What a wonderful morning!

[Keira 8888]

Happy Saturday everyone!

Hope you are all well ?

I had the most wonderful morning in the forest with Arabella, my black lab Waffle and her loan pony. We went bombing around and that pony is teaching her to ride himself - it’s just perfect.

Then we had a wonderful few hours with Prince and his transition to barefoot is going like a dream, I expected it to be a long and tricky road but so far (touch wood) he is going from strength to strength!

 

[splashgirl45]

glad to hear things are working out well

 

[brighteyes]

Oh what fun!

 

[ycbm]

Is there any possibility that a barefoot rehab will return Prince to working soundness, Keira, or are his problems in other areas?
.

 

[Wishfilly]

Looks like you had great fun this morning, and I am glad to hear Prince is doing well!

 

[FireCracker238]

You look like you had a ball! Where's your big grey draughty friend? Sorry I can't recall his name ?‍

 

[Keira 8888]

Is there any possibility that a barefoot rehab will return Prince to working soundness, Keira, or are his problems in other areas?
.

I was mulling over just this very thing today… I suppose my main reasons for retirement were his back X-rays showing vertebrae not actually touching, but suspiciously close and I coupled this with his erratic behaviour under saddle to make my decision. However, the farrier thinks that he is becoming slightly more “balanced” now he is barefoot and his whole demeanour is more relaxed. He isn’t footy at all and I’m starting to question my decision to retire him. The vet has recommended that we inject local anaesthetic to ascertain if his back IS causing him pain. I’m in such a quandry as I feel - am I being selfish to bring him back into work at 17 just to satisfy my wish to ride him? He loves his walks in the forest and we are starting to really get to know each other, it’s such a tough one. The funny thing is, as our relationship becomes more relaxed and in tune, I yearn all the more to have a ridden relationship. But as a novice rider I fear I may not be what he needs as a rider. But! That can be fixed as I have plenty of other horses to ride at the moment and I’m really learning a lot in a fast learning curve (having been used to robotic riding school horses) Sorry for long rambling response! Your question just happened to be the exact thing that has been rambling around my head since his transition to barefoot, which in my humble opinion, seems to have been the best thing I’ve done for him xx

 

[Keira 8888]

You look like you had a ball! Where's your big grey draughty friend? Sorry I can't recall his name ?‍

Aha! Henry! Thank you for asking! The old boy is looking after me very well - he is the complete opposite of Prince - opens his mouth for the bit and is the easiest old gent! Funnily enough his owner is pregnant and I’ve offered to look after him from now on so I can ride whenever I like. Funny how things work out… The stable is just 30 seconds from my house and my daughter and I used to run to the window every time we heard hooves on the lane - and now we are riding the very horses we used to swoon over! I guess it shows persistence pays off eventually! Xxx

 

[Trouper]

Might be an idea to start reading up on how folk have re-habbed horses after Kissing Spine ops etc to get backs really strong. I wish I had done this with mine before being "persuaded" to go for the op.

You can achieve so much from the ground before you even have to think of putting a saddle on and, if the farrier thinks he is getting more balanced now, then I think I would be looking to do some of this work with him anyway to get him as strong as he can possibly be.

Lovely to hear good news about him - you seem to be on a constantly upward journey!!