dun, dun, dun!!! Day 7 - 6/4

And, as promised, I saddled Cas today!!!  The weather this am was MUCH,  I mean MUCHO cooler. Amazing how different AM and PM are here. Sheesh!

I snagged Cas, and got him ready as usual. Except instead of heading right to the 'arena' after he got his polos on, I threw a saddle pad on his back. If looks could kill, I'd be dead because the go to he*l look that horse gave me was pure EVIL I tell ya! He knew something was up. It wasn't going to be like the other days!  I swung my Tucker saddle up onto his back, and  I SWEAR he grew 10 hands instantaneously! It was the darndest thing. I couldn't believe it. I'm thinking of trading him in for a shorter model now. Something just as stocky, but oh, maybe 14.2 hands? Shorter even? Just kidding, I love him dearly, I just apparently forgot how freaking tall he is!

Saddled and ready to go, we mosey on to the arena. I mean, slugs move faster than we did. Cas was obviously not impressed with his new attire.
However, impressed or not, he impressed me with his amazing behavior. I was expecting at least a little kick up, something! Not a peep. He didn't step a foot wrong. He didn't want to stay in the canter going right, but that's ok! It'll be a while before we canter anyway!
The lunge went similar to yesterday/last night. Pretty much the same. Same length, same switching directions a lot, just added the saddle.
When I hosed him off, I had to throw a cooler on his back because the steam was just rolling off him! Poor boy! Again, amazing the difference from 7pm to 6am, just amazing. I think I'll try to keep his workouts in the AM, even if it means a little less sleep for me.

I'm going to attempt to upload some video. Not sure how it's going to work. I will at least get 2 photos up. Sorry for the quality, they are from my ancient iPhone3.

 Casper says - GET IT OFF ME! 

 

 

the MAGIC continues

Well, we went all weekend with the lip rope and we have NOT had any issues getting his eye meds in his eye.

The eye is looking great, and DH and I don't have to fight with him and worry about poking his eye with the end of the syringe.

We are getting up at 4:45 in the am, to give meds by 5 am, and again by 7 am so we can go to work. He gets them again at 6ish pm and then again around 10 pm or 11ish pm.

His eye is looking really great!

We have a follow up appointment with the vet on Thursday at 3:30.

I'm a bit concerned about the amount of sight he will have left when this is all over. The vet assures me that he will be able to see, but he will probably have a spot on his eye for the rest of his life.

I hope he can see. We have one horse who is already blind in one eye, and I hate that for him. I hope Alduca gets his sight back.

Magic string and stuff!

Ok people, last night's med sessions and this mornings went great!

Huh? Did I read that right?
I know that is what you are saying. How did this happen? What could have changed in less than 24 hours to make Duca the monster horse go from Satan's Spawn to Angelic Alduca?
A magic string.

Before you read any further, I don't want to hear anything about being mean to this horse. Pestering him for 30 mins to get 1/2 his meds in his eye is mean. Grabbing an ear would not be so kind, and would make him hate his ears being touched. A twitch? Yeah, you grab his nose and see if you can hang on while the Alduca elevator takes you to the top floor!

What I used is a lip rope. A simple piece of soft, white cotton rope. Similar to what you might have on your clothes line out back, and a metal snap.
Tie the rope to the snap and make a good knot. I also put a knot at the other end. I think the rope is about 4 feet long.
I snap the rope to the right side of his halter, and bring the tail around the other side and pull it through the brass buckle. The rope then slips inside his mouth and sets on his upper gum-line. Like a mouth chain, but much less severe. I'm not sure how it will work with every horse, but with Alduca, just a little pressure and he is putty in your hand.
Less than 5 minutes and the lip rope was on, his the meds were IN his eye, 100% of the meds, the lip rope was off and he had a whole bag of treats!
Simple!!! Easy. Less stress on the horse, and we in no way, shape, or form ABUSE the power of the lip rope.

I hope it works this easy tonight! If so, we are in business!!!

Busy bee!

Can you say busy? LIFE has been on FFWD since January 1, I think. Yikes.

Last weekend I took photos at a friends' wedding, and had a photo session with my niece, Shelby.
This weekend I'm off to AuStIn for a weekend photography class with Kevin Gourley .
Next weekend (friday through Tuesday) I will be in FlOrIdA visiting my friend Holly and her family.
The weekend after that? Back to trimming hooves with my husband...... and that is just the last few weeks. I could go on, or go backwards....but I think that shows you how busy I've been.

Alduca is with his Auntie Jen for the weekend, while the rest of the critters will be watched by my M.I.L (mom-in-law) and Shelby. I hope they have fun, because they will have their hands full with all those critters!

I hope everyone has a good weekend! I Hope to come back with lots of new ideas for my photography. Oh, and I hope to have time to update my photo blog and my FB page for my photography as well!

4-H Article!

Wooohoooo! Go Kelli!

Kelli's article in the local paper!

You Go Girl!!!