Twinkle Toes

Dakota finally has shoes on again!!! Lets all take a moment to cross our fingers and send threatening thoughts to him if he pulls them off in less than 6 weeks. I cannot wait to ride him more now.

Echo's getting few more days off. Where Dr Friend did caslisk stitches she's really swollen still and I don't want to force her into moving and risk tearing something. So last night she got a good grooming and I braided her mane in big braids hoping to tame the stray hairs to the correct side of her neck. Hopefully she heals well under the tail and we can move on from nasty uterine infections.

I see nails!!!

Ready to go outside.

Tonight - Working until 9pm so no pony time tonight.

Sunday - Off work, lunge and ride Dakota - maybe outside riding.

Monday - Who knows...

Tuesday - Work late - probably not much pony time.

Wednesday - Work late - hopefully lunge Echo in the morning before work.

Thursday - Hopefully work with Echo if she's healed, if not maybe ride D.

Friday - Hopefully work with Echo if she's healed, if not maybe ride D.

Countdowns

1 Week until my birthday

1 Week until more Churchill Downs night racing

2 Weeks + 1 Day until Michigan / Kitties / Moving

Flushing No More!

Updates on Echo's uterine problems...

Well the vet didn't come Friday / Saturday as planned but it gave her a few day break from flushing so it worked out alright.

Monday he came back out to see how she was doing. We discussed the possibility of there being any bladder / kidney problems and he assured me he believed it was uterine and I should see a difference once the problem is cleared up. He gave her a mild sedative and let the student with him palpate her just for experience and ultra-sounded her ovaries again.

The flush came out WAY more clear than last weeks flushes. No chunks and debris or disturbing amounts of mucus.

He gave her Tuesday off from being flushed. Basically plan was if the flush looked that good on Wednesday he'd stitch her up and we'd be on our way.

So... he came out Wednesday, another clean flush but no sewing so today's the day!

Also she got trimmed Wednesday with no problems (Dakota gets shoes today instead).

Last night I lunged Echo in the round pen again and it was a lot dryer footing so she was a little better behaved. 

Barn Chill Time

I was off of work on Monday without nothing to do really other than wait for the vet and go buy grain.

I slept in which was much needed. Then went out to help clean up tree branches from a tree that George had taken down earlier in the morning. Colleen and George took off to run errands so I stayed back at the barn to mess with the horses. 

I decided to take Echo out to the round pen for the first time since she's been here. She was feeling good and had fun plowing through the mud puddle in the round pen. By the end though she was doing really well - lowering her head, licking and chewing and actually listening to my commands.

I gave her a bath since she worked up a good sweat and took her out to hand graze in the shade while she dried off. One of the new boarders joined me on the picnic table and she held Echo and I got Dakota and we let them graze for a good hour and half and they loved every minute of it.

Sadly I had to separate the two in their turnout fields Monday night. Dakota was acting like a stallion and Echo didn't mind. They were together in Michigan but mostly Dakota took it all out of hand. They're right next to each other though and share a fence line so it helped make it less traumatic for Dakota.

Tuesday I had an awkward shift at work and didn't have much time for anything with the horses. On my way to work though, I did catch Echo passed out in her stall asleep. Clearly she was happy I wasn't going to be around to make her work!

Farrier and vet today, cross your fingers my ponies behave while I'm at work!

2013 Goal Updates

I figured since over half the year is gone (crazy!) I should review my 2013 goals. I was a little afraid to look since my grandpa being ill, loosing my job and moving had thrown me for a loop, but the mid-point results could be worse.

Myself

• Be able to ride again - Riding again!
• Be able to canter again - Cantered for first time outside in November 2012.
• Canter again in arena 
• Have health problems resolved
• Graduate with my associates degree - Scratching this goal.
• Transfer to Western Michigan University - Transferring now to Midway College in Kentucky. I'll be starting January 2014 if not sooner. I won't have an associates degree first but will get my bachelors.
• Lose 50 lb - 15 lost so far!
• Get a new car

The Horses
     Dakota

• Improve headset through the trot
• "Perfect" headset at walk
• Work on lateral movements at walk and trot
• Begin canter work
• Compete in a sanctioned dressage show

     Woven Web

• Have solid ground manners - As good as they're going to get I think :)
• Introduce bit / bridle - Achieved!
• Introduce saddle - Achieved!
• Begin riding Woven Web - First ride on 2/8/13.
• Get 30 days of solid work on her
• Get 60 days of solid work
• Get 90 days of solid work
• Present to AHHA for breeding inspection - Scratch this. Going to re-evaluate what I want to present her as.

Miscellaneous

• Get my Courbette Husar Touring XL Dressage Saddle Re-Flocked
• Finish USEF registration
• Finish USDF registration
• Go to Rolex Kentucky - Didn't happen, next year! This year though will be replaced with many hunter derby's and the National Horse Show.
• Go to Arlington Million - Won't be happening but I'm now able to go to many many races being back in KY. Starting with this past weekend's racetrack outing. 

Racing in the Dark

We ventured to Churchill Downs for some night racing in Saturday. The $500,000 Stephen Foster was on the card and we got to see a blow out race for last years Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned.

From the Equibase office on the 6th floor. The guys in there were nice enough to let us come watch a few races in there.

Then the guys told us how to sneak onto the roof. Pretty awesome getting a top view of the spires.

Finish line :)

Trophy from the big Arabian race they had. Really strange to see Arabians running at Churchill.

Where the 'magic' happens in the track Equibase office.