Guess how long it took to clean THIS????

Since I was off from work, I went to see Daniel on a Friday, instead of Sunday. On Sunday, I'll miss my riding day because I'll be in Louisville. Besides, Daniel is supposed to be moved on Sunday to the new farm. So, next Friday, it's off to Hampstead to groom and ride my boy.

I'm hoping there is less MUD in Hampstead! The current location sort of sits in a bowl, and this time of year, everything is muck and mud. Hampstead has lots of rolling hills, so I'm hoping it's not as bad. I know EVERYTHING in the Mid-Atlantic area is muddy, but this is ridiculous! I'm 5'9" and the mud and muck hits me mid-calf (thank god for high muck boots)!

Until it's less muddy, I'll be going through LOTS of lysol and water spray on hoof bottoms, and MTG on heels to ward off scratches!

Last Days in Churchville

Today was one of our last days in Churchville MD because we're moving to Hampstead!!!! The drive will suck for me (2 hours each way), but Daniel will LOVE it there: 12x14 stalls, an INDOOR, two outdoors and onsite trails! YAY!

My heart wasn't into riding today - the vibe at the barn is one of everyone just wanting to be GONE and at the new place... So, I let him enjoy some grazing on this sunny December day...

He was really funny with LJ. LJ was nibbling along his crest over the fence and Daniel was squealing like a little girl!! I would tell him to get away from LJ and he would keep going back to him, and squeal when he got nibbled on. What a funny old horse my boy is!!!

Daniel in the roundpen

I got a phone call Tuesday that Daniel's abscess on his LH finally broke through the coronary band. My instructor'd been treating it for me, but I have to admit, I was thrilled when I got the phone call that he was *chasing* Eddie, the young Andalusian stallion he shares his pasture with.

Knowing that he had the abscess, I was half expecting him to not be 100% sound. My instructor suggested lungeing him in the round pen to see if he was or not and he was maybe 95% sound. He had the slightest hitch in his LH where the abscess finally burst on Tuesday. Because of that, I didn't want to ride him so we did a "Spa Day" and some ground work instead. We worked on his manners - he's getting a little pushy with treats, and a butthead trying to graze when I walk him.

Hopefully next week I'll be back in the saddle, but this week, after the abscess last week, I figured my old boy could use a day off and have a day to be spoiled!!

Abscess...

I had a serious case of "I don't deserve to own him" today. I wasn't at the barn last week, due to Thanksgiving, and my instructor/his former owner treated his scratches for me. I got reports that he was doing really well, until yesterday. She suspected a hoof abscess.

I drove to the barn after dropping my brother and nephew off at BWI, and found Daniel flat out lame. It took 3 of us to BEG him to walk to the barn... I was beside myself, pleading with him to walk on that hoof.

Once we got him in the grooming stall, I cut off the duct-tape bandage Lee put on yesterday, and soaked his hoof in Epsom salts and warm water for about 20 minutes. He seems SOOOO much happier! He stood so patiently to get his hoof soaked. I contacted the barn manager and arranged to put him in a lay-up stall.

It kills me that I only get to see him once, maybe twice a week. It kills me that when he needs to be treated, I have to ask other people to handle it for me. Everyone tells me that it's OK, everyone helps each other out, but I feel like I'm not doing right by my big boy.

Hopefully when I get closer to graduation, I'll have him closer to home and will know enough to handle things for him. Until that day, I'll have to keep learning, and going to see him on Sundays.