Golden Days - Adventures With Indy

Wednesday, July 31st
Golden Days

If I Didn’t KNOW He Was A Morgan…


If I didn’t know Indy was a Morgan, I would KNOW he was a Morgan. It’s been an interesting few days. On Monday afternoon, I saw to my horror that Indy had somehow managed to put a HUGE crack in the side of his left fore foot. He wasn’t lame, but I was really concerned about how high that went. I had realized his feet were VERY long, but I’m not riding him and Matt was due on Wednesday morning. I had planned to discuss scheduling Indy’s trims closer together. That boy can grow some FEET!

On Tuesday morning, I decided it couldn’t wait until Wednesday so we called Matt and explained the situation. He was on his way to a client in a nearby town, but he said he’d be out by afternoon. Meanwhile, he said to put duct tape on the crack and keep Indy in. By the time Matt got here at about 4:30, the tape was still sorta on and so was the chunk of hoof.

Matt said he was glad he did come a day early because it WAS a huge crack, but it hadn’t yet reached the sensitive tissues - just barely. But, he was able to trim it off, and since Indy’s feet were SO long anyway, you can hardly tell that the left outside “sidewall” is any different from the right. And, we DID put Indy on the five-week schedule with Ami.

Matt is coming to love Indy as much as he did DJ. He calls him Surfer Boy because of his blond locks, and get the biggest kick out of hearing our Indy Stories - such as the Hay Bale Roll, the way Indy intently studies everything we do as if he were trying to learn how to do it himself, and of course, how he scratches his own prepuce. He also frequently comments on what a pretty boy Indy is. Yes, he is.

Matt was also impressed with the thickness of Indy’s hoof horn. He kept commenting to his apprentice about Indy’s feet. When I suggested Indy didn’t need to go on Farrier’s Formula with Ami, he said, “Oh no!” and indicated that he didn’t think his nippers would be up to the job if Indy’s horn were any thicker…

Later that evening, I was looking out the kitchen window, and there was a hot air balloon, flying low over the fields, its whooshing sound very audible. I called to Mike to come see it too, and I said, “Where’s Indy? What would he think of THIS?” At that moment, Indy came dancing out of the barn - the Mighty Stallion on Full Alert. He remained staring at the balloon for all of oh, 20 seconds. Then dropped his head and started grazing, even though that “monster” was still clearly visible - and audible. Just call him Mr. Cool. Of course, most of the time I just call him Goofball.
suzym on 07.31.02 @ 08:48 PM CST [link] [1 Comment]


Monday, July 29th
Golden Days

Gasp!


The heat and humidity continues. Holy Guacamole - I have NEVER sweated like this in my entire life. Yesterday afternoon while I was cleaning the stalls, I could feel sweat running down my arms and legs and even into my eyes. Temps were close to 90, and I’d be willing to bet the humidity was just as high. Whew! Oops! Sorry if I offended anyone with the word “sweat.” My grandmother used to say, “Horses sweat, gentlemen perspire and LADIES dew.” Maybe I’m just not a lady, but folks, this stuff was NOT dew!

Poor Indy was almost as wet as I was, and he decided I needed a break from mucking - and while I was “resting” I could scratch him. Ami was in the front stall, eating “his” hay, but he didn’t care. Sometimes I think that boy loves a scratch better than he likes to eat. Well… maybe not THAT much, but he does love a good scratch!

It’s impossible to do any real training under these conditions. I don’t know how much Indy’s concentration is affected, but I sure know about MINE. He is doing MUCH better about having fly spray applied with the mitt though. He’s not even worried if I spray AROUND him either. Pretty soon, he’ll be wondering why he ever thought it was a problem.

I’m almost to the point of calling Dr. Conley about his castration incision though. There is still a tiny bit of drainage, but I’m beginning to think the REAL problem is his biting at it. When I washed it off for him this morning there was some dried blood, and I know it came from his scratching at it with his teeth. Who would ever have believed he could REACH his own prepuce!! Am I going to have to put NoChew on his body? If I DO have to call the doc about this, I will be sure to ask him if he’s ever had this happen before. I’m sure glad I have Mike as a witness.

