Clipped Coat Changes

 

I gave Ink a bath today.  It was a little bit windy, but in the sun it wasn’t bad and luckily we are sheltered from whatever wind there is with the barn. 

After the bath I put him on the hot walker for about 10-15mins.  I didn’t have it on because I didn’t want him stirring up dust and defying the point of a bath lol :p.  Next door the old man has two new pigs and Ink hasn’t seen them yet.  He saw the last two from last year, but now there are new little pigs and he was scared of them.  Probably because he couldn’t see them very well from where we were.  So I put him on the side of the hot walker where he could look and observe.  And he did just that the whole time.  A little spooky in the beginning but he soon just stood looking with curiosity. 

Matt and I sat with him during his stay on the hot walker.  I ate my snack and then was able to get some shots.  The camera was getting low on battery and I had a full memory card and after compromising with deleting some photos, I had four spaces left. 

I’ve been curious as to see how Ink’s coat might change or what would happen after he was clipped.  Someone said that they don’t get their color back for two years.  Now I don’t know if that is true or not, but in the last week Ink’s regular coat color is coming back.  I think it should be back in full by at least the end of April, if it continues to go at this rate.  But right now it’s, interesting..  I recently read the blog of The Eventing Percheron at http://eventing-draft.blogspot.com/ talk about her boy’s coat color.  I’m having weird things happen with Ink’s coat.  His neck is really light, probably because it’s been exposed to the sun, when he’s been blanketed most of the time.  It was so noticeable and looked really funny, but it’s kind of blending in now.  And his head is shedding out now, but his ears are probably going to be last, they are soo fuzzy! 

Ink didn’t just get to be pampered all day, he had to do some work, since I’ve been light with him the past week.  I put the stretcher on and free lunged him in the round pen.  He didn’t like it at first, some times bucking and striking out, but then settled down fine and remembered about the release when giving to pressure.  He looked great going around.  Errika joined us and then my mom took her out for a little trail ride around the property and into their field. 

Mother, Teacher and Love, Errika

I have a heap of photos from yesterday.  Ok maybe not a heap but enough that it’s going to take more time to upload them. 

 

 

Yesterday I gave an informal lesson to Olivia.  Our family is friends with her’s and my dad has known her dad for a long time.  She is 8 years old, I think.  She loves horses and riding.  Fearless as almost every 8 year old is.  Errika was great for her.  On Saturday Olivia got to ride a little bit, but yesterday she had almost a whole day with the mare.  I decked Errika out in pink and purple.  Her pink rope halter, pink bareback pad (which was an x-mas present to my mom last year) and her purple woof boots :).  

Errika enjoyed taking around a child.  She’s good with kids and listens to them.  Her ears were always turned back listening to her little rider.  I was a proud mummy.  During the beginning Matt or I would lead Olivia on Errika.  But then I decided that Olivia was ready for a little something more.  I took two of the cavaletti x’s and set them up for Olivia to walk Errika around, to practice steering.  The fearless 8 year old had been on horses before, but never had actual instruction.  Well the steering went good.  I was impressed by her natural ability to ride. 

I’m hoping that this summer and maybe before I will be giving Olivia regular riding lessons and do a little camp thing in the summer. 

Days of Play

Yesterday, the weather was odd.  It rained last night…huh?  Such nice, sunny, warm spring weather and here comes a sudden batch of rain.  At first when I went outside last night, I thought it might just be mist from heavy fog, but there wasn’t a lot of fog.  It got worse and worse and I actually had to use my wind-shield wipers!  It wasn’t enough to cause a mucky mess again in the field, but I haven’t been over there today to see the horses. 

 Now yesterday, one of my favorite type of horse days.  Matt and I stopped at the mini-mart for a drink and snacks and then got to the barn, walked to the back and sat in the field while we drank and ate.  At first the horses were very curious as to what they thought we brought them.  When we walked across to the grassier side that is a tiny hill and sat, the two horses watched us with facsination.  For about five minutes they stood still watching.  Then Ink decided he wanted to come hang with us, so he walked over to where we were, sniffed what we had, realizing it wasn’t something he liked, then put his head down and started grazing by us.  Normally Ink is such a lazy butt.  He won’t walk anywhere he doesn’t haveto.  Errika stayed behind, I figured because she probably knew what was on my mind.  After Matt and I got done eating and took the horses’ blankets off, he would give me a leg up on Errika and I’d walk her to the barn to ride in the arena.  Plus Errika probably knew that Ink would probably push her away, because he’s just like that. 

