Removing Bob's Wedges

"My" shoer, Rich Nelson, the most knowledgeable, professional and kindest guy in the world came out on Friday afternoon to remove Bob's wedges.

I told him about Bob's increased tripping; falling while I was on him and then falling while drinking water.

As Rich worked I told him I hoped the wedges had been the cause of Bob's falling and that maybe removing them would fix whatever was wrong. 

Rich has my number. He knew what I was thinking - which was that I'd ride Bob when the wedges were off to see if it made a difference.

But while Rich was removing the wedges we could see Bob's knees shaking. As I stood on Bob's side, Rich looked up and gave me that serious-in-your-eyes-look.  In a gentle voice he said, "You need to call the Vet.  The level of these wedges aren't enough to cause Bob to drop to his knees.  Under no circumstances should you ride this horse until you figure out what's wrong."  

He's right. 

Since Friday I've agonized over what might be wrong.  The Vet's office opens tomorrow morning and I'll be calling to schedule an appointment.

Today we put the trailer away.  The action speaks for itself.

The Trip

I've owned Bob for a little over a year now.

We've sure had our challenges, I even had him up for sale for about twelve hours before I realized that everything I had written in the add was exactly what I wanted in a horse.  I asked myself what in the heck I was doing and pulled the add down. 

It scared me that I would sell what I've always wanted.  I stepped up to the plate and committed to work through our issues.  Since then Bob and I've been riding often.  I've been hauling him up to the barn where I used to board.  We meet up with my best riding Pal and her horse and the four of us have lots of fun.

But ever since I've owned Bob he has had a habit of tripping.  It initially wasn't a big deal - a little trip here and there.  I mentioned it at the pre-purchase exam and although I didn't get x-rays, the vet thought everything seemed fine with the flex test, etc.

Recently Bob has been tripping more often.  A few weeks ago I shared my observation with my shoer when he was here.  He suggested we place wedges on Bob's front feet.  He termed Bob as a "broken backed horse" which from what I understand is related to his confirmation and how his front feet are tipped back too far.

We placed the wedges on Bob's feet and my shoer told me to call him if there were any issues.

An odd thing happened during that shoeing.  Bob's front feet suddenly collapsed.  Tools and the shoer went flying.  I was off to the side lightly holding the lead rope and I could tell by the look on Bob's face that he hadn't anticipated going down.

My shoer commented that Bob, who is always the quiet/perfect guy when being shod, must have fallen to sleep.  We continued with the shoeing with no further issues.

This week during our weekly lesson Bob had passed the trip stage and we had stumbled pretty hard.  My trainer and I had commented on the stumble and agreed the wedges weren't making any difference.  I mentioned I'd be calling my shoer as he had advised.

A little later, while Bob and I were trotting, Bob had suddenly dropped to his knees.  I didn't even think about my reaction until later...as we were going down and the reins were stripped from my hands, I had stuck my legs out straight in front of me and leaned as far back as I possibly could.  I stayed in the saddle and Bob immediately got back up.

My trainer commented on the "stumble" and told me to keep riding.  In retrospect I should have stopped right then and there but I knew if I did that I'd carry the baggage of the experience with me, think about it later and that it would hurt my confidence.  So I slowed to a walk and stayed on.

As I led Bob to the trailer after our lesson, we stopped at a little puddle so he could have a drink of water.  It was a little shallow puddle, compliments of all the rain we've had, off the beaten path of cars and the road.  While Bob drank I lightly held the lead rope.

Suddenly Bob's front legs collapsed again and he fell head first into the puddle.  It again surprised both of us.  He got back up and I could see he'd cut his leg on a rock.  We slowly walked to the trailer and I drove the short distance home as if I had soft shelled eggs in my trailer - so worried Bob might fall.

At home I nursed Bob's cut and called my shoer to come out and remove the wedges.  My thought is that the higher angle of the wedges are causing Bob's knees to go out.  In the meantime Bob is walking fine here at home.

Before I call the vet out I want to see if removing the wedges alleviates the issue.  Maybe that's a copout.  But I'm just too terrified to hear what the vet might tell me - we've had so much heartache this last year with our horses.

So for the next few days I just want to live with what I hope is.  And not with what might be.

A Message to the Trees

Dear Trees,

You've escorted us when we've left home.

And you've welcomed us back.

The chriping of birds who perch on your limbs have woke us up on summer mornings.

Your shade has kept us cool on summer evenings.

You've stood by us through all of the seasons.

Last winter's ice storm was cruel.

It robbed you of your beauty and dignity.

You were changed.

They came to tell us that you would be leaving.

They say you are damaged.

They call you ugly.

They no longer see your beauty as we do.

Yesterday evening I went out after dinner to see you for the last time.

To have one last moment with you.

To listen one last time to your leaves as they rustled in the wind.

And to say goodbye.

You will be missed...

Dash and Ride

So much happening at home.

Grad party coming up for daughter.  Trying to get the house in shape for the event.  The cat has shredded some of our "ugly" wallpaper.  It is hanging in shreds on the wall.  I've been saying I was going to take it down for seven years so now that the cat has been "helping" it can no longer be avoided.  :)

Bob and I have had challenges. 

I took two short vacations and put him at the barn where I used to board and where I still haul in and take lessons.  The stalls are huge, designed specifically for warmbloods.  The care is excellent.

Bob didn't take well to the stall/pampering environment.  He became a very agitated, even more sensitive.

Things got so far out of hand that my Frainer (friend and trainer), who helped me decide to purchase Bob a year ago, has told me that she feels we made a mistake and that I should sell him and find a different horse - one who isn't so spooky/sensitive.