Today is going to be just as bad as yesterday, so we probably won’t get much done in the way of formal training. Of course, as they say, any time you’re handling a horse you’re training, so this time isn’t really lost. Indy and I are bonding, and he’s having the chance to get completely comfortable in his new home. Hardly wasted time :o)

One good thing about the weather - we HAVE been getting some much-needed rain. Don’t know if it’s enough to help the farmers, but it’s keeping our grass green without making it too lush for Ami. If we get a LOT of rain, I probably will have to cut her grass time, but so far, so good. I’m still turning her out at noon and letting her stay out until dinner. She would like to be out more of course, but I don’t dare. She’s doing SO well I don’t want to rock the boat. She DOES look at Indy like he’s crazy when he gallops around in this heat, but it’s not because her feet are sore!
suzym on 07.29.02 @ 08:58 AM CST [link] [No Comments]


Wednesday, July 24th
Golden Days

Relief!


It was actually COOL this morning! Lord have mercy, I don’t know what I would have done if we hadn’t gotten a little break like this soon. That super heat AND humidity was really getting to me. It was getting to the point that all I was able to do with the horses was keep their “living quarters” clean and fly-free. Even real grooming was almost beyond me - and they were too sweaty to brush anyway. Indy had sweat running down his legs and across his hooves!

Of course Indy’s being an efficient “sweater” is a GOOD thing, since with horses -as with humans - sweating is the means by which the body disapates heat. Ami is not quite as efficient as Indy, and she was puffing a few times - something I never saw him do. In fact, he was still tearing around the field :o) Thus confirming in Ami’s mind that he is totally nuts LOL!

We even got some REAL rain on Sunday afternoon. It rained HARD for quite a while. Indy and Ami were out grazing at the time, and they stayed out through the whole thing. I didn’t know what Indy would do in a hard rain - we hadn’t had one since he’s been here! - but I would NEVER have expected Miss Ami to stay out in such weather. Either she did it because he did or she had just been so miserable the driving rain felt good. Whatever, they both got a wonderful rain water bath, and their coats felt SO soft and silky afterward :o)

Now that it’s at least a little cooler and less humid, I can continue my ground work with Indy. We are still concentrating on getting him over his fear of being sprayed. Yesterday, I was able to get him to relax while I held the applicator mitt at eye level. This is a BIG first, since protecting his face is the major component of his fear. I have not and will NEVER spray anything in his face - once I convince him of that, we should be well on our way to conquering this thing.

Meanwhile, I’ll have to keep a close eye on Ami’s grazing time. Drought stressed grass that has just gotten a good rain is one of THE most dangerous forages for a horse prone to grass founder. I’d hate to reduce her time out playing with Indy, but sometimes we have to do what we have to do - whether we like it or not. Tough Love I guess.

suzym on 07.24.02 @ 07:12 PM CST [link] [No Comments]


Friday, July 19th
Golden Days

VERY Low Impact Training


As I’ve said before, I had long looked back on the things I would change if I had DJ’s early training to do over again, having learned SO much over the intervening twenty years. And, now that I DO have it to do over again with Indy, one of the things I was going to change was that I was going to take things a lot more slowly. HOWEVER, I hadn’t envisioned taking things quite THIS slowly…

We are still in the grip of the longest stretch of the most miserable, oppressive weather we’ve had since I’ve been living in Indiana - some ten years. You wouldn’t know it by the way Mr. Mop Top Indy tears around the pasture, but believe me, I’M not tearing around anywhere. Couple the heat with the fact that I’m battling one of those miserable summer colds that just seem to hang on forever, and you have one very slow motion trainer!

Things are hardly at a standstill though. It’s amazing the things you can do just during grooming sessions. Indy has it down pat that when I “cluck” to him, that means, “Heads up - I’m going to ask you for something.” He has it down so well in fact, that when I have grooming tools in my hands and cluck, he immediately positions himself where I always ask him to stand while grooming :o) Cool, huh? I’ve also taught him the turn on the forehand from the ground. Cluck, touch on the side and say, “Turn,” and he does it perfectly - with a beautiful crossover with the inside hind. And of course, we ALWAYS practice the “calm down” cue.