I rode Errika up and we followed Matt and Ink to the round pen.  Matt was going to lunge Ink while I watched before I went into the arena.  Well Ink did look good, he’s still slightly off, but he did look nice otherwise.  It was his best “normal” appearance.  I wanted Matt to work on how Ink responded to the cues for the different gaits.  But the highlight was when they were all done and Matt asked Ink to walk and then come to him, and Ink walked with his head low, a little concerned if he was doing right and put his head right at Matt’s stomach.  Matt rubbed his head and told him he was a good boy.  Both of them were proud of each-other.  Matt looked over to me smiling.  I wish I could have gotten a picture. 

I rode Errika in the arena for about 10 minutes, but it got boring.  Matt and I took Errika into the round pen and we all hung out in there together.  I rode Errika while Matt stood with Ink and then we played this game where the first person who could get their horse to halt from the trot first, won. 

Then we cleaned stalls and made grain.  That was about it for yesterday. 

 We will probably do the same thing today, or similar. 

The skies are all blue now :).  Spring forward, daylight savings, is sooo nice! 

The Icing

Hi everyone, I am blogging a little late in the week than planned.  But I’m here to update you on the most current situation.  I wanted to personally thank Jessica of http://equuspalaverous.wordpress.com/ for helping me out with Ink through email :). 

Meghan didn’t end up coming on Sunday.  She called me in the morning to tell me that the mare who she’d been waiting for nearly 3 weeks to give birth, finally did.  I really was looking forward to her coming out, but I can only imagine how exhausted one must be after sleeping in the barn for that long waiting for a mare to foal.

On Monday Matt and I brought the horses out and free lunged them in the arena.  Ink was a happy, competitive, horse following Errika around the arena.  He threw some massive bucks as usual and played catch up with the frisky Arab mare.  

I’m feeling much better about what’s been going on.  I am pretty sure I took it hard because for the first time I had someone tell me that he just might not be “it.”  “It” I guess means the nice, sound OTTB who takes his rider to some Dressage and Jumping shows. 

“It’s” not an “It” anyway.  “He” is a beautiful creature with secrets to share that have only yet been starting to unfold.  He could take me over a thousand jumps and we could ride some awesome tests, but at the end of the day, he is still an animal.  He is still Ink and I won’t know who he is just by knowing what it’s like to ride him. 

I have actually learned things from horses from cleaning up their poop.  I’m now cleaning stalls for the barn where the horses are kept to help cover board.  There is only four stalls inside the barn, but I love each horse in there.  Especially one.  His name is Bucky and I’ve known him since he was a wee lad.  I used to play with him through a fence when he was kept in the field next to Errika and he would follow me around the field he was in when I would go in there.  I’ve never rode him, don’t have any plans to.  Well besides he’s one of the young ones in training.  When I’m cleaning out his stall he is so into what’s going on and what I’m doing.  I often times have to remind him to stay on one side of the stall while I’m cleaning out the other because he will smell my hair and walk in front of me for his favorite, wither itching. 

 I know that based on just spending time with horses doing some of the most, not the highlight of things to do, I can get to know those horses.  I’ve gotten to know Errika a lot just by spending time with her doing things other than riding.  Like enjoying sitting with her in the field, having a picnic with her, or my favorite - going over at night in a storm to bring her in for a few hours of grooming and dry time.  Ok, no that is not my favorite, but I’m sure she likes it.

Riding has been the second thing for us.  It’s been a lot of fun and I can’t tell you how awesome it is to ride her bareback.  I laugh so hard I swear I’m going to fall off.  I probably will one of these days, God knows I’ve come close!  I feel safe, whole, ful-filled and confident when we ride.  But again it’s just the icing on the cake.  There is a whole bunch of other goodness underneath the icing. 

