Boggle- USA bound!

[SEL]

He looks well!! Are you worried about him dealing with the cold this winter?

 

[Trouper]

Echo @SEL Did you have any concerns about him last winter? After such a trauma I think I would be worried about giving him another change and the opportunity to meet a whole load of new "bugs and beasties" in a different area. Also how often would you be able to see him?

 

[Michen]

Not worried about him dealing with it as such, but we had to spend soooo much time in the indoor arena. I tried to keep it varied but ultimately he’s got arthritis in his hocks and neck and I’m just not sure it can be that great for him to not be hacking so much?

I’d go with him to Arizona! I was thinking Jan- March during the worst of it. But I’m pretty on the fence either way, I don’t particularly have the spare cash to be paying two lots of board to keep my other stable either (though Arizona boarding is about half the cost!)

 

[Caol Ila]

What about moving to a barn that isn't in the mountains? Seems less faff than Arizona. Your barn sounds lovely, but it doesn't snow as much in the Denver/Boulder/Longmont area as it does in Evergreen. A couple thousand feet of altitude make a hell of a lot of difference. I don't remember any winter in Boulder where we had to go months and months without trail riding or being able to use the outdoor. Maybe a few days, a week, but no longer than that. The snow comes, then it melts pretty quick.

It's another option anyway.

 

[Michen]

What about moving to a barn that isn't in the mountains? Seems less faff than Arizona. Your barn sounds lovely, but it doesn't snow as much in the Denver/Boulder/Longmont area as it does in Evergreen. A couple thousand feet of altitude make a hell of a lot of difference. I don't remember any winter in Boulder where we had to go months and months without trail riding or being able to use the outdoor. Maybe a few days, a week, but no longer than that. The snow comes, then it melts pretty quick.

It's another option anyway.

I did think about it and have had a look, but really haven’t seen anything as good that’s not 45 plus minutes away (either far south or far north). We did trailer down to the foothills a fair bit during winter but it was still pretty gnarly at times and I think I'm a bit put off by that fall we had on the snow/ice. Although he had renegades on rather than studded scoot boots.

Speaking to my fellow boarders, it seems like they all really did exhaust the local barns and there’s just not many that rival the care here unless you want to really travel.

I dunno, need to think about it. Re Arizona I’m not so bothered about the faff as I love it there and would do it for myself as much as Boggle (but not at his expense, obviously)

 

[Michen]

Will this view ever get boring?

 

[rabatsa]

Back leg wraps? How things have changed .

 

[asmp]

I was wondering about the leg wraps- are they fly boots?

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Nope! It'll never ever get boring!

 

[Michen]

They are fly boots! And he tolerates them so well now having spent all his time pulling them off for the first few weeks. I think he’s figured out they help not hinder it’s so weird here the flies go for their legs rather than their face etc (he doesn’t need or wear a mask). They are the ones that look like normal flies but do actually bite.

 

[Michen]

Errrr sense check please- is Boggle a little… fat!???? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this well covered how do you think he’s doing muscle wise, I need that hollow to fill out a bit over his withers. But I think he’s got his bum mostly back!

Pic of Beau on hound exercise too

 

[Ratface]

I think he looks very well, all things considered. In my opinion, it's likely to take quite some time to get Bog back to optimum shape, as he's had a lot to deal with, physically and mentally, as have you.
In my opinion, regular steady excercise will give him the best chance of a slow and steady weight loss. Maybe also check with an equine dietician recommendations for his optimum diet, given his recent health issues and their resolution?
Beautiful pictures.

 

[ycbm]

I think he looks fab M and as long as he doesn't get laminitis that wouldn't worry me at all. You know he'll lose it when he's really working.

Now isn't that a wonderful thing to be able to write? A few months ago we'd have been happy to hear he was going to live to be retired!

Do most people wear hard hats when they ride, M, or is that just because they are hunting and it's a "Patey" tradition?
.

 

[splashgirl45]

He looks like a horse in the summer to me which is great considering how lean he was. As R said lots of slow exercise will get his muscle back, don’t forget he was VERY ill . Just get on and do lots of hacking if you can and enjoy him and stop worrying

 

[SEL]

Thanks for explaining about the boots - I'm on a few US FB forums and I haven't wanted to ask!

Bog looks fab. When does the riding start?

 

[Michen]

Yep so as much as I hate to be “that” owner I’m not allowing him to go out on the grass pasture other than my own short supervised stints. A- the grass is insane, it’s like a fluorescent green it’s so sugary. B- I don’t want him running around like this too much, great that he wants to but for now I feel better knowing I can grab his head collar if he really runs himself ragged.

