trot for her! I think that's the first time I've ever seen him do that under saddle. He offers a nice trot under saddle, but never the one he uses when in the field or "dancing" free in the arena - until yesterday. I think this means he's feeling really good, and bodes well for riding dressage as we move into spring.

Of some note - yesterday was Adequan injection day for the two seniors, and for the first time in over 2 years, when I gave Salina hers I drew back blood. Two times in a row! I had to stick her 3 times, and she was her usual steadfast self. Even in the front field with the wind gusting. I was proud of myself, too. (in case you're a newer reader here, I have a terrible needle phobia, and it's a pretty big deal to me to do these injections) She had a peppermint as a reward.

Keil Bay's went like a dream. He got to lick a peppermint while getting his, and I honestly don't think he even knew I'd done it, he was so involved in that little red and white striped disk!

The pony lined up for his turn, but of course he doesn't get one!

Today we have a chance for rain later, so I need to get clean shavings into stalls, ride the Big Bay, and be clean and ready to head to the office by 6.

warm weather and mosquitoes!

It took two days of 70+ weather to bring out gnats and mosquitoes. I don't recall ever seeing this many mosquitoes since we've lived here - I hope this is a freak hatch-out that live and die quickly. I actually made up a batch of fly spray and used it at dusk to deter them, which seems bizarre for February!

Otherwise, the warm weather is really wonderful. A taste of spring.

The Big Bay and I had a good ride today, working on being very correct and moving well, and me focusing on using half halts correctly. On the advice of my daughter's trainer who was here on Saturday, I also worked hard on a hand position issue - involving making absolutely sure I'm not breaking at the wrists.

It's amazing how big a difference that has made in Keil Bay's head and his ability to go on the bit.

And I forgot my half chaps and really enjoyed that extra "feel" with my legs.

I also got an invite to audit a Mary Wanless clinic with Kenzie's dressage trainer, who will be riding. I hope I can go - I've been intrigued with Mary Wanless for a long time, and it would be fabulous to see her in action.

And as if that isn't enough, Cindy Sydnor is doing a Sunday afternoon book club, and we'll be studying Walter Zettl's Dressage in Harmony, which she translated from the German for him back when it was published.

At the end of the book club, we'll meet at her farm for some demonstration, and I am sure she'll be riding Windsor, the young Hanoverian that reminds me so much of Keil Bay, and was bred by Keil's previous owner. If I had a spare 50k lying around, I'd plunk it down and bring him home!

A little bit of spring fever seems to have hit already. :)

the rule of 3

Briefly:

I had forgotten this about riding, but I think it's true. If you haven't ridden for more than 3 days you either come back and have a great ride - almost as if the break kicked you and the horse up a notch, or you have to start over on some things. In the second case, if you ride for 3 days in a row, it's that third day that you kick back up again to the good stuff.

Would love to hear if anyone else experiences this, with riding, or anything else.