Sunny Saturday

I’m not sure what to do this afternoon.  I have to clean stalls, so I have to go over to the barn anyway. 

Tomorrow Meghan, the trainer is coming out to look at Ink.  I really want to know what to do next with the big guy.  We’re probably going to put him on a feed through joint supplement, like Meghan suggested, but what else? 

I asked Tim yesterday, the reining trainer, if I was hurting Ink by riding him.  I know this trainer loves the horses he works with and has been there to give advice and help to Ink and I.  He told me if it was progressively getting worse, then yes I should be concerned.  But he thinks that the exercise does good for him.  The two things that we have been doing is exercise and now shoeing and it’s made improvements. 

Yesterday it was sunny and then it got over-cast and cold.  I went over to see the horses alone and hung out with them in their field.  I rode Errika around while Ink picked around the field.  Sometimes we need to relax and it’s a most interesting perspective to sit and watch the horses in their natural state.

Well I’m nervous and anxious about tomorrow..      

Decisions 2 - Ink & Conest Details

http://inkeq.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/super-mare-2/

I’ve been up and down today.  I get mad at myself for even getting sad about this.  I vowed that I would do whatever I could for this horse and I must stick with that.  Riding is want’s not need’s.  As the owner of a horse I must do whatever I can to ensure their happiness and well-being and I cannot just say goodbye to Ink just because he is not my riding future. 

When I went to go get Matt for lunch today, I started crying about the whole thing.  I’m very emotional when it comes to horses.  Matt told me I cannot get rid of him, we’ve come too far and he belongs with us. 

I got Ink with the positive in my heart.  Every horse deserves a chance.  Regardless of if they are servicable or not.  I have that power to do good, maybe just for one horse, but I can make a difference in his life. 

I cannot give up because of selfish reasons.  This is what good things are made of, I can put aside my wants and continue to love and dedicate my life to this horse.  So that is what I am going to do, regardless of what happens. 

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Errika & I

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http://inkeq.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/tei-contest-image-time-lapse/

TEI CONTEST ENDS 3/11!

Please send entries to inkeq@yahoo.com

Attention Public :  ANYONE and everyone is welcome to vote for the winner between 3/12 and 3/15.  Don’t forget to stop by during that time to vote!

I love you Ink

I had a phone call today.  One from the trainer who has helped me with Ink.  I’m trying to be optimistic, but it does make me sad.  She is coming out to look at Ink on Sunday just because I really do suspect something going on in his hind end.  If she thinks it’s arthritis, we’ll go from there.  I feel a bit alone here because this is all new to me and I don’t know what to do or where to start.  On top of that we still have a large bill to pay for Errika’s surgery.  My mom is working with a nice lady from the finances department to work out some type of payment plan.  Yeah, it still has not been worked out.  We don’t have a lot of money, we were faced with a difficult decision and did our best.  My parent’s have little experience with horses and my dad just “doesn’t get it” (Maddy, from PonyTailClub, I know how you feel!).  He doesn’t understand to the point where he probably would have the sanity of not going through this and not spending the money he did.  It wouldn’t matter if we had money anyway, because now I have a new problem on my hands and it’s another difficult decision to make. 

 I thought I’d never have to say this, but if Ink has a chronic problem, as M said, we have to decide what will be the next step.  To sell Ink or not.  I’m really doubting my pursuits as a rider at this point.  I’ve never shown and I thought Ink might be a great project.  But it’s not going to work out that way, at this point.  If we do get his hocks injected, he might improve, but like M said is it really something we could manage with putting that much work into him?  It sounds sad and it is, but I’m really upset and I don’t know what to do.  It’s VERY sad knowing that this talented horse at only 8, could never be able to be serviceable other than light work.  HE just doesn’t deserve that.  I know I’ll get to a more “ok, let’s decide what’s best for him,” stage but at this point it’s just all upsetting.  My super star, who will always be, may just not be super sound for anything.

