Boodle
Well-Known Member
It amazes me, even now, that my girl is still with me.
Five years tomorrow I will have owned Boo! This mare has taught me so much and given so much, but tested the limits.
I got her at aged 12 and had a summer full of struggles. From her tanking off with me when hacking, to napping, to taking hold and leaping out of the ring at shows. She used to be absolutely impossible to me. This was primarily because I had gone from Trixie, my 11.1hh *fast* exmoor type, to Boo, a 14.2hh Welsh Cob, built like a brick sh*t house.
When getting her in from the field, I used to go up to her, put a head colar on, start to lead her in, and she'd simply turn around and run back to the herd. She had zero respect and way too much strength.
In February 2004, after almost a year of her tanking off with me, dragging me about, making me sob and feel so useless, she came down with laminitis. Severe laminitis, induced by heavy frosts and possibly concussion on the hard ground.
In March, the vet sad that he'd give her a week to pick up, if not, she should be put to sleep.
I'd spend hours in her stable, with her flat out, playing the song by the Lighthouse family.. I think it was "Free" (I wish i knew how it would feel to be free).
The day before vet was due to come out and put her to sleep, i went to muck her out, and she was standing in her stable. From this point on she slowly improved.
It took until July for me to have my first ride on her since laminitis, and March 2005 until she was well enough to begin light schooling.
2005 was a fabulous year, with competitions, fast and fun hacks, jumping and general happiness!
In April 2006 she came down lame again and was brought in. After much deliberation, and multiple problems considered with her pedal bones it was ultimately decided that the lameness within her fetlock and hoof was due to arthritis in the hock, and pain here was causing her to compensate.
So 2006 was a very slow year, she was out of work for a while, and then brought back slowly until October 2006 when I found her in the field with a severe puncture wound to the inside of her hind leg.
Vet out again, more box rest, out of work again.
Then began to get her fit again, after two weeks I found her in the field, unable to stand. The problem wasn't entirely clear, but we knew she was in alot of pain. It was then thought that there must be an infection somewhere within her hoof, and from here it was treated. It was then thought the infection had affected the structure of the hoof and that problems with her pedal bone may be occuring. Boo was in from November to May, until she was finally given the all clear to be turned out again. But due to her being laminitic, she had to be carefully monitored when returning to the grass, and was out full time, eventually, by July 2007.
Since then she has been in light work as a hack, now farrier has given me the all clear to try some faster work with her. (Trot and some canter). And eventually, when fit, some light schooling.
She has only been in full work with me for a total of about a year and a half out of 5 years of ownership, and she will never be fully and entirely sound, and her problems will worsen, with wear and tear. For now however she looks healthy and happy and she means the absolute world to me.
We bought her for £950 as a 12yr old, and now, at 17yrs old, she has cost us approximately double that (at least) in vet bills.
She has a home for life with me, but I do hope the next five years may be less costly.
The day I got her;
When in full fitness;
Gawd i miss these days!
Last month;
Yesterday;
Sorry it's boring.
I'll probably end up posting about 3 million photos in the PG eventually. Because I'm sad. lol.
Kirsty
Five years tomorrow I will have owned Boo! This mare has taught me so much and given so much, but tested the limits.
I got her at aged 12 and had a summer full of struggles. From her tanking off with me when hacking, to napping, to taking hold and leaping out of the ring at shows. She used to be absolutely impossible to me. This was primarily because I had gone from Trixie, my 11.1hh *fast* exmoor type, to Boo, a 14.2hh Welsh Cob, built like a brick sh*t house.
When getting her in from the field, I used to go up to her, put a head colar on, start to lead her in, and she'd simply turn around and run back to the herd. She had zero respect and way too much strength.
In February 2004, after almost a year of her tanking off with me, dragging me about, making me sob and feel so useless, she came down with laminitis. Severe laminitis, induced by heavy frosts and possibly concussion on the hard ground.
In March, the vet sad that he'd give her a week to pick up, if not, she should be put to sleep.
I'd spend hours in her stable, with her flat out, playing the song by the Lighthouse family.. I think it was "Free" (I wish i knew how it would feel to be free).
The day before vet was due to come out and put her to sleep, i went to muck her out, and she was standing in her stable. From this point on she slowly improved.
It took until July for me to have my first ride on her since laminitis, and March 2005 until she was well enough to begin light schooling.
2005 was a fabulous year, with competitions, fast and fun hacks, jumping and general happiness!
In April 2006 she came down lame again and was brought in. After much deliberation, and multiple problems considered with her pedal bones it was ultimately decided that the lameness within her fetlock and hoof was due to arthritis in the hock, and pain here was causing her to compensate.
So 2006 was a very slow year, she was out of work for a while, and then brought back slowly until October 2006 when I found her in the field with a severe puncture wound to the inside of her hind leg.
Vet out again, more box rest, out of work again.
Then began to get her fit again, after two weeks I found her in the field, unable to stand. The problem wasn't entirely clear, but we knew she was in alot of pain. It was then thought that there must be an infection somewhere within her hoof, and from here it was treated. It was then thought the infection had affected the structure of the hoof and that problems with her pedal bone may be occuring. Boo was in from November to May, until she was finally given the all clear to be turned out again. But due to her being laminitic, she had to be carefully monitored when returning to the grass, and was out full time, eventually, by July 2007.
Since then she has been in light work as a hack, now farrier has given me the all clear to try some faster work with her. (Trot and some canter). And eventually, when fit, some light schooling.
She has only been in full work with me for a total of about a year and a half out of 5 years of ownership, and she will never be fully and entirely sound, and her problems will worsen, with wear and tear. For now however she looks healthy and happy and she means the absolute world to me.
We bought her for £950 as a 12yr old, and now, at 17yrs old, she has cost us approximately double that (at least) in vet bills.
She has a home for life with me, but I do hope the next five years may be less costly.
The day I got her;
When in full fitness;
Gawd i miss these days!
Last month;
Yesterday;
Sorry it's boring.
I'll probably end up posting about 3 million photos in the PG eventually. Because I'm sad. lol.
Kirsty
