Today Tonka didn't seem quite right (minor EPSM episode, I think) so I left him in the pasture and got out the girls. They went for a walk all around the property with me. I chose to go down the easier hills because downhill is hard on both of them, and up the harder hills, and went up the biggest hill twice. Then I trimmed some on Bella's feet, trying to keep the breakover back on those back legs to help out the stifles. Then we went up the driveway and checked the mail. We kinda-sorta interruped a calf's first meal, but the mama wasn't too worried and didn't make a move to leave. If I thought we were endangering them we'd have turned around and gone back home.
I tell ya, it's so nice to have horses that are so awesome to walk that I can take two of them at once. I remember days when I had horses I was afraid to take for a walk singly. There's no way I could have walked them together! But I think a lot of that was caused by my own inexperience and worry.
Bella's stifle appears to be a lot better. I think it's a mixture of less mud, more exercise, a joint supplement, and maybe time to heal if there was a separate acute issue going on.
Did I mention our shot-giving shenanigans the other day? I tried to give Bella a shot in the pasture with no halter. The rest of the horses were so ho-hum about it I figured she wouldn't give me much trouble. Wrong. She took off, twice, and finally the needle was lost. How do you find a needle in a hayfield? I don't know. Can a metal detector find something that small?
So today I gave her the vaccine. I went out armed with many great big treats that require lots of chewing, and of course a halter. She did jump and fidget, but was not too bad overall.
After I put the girls away I went out for some relaxed lovey time with the boys. Cisco wasn't real interested in me, but my two boys came up for some goofy interaction. I do love my Tonka. Scout's a bit rude and can really irritate me, but he does back up and move nicely when I ask. His body is nice, his face is not always nice. Tonka followed me all over. When I went out I picked him some grass from the greener side of the fence.
All-in-all, a very relaxing horse day.
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3 comments:
Oh my--a lost needle--hope one of the horses doesn't find it!
Two horses at once--they must be good. I generally avoid two at a time, but sometimes have to do it. Last summer I was walking two, and Cowboy did something utterly goofy (scared of the fence wire gate I'd set on the ground) and ended up getting wrapped around another horse--it was Red, thank goodness. Any other horse and I may not have been able to write this comment.
Good luck finding that needle. LOL! :)
I agree with Linda, the lost needle is scary! Do you think a magnet would pick it up? Maybe if you got a really strong one you could search for it that way... I know that's how a farrier I knew used to pick up nails when he was done shoeing.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and welcoming me back!
I'm very careful about how I hold my ropes, and these two are totally not prone to spook. Scout I have to be more careful with, because he tends to want to be in my lap.
I also hope one of the horses doesn't find the needle! I really need to find that thing.
A magnet might work, but there's a lot of ground to cover. I'll have to figure something out. I think I'll try borrowing a metal detector first.
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