The biggie we’re concentrating on now is getting him over his fear of being sprayed. When we started, he was so terrified that he retreated as far as he could when he saw me pick up the bottle of fly spray. Following John Lyons’ principal of “never start with your goal,” we are making steady progress. First, I just let him watch me spray Ami and then put the spray away. Then, I got an applicator mitt - which I really needed anyway because I would NEVER spray either Indy or Ami in the face. I didn’t use the mitt on Indy at first. I just let him watch as I sprayed Ami’s body, and then used the mitt on her face. I showed the mitt to Indy but didn’t try to wipe him with it. Soon, I was able to stroke Indy’s back with the mitt.

We are now at the point that I can stand near him, spray onto the mitt - NOT him - and wipe fly spray on all parts of his body except his face. Day before yesterday I really concentrated on just getting him to relax and drop his head while I had the mitt on one hand. I didn’t want to try to wipe his face. I just wanted him to relax while the mitt was on my hand. Well, he relaxed all right. In fact, he dozed off with his head in the hollow of my shoulder. He seemed to have a very nice nap… When he finally woke up, he actually touched the mitt with his muzzle.

The real beauty of all this is that I consider doing all this every bit as much fun as riding. I love working with Indy and seeing him learn and grow. Sometimes I really feel sorry for the horse owners who feel riding is the ONLY thing and that training issues are things that just “get in the way” of that one objective. They are missing SO much…

suzym on 07.19.02 @ 09:21 AM CST [link] [No Comments]


Thursday, July 11th
Golden Days

What Next!


Well, Indy hasn’t rolled any more hay bales since Mike put a huge rock on the downhill side of the line, but I’m sure he’s trying to figure out a way. Or, he’s working on something else…

Since he REALLY doesn’t like my hosing his incision, I’ve started cleaning it by hand with a bucket and soft paper cloths. He LOVES this. The site is still draining, and it get all crudded up with gook that gets all down his legs as well. It not only itches him like crazy, it draws (YUK!) flies. I was debating how often I should do this, but after what happened yesterday, I think at least twice a day will be necessary.

Yesterday morning as Mike and I were doing the chores, we both saw Indy hike up his back leg, reach around and chew at his incision with his teeth! He can reach his own prepuce to scratch it!! He must be made of RUBBER. Yet another, “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes…” I cleaned it off immediately - he had made it bleed! - and again that evening. When I cleaned it this morning, it didn’t look like he’d been chewing on it any more. Lord have mercy!

He still doesn’t like the idea of being sprayed with fly spray yet either, but he’s getting comfortable with my wiping it on. Dr. Conley gave me some stuff that comes out as foam - MUCH easier to wipe on since it doesn’t drip. I put a LOT of that around the incision and down the back of his legs. With that and his flysheet, the flies should be kept at bay.

Now, if I can just keep HIM at bay…I’m gonna put this boy in the Circus yet.
suzym on 07.11.02 @ 09:15 AM CST [link] [No Comments]


Saturday, July 6th
Golden Days

How Does He DO That?!


Indy strikes again! First, a bit of background…

A couple of weeks ago we had a dry spell long enough for us to get our hay cut, baled and into the barn. (WHEW!) We ended up using 4x4 round bales instead of the square bales that I’m used to. Although our hay is taken off our place, Mike and I don’t do it ourselves - we hire it done, and our guy would MUCH rather do round bales than square. Can’t blame him. Square bales are VERY labor intensive, and Mike and I certainly can’t help him toss hundreds of 50 lb. bales of hay onto a wagon! Since it’s so hard to find anyone to do square bales, we experimented with one round bale last year. We took in into the barn right away, just like we would square bales, and it worked out just fine. It wasn’t quite as convenient to feed, but it wasn’t bad, and the horses loved it.

We always round baled our excess hay and sold it anyway, so this year we just had him round bale all of it. Mike brought the bales to the barn with the tractor, and he and I rolled ‘em on in :o) The rest we lined up along the fence line behind the barn until they are sold, just like we always do. Yesterday morning as we were doing the morning chores, Mike called me out to see something. One of the bales had “moved” from the fence line almost to the middle of the field! Now, I grant you it’s sort of downhill, but STILL! Since I’m still keeping Ami in her paddock overnight, there was only one Likely Suspect. We laughed and laughed and said we’d give anything to have seen how he did that :o). We called it “Indy’s Bale.”