I received her advice and ran it around in my head for a week.  Took a lesson the following week where Bob was almost uncontrollable and agreed to sell him.

Balled my head off trying to write the add, but after 24 hours of agony, put it up on the internet. 

Twelve hours later I pulled it down.

My Frainer is not pleased.

But I believe that Bob's issues, which have expedited after being the only horse here at home, are partly because he is here by himself.  Last year we had four horses and Bob, although still a sensitive horse, didn't behave this way. 

I plan to purchase another horse in the fall.  Until then, I'm not sure how I will proceed.  I only want two horses in the future.  I may keep someone's horse here with Bob, not sure.

In addition to the above, I haven't been as active in riding as I was last year.  I passed on the summer with my Cowgirl Pals because I was going to spend time at the cabin.  But that has fallen through and to date I haven't caught up with my Pals.

I've stepped up to the plate and am hauling Bob up to the barn more often.  His sensitivity currently is too high for me to feel comfortable riding here at home alone.

I'm hoping to get through this.  My family and I don't take buying and bonding to our horses lightly.  We view them as life-long partners.  So before I proceed I must know that I've tried all I can.

I believe things are getting better, but gotta run. 

Heading out to haul Bob up to the barn for another ride.  :)

Graduation Weekend!

It's Graduation Weekend!  Yesterday our daughter returned home from college for the last time.  This weekend we celebrate and attend her graduation.

I had flowers and Champagne waiting for her.

Ironically husband and daughter arrived home within about two minutes of each other.  From their cars where they'd been endured Friday traffic, they joined me outside at the table - shady and cool in the late afternoon.  Here we sat and talked until dinner, which we ate outside while drinking Champagne.

The view our daughter had from her seat during dinner.  While eating she had paused, looked up at the fields and let out a big sigh. 

She was home.

Today she dressed up and returned to school to attend several department receptions.  She borrowed her Father's new car.

While she was gone Father washed her car and cleaned out the inside.  Pretty nice, huh?

While I wrote this and tossed the ball for Hank.  Nice of me too, huh?

And Bob ate his lunch, content to watch us all.

It's a very happy and special time for this family.  :)


 

First Buffalo Baby!

Can you see it to the left of it's Mama?  It was born Sunday morning, only a few moments before I went by on my walk down our drive. 

Unfortuantely I didn't have my camera so a few moments ago I walked down our drive to grab a few pictures.

 It appears the new bull introduced to "The Girls" has been busy. I can't tell if any of the other buffalo are pregnant, but I'm hoping so.  Stay tuned!  :)

The Bond. Part 2

I remember when I went to see Bob for the first time. His owner was a wary woman who seemed hesitant about selling her horse. When we talked I felt I was being interviewed. 

It was obvious she was trying to determine if I was an acceptable candidate for her horse.  Later I found that she had turned down other prospective buyers.

I recall her telling me that Bob was a one-on-one horse.  I wasn't quite sure what that meant.

When I returned the next day to test ride Bob, his owner had initially observed me and then dropped her head and turned away. 

She was crying.

I wasn't sure what to do!  So I thought the best thing was to politely keep riding and act like nothing was wrong.  She had eventually composed herself and turned back to me.   Looking up at me in a choking voice she had said, "He likes you".

I had passed the interview.

I've had Bob for almost a year.  For the last three months he has been the only horse I own.  Maybe it's that I've got more time to devote to this horse, but this one-on-one environment has allowed us to bond, creating a relationship I never thought I'd see again.

Bob parks himself outside my office window while I work.

Sometimes he naps (he snores).

Sometimes he just contemplates life.

No matter where I go or what I do at home, Bob is like a radar - tracking my every move.

Our relationship had me wanting more.  Just like the first time I sat on Barnie at that fence, I wanted to take our relationship further.  Bob had been a good guy at lessons and cattle sorting but it entered my mind that although that might be great fun for me, how much fun was it for Bob to always ride in an enclosed arena?

I wanted to branch out further but was hesitant.  Could I trust this horse?  My answer came to me one day...in the shower.  I asked myself, "What was more dangerous? Riding Bob alone in the pasture or getting into this slippery shower each morning?"  Either way, if I fell it would be hours before being discovered. 

Didn't take more than 3 seconds to decide that I'd rather fall from Bob than in that stinkin shower. 

So...

On a nice spring day, when nobody else was home, I opened up the gates to the winter pasture and saddled Bob up.

With Hank The Dog for company, we ventured out into the pasture.  Initially only went a few steps, then we went a few more and eventually we were riding all over the pasture.  It was so great...

 Infact it was REALLY GREAT!!  It was so incredible that when I unsaddled Bob that day our bond was even stronger.

And so starts an incredible journey - one I never thought I'd get to take again.  I'm sure Barnie is looking down from Horse Heaven and nodding his head!

Ground work addressed his behavior; however, there were specific approaches in the ground work to avoid.  If I lunge Bob, asking him to reverse often (as in a half circle), it intensifies his behavior.  If I lunge a few laps and stop him before going the opposite direction, it settles him down and draws his focus in.

Bob had the type of background I was looking for.  I purchased him and spent the last year hauling him to weekly lessons and joining my Cowgirl Pals at sorting events.

I found Bob "sensitive" when we arrived at a new location.  Before a lesson I would walk him around the arena and let him smell the items that sat in the corners.  Once he checked everything out he was fine.

At sorting events it was difficult.  Due to parking restrictions, we arrive with only minutes to spare before we are called into the pen.  Bob doesn't do well with the rushed atmosphere. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't advocate tippy-toeing around my horses.  But I also believe in giving the horse a chance.  And in Bob's cases, he carries some baggage from someone who once owned him.