 I don’t want to sell Ink, I really don’t.  I’ve poured my heart and soul into this horse and I love him so much.  The reason to sell would be because I need to find a 100% sound prospect, maybe another OTTB, to make some progress in my riding.  BUT that is really selfish.  I hate myself for even thinking my riding is more important than giving him a home.  We cannot afford another horse at this point.  This is very hard for me.  I tried really hard not to cry in front of my mom when she asked what M said. 

I’m trying to locate Errika’s previous owners.  I really want to see how they are doing and to tell them everything.  I want to learn more about Errika and the whole story. 

Well, besides..  I had a great time with Errika today. 

Enjoying Life

 

Ok, ok.  I have to admit, everytime mom goes out to lunge Errika, she take’s advantage of her.  The horse, Errika, does.  Mom is passive, a little too much.  I know Errika really likes her, but she doesn’t see her sometimes, as a leader, just someone to “mess” with.  She has fun acting like she’s never seen a lunge line and doesn’t know to go a certain direction.  And once Errika does get going on the lunge, she seems to say, “whoo, YAAHHHH!”  And then, “What does stop mean!!?”

Regardless I trust my mom with her and vice versa.  And I know that even if my mom is a little too passive, she takes her time and has a heap of patience.  Mom’s seem to have that touch.  The animals love mom because she is so kind and gentle.  Even if they may get a little bit extra room, they always come back to her for the love she has.  Errika will stand still for days on end just to endure the greatest grooming session filled with kisses, hugs and lots of love. 

My mom recently told me that we should be proud of what we have done with Errika.  Her recovery from the colic surgery has been amazing and she’s looking like the horse she was before she went through the surgery.  I am so thankful I have such a nice boyfriend/best friend like Matt and a great Mom, to help me with her recovery.  The first two months we fed her morning and night and went over to the barn to give her grain 3 times a day when she wasn’t on hay.  We had many sleepless nights in the beginning.  Initially all I could think about was seeing her back out in the field where she loves to be and seeing her healthy. 

Seeing my horse as skinny and down as she was during that time was hard, but as a team (my mom, Matt, Errika and I) we were determined to get her back to where she was. 

The above picture was taken two days after she returned from the ICU at UCD.

September 11, 2007 ^

That picture ^ was taken October 4th

A little under a month!

When I look at those pictures I am so proud of all of us and Errika for trying so hard and making it through. 

Today she is a frisky little mare, like she’s always been.  Living the good life, enjoying her grooming sessions, rides and having fun with mom!

Feb 29th, 2008

Errika’s Day

Today I just had to take up the good weather.  I rode Errika first and we spent a good 30 minutes working on various things.  I just like to have fun and enjoy riding with her.  The thing we did work on most today was pin lines.  Like We would focus on one long side of the arena and work up it at the canter, make a half circle off the fence-line and go back onto the fence line.  Errika has a thing with switching directions without some time in between.  It really got her on her toes and helped her relax because we just did it over and over again until she was comfortable.  Then I threw in a little leg yielding and called it a day. 

I rode Ink afterwards and he was a good boy.  Ready to go.  We worked at a nice trot, circles and collection and then did a little halting practice.  He was great =).

The Sun Returns!

The sun came out today!  I’ve been missing it since all this rain took over.  Today was also Matt and I’s 2 year anniversary since we met.  Although it seemed like just yesterday, it also seemed like a while ago.  We celebrated as we have like last year and went to an early movie and then dinner later on.  I’m sick, with a cold, so I wasn’t feeling particularly fond of going out, but we had an awesome dinner, Italian of course. 

I really wanted to ride, but then again I didn’t feel up to it.  A while before dinner we went over to the horses to put on their freshly washed cotton sheets the “under layer.”  We turned Errika out to the field with Ink.  He seemed happy to see her, but she quickly went over to the large patch of grass that Ink doesn’t like.  Weird horse, he won’t eat grass that is taller than an inch.  Good for Errika though, she has something to be occupied by and she loves that grass. 

I’m going to take up the nice weather we’re supposed to be having this week, ride and hang out with the horses. 

 My mom is leaving for a while, my Grandpa is sick (he lives almost 2 hours away), so I’m in charge of things around here until she gets back.