I took him on a new loop (new to his rehab) up a steep mountain road to see how he did- totally fine. I was puffing behind him!

I think I’d like a bit more muscle on him in that area before I get on? It feels too soon, I dunno. I’m thinking another 2-3 weeks of long reining out hacking before I add my own weight. The hacking here is extremely hilly so it’s not a gentle plod. I am walking him over hundreds of poles.

I think if I can get him up to 45-1 hr of walk work on the long reins, muscle that area up a little more.. then I should be good to ride.

But appreciate any thoughts/ideas, this is such weird territory given it’s not an injury.

Oh and yes, everyone is in a hard hat here.

 

[Michen]

I think he looks fab M and as long as he doesn't get laminitis that wouldn't worry me at all. You know he'll lose it when he's really working.

Now isn't that a wonderful thing to be able to write? A few months ago we'd have been happy to hear he was going to live to be retired!

Do most people wear hard hats when they ride, M, or is that just because they are hunting and it's a "Patey" tradition?
.

I know. I can’t believe it. I don’t think the idea of spinning him around an XC course again feels like a pipe dream, either.

 

[nagblagger]

I would just get on now and see how he is.
Are you slightly apprehensive about getting on after such a long time?

 

[Michen]

I would just get on now and see how he is.
Are you slightly apprehensive about getting on after such a long time?

No not at all, I know he will bounce me around all over the place and I literally cannot WAIT to get back on, I just want to make it as easy/right for him as possible.

I’m a little heavier than my usual weight too, and have been trying to get rid of a bit of it.

 

[AmyMay]

I’d get on too.

 

[Michen]

Ahh! Ok maybe I should. The idea feels SO weird when he was so incredibly weak, sick and just.. argh.

Wow maybe I am apprehensive in a weird kind of way, not about him dumping me on the floor but I think seeing him in that state was rather hard hitting and the thought of asking him to carry me up a hill is a bit bleh!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Every photo you take of him looks like it should be on the front of a Kentucky or other horse magazine (meant in a complimentary way!)
He's gorgeous and I am so glad he is so well.

I would get on too and just have a walk and see how he feels - if he will let you just have a walk that is!

 

[palo1]

Ahh! Ok maybe I should. The idea feels SO weird when he was so incredibly weak, sick and just.. argh.

Wow maybe I am apprehensive in a weird kind of way, not about him dumping me on the floor but I think seeing him in that state was rather hard hitting and the thought of asking him to carry me up a hill is a bit bleh!

You can get on for 5 minutes to start with though; at the end or beginning of an in hand hack. It will give you a feel for how he is and will help him to re-muscle up. He looks fantastic and I would want to start hopping on, just for 5 mins to start with and then see to build that, and him, up. Well done on the rehab

 

[Michen]

You can get on for 5 minutes to start with though; at the end or beginning of an in hand hack. It will give you a feel for how he is and will help him to re-muscle up. He looks fantastic and I would want to start hopping on, just for 5 mins to start with and then see to build that, and him, up. Well done on the rehab

Actually that’s a great idea I could ride him down the drive and just loop the lunge lines over my shoulder, then hop off and continue on them. I will do that!

Thanks Palo!

 

[tristar]

i would tend to get a good routine going with the long reining then pick a day , no wind, warmish, he goes well seems obedient, relaxed at the end of a session, go in arena and hop on for ten minutes, see how it goes

 

[Michen]

i would tend to get a good routine going with the long reining then pick a day , no wind, warmish, he goes well seems obedient, relaxed at the end of a session, go in arena and hop on for ten minutes, see how it goes

The sensible way to do it for sure! The reality is probably that I’ll just hop on him bareback in a head collar

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would just do short rides when Arabi came back into work after the pedal fracture he lost so much muscle, I used to do a half hour loop and just get off and lead for the last 10 minutes back, he felt absolutely fine although looked weak but he still felt really buzzy, forward and still leapt and jogged for most of it.

He looks amazing and certainly looks like he would love to go for a ride.

 

[splashgirl45]

He looks great, I would start sitting on him sooner rather than later , you could try in the school first, would that make him more likely to just walk and not bounce around, if so that would be better for him to start with

 

[Michen]

That’s a wrap on the vet visits and antibiotics guys. Boggle has beautiful, clean lungs.

I think his main vet and I hugged about 5 times!

This weekend- back on board. What a horse to have recovered like this. He is truly special.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Flipping brilliant news. Boggle is awesome!