Since it had only been a few days, and we’d had no rain, Mike decided to bring another couple of bales into the barn - just to be sure we had enough. We took Indy’s Bale and one other. And we kidded about coming out this morning and finding another like that… So, what do we find this morning? Yep. Another one rolled away from the line. In the ten years we’ve been doing this, neither DJ nor Ami EVER managed anything like this! Indy, Indy, Indy…

After we rolled the bale back in line, Mike put a BIG rock on the down hill side. I can’t WAIT to see what Mr. IncrediClown does about THAT…
suzym on 07.06.02 @ 08:20 PM CST [link] [1 Comment]


Wednesday, July 3rd
Golden Days

Greetings From The Sauna


I’ve lived in Indiana for ten years now, and the past few weeks have been the hottest, muggiest, most uncomfortable we’ve had since I’ve been here. YUK! It’s buggy, but too hot for the horses to wear their flysheets. I have to just stay with the masks, which are better than nothing, for sure, but they both opt to stay in the barn most of the time to get away from the bugs.

Indy is recovering normally, as far as I can tell. I’ve never had a new castrate to care for before, so I’m flying rather blind, I’m afraid. I hosed it off yesterday to remove the layer of dried gunk, not only from the incision itself, but also from his hind legs and tail. It’s supposed to drain, and it is doing that. Indy REALLY does NOT like to be sprayed - with anything. But I think he finally realized that this was feeling pretty good after all. The incision doesn’t seem to be the least bit sore, and I think it felt good to him to have it cleaned up. He doesn’t have any problems with my touching it, so I’m able to wipe fly repellent on it for him too.

Ami used to hate being sprayed too, but now I can hardly rinse Indy off without having her get in the way, so eager is she to be rinsed off herself. This from a mare that used to fight a bath with everything she had! Sure changed HER mind LOL! That goes for fly spray as well. She used to HATE it, and now I don’t even have to put a halter on her. She KNOWS she wants that stuff.

I’m sure Indy will come around in time. Right now he seems really fearful, as if he’s had a bad experience or something. He is getting more relaxed about it though, so I just have to take it slow and easy until he’s confident they spray won’t hurt or go in his face. He didn’t particularly like the flysheet at first either, and he’s sure changed his mind about THAT!

Matt was here this morning to do an “in between” trim on Ami - just to be sure to keep all stress off her toes. Ami is not the - ahem - most cooperative of horses when it comes to her feet. She’s a thousand times better than she used to be, and I think she has come about as far as she intends to come - and she obviously feels we should be grateful for THAT :o) I can’t really blame her, she’s had so much pain associated with her feet.

Anyway, there’s a certain treat - called Apple Wafers - that she expects to get in return for not giving Matt TOO much trouble. Hey, so it’s a bribe. Whatever works.

I had tied Indy in his stall and got the bucket of Apple Wafers. I set the bucket down just outside Indy’s stall, and got Ami out and ready for Matt. Suddenly I heard a noise over Indy’s way. Even though he was TIED, Indy had managed to reach between the rails JUST enough to flip the top off the bucket, and reach down far enough with his lips to grab an Apple Wafer. That BOY! I was holding Ami, so I called to Mike and Matt to move the bucket. Indy looked SO disappointed…

Matt was cracking up while I told him about all the other stuff Indy had gotten into since his last visit. That list would include his getting his fetlock wrapped around the cross members in the bottom of the empty muck bucket cart. I had seen him sorta pawing at it, then step in the middle and get his fetlock hooked around one of the bottom braces. I was in Ami’s stall at the time, and I think I levitated out, calling to him to, “Whoa, Indy! Be still, Indy! Easy, Indy!” In the millisecond it took me to get to him, Indy had calmly disengaged himself from the cart and was looking at me as if I’d taken leave of my senses - which I just about had.

It’s supposed to be cooler over the weekend. Indy and Ami are fine, but I think I need a cold compress on my head - just to be prepared for whatever Indy gets into next…
suzym on 07.03.02 @ 07:40 PM CST [link] [No Comments]




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