Andy Attempts to Canter

When he's lose in the arena, he has a beautiful canter. One of those canters that you can't wait to ride out in the forest because it's so long and easy looking. He easily picks up both leads and changes whenever he feels like it.

Two nights ago I attempted to ride that canter... Following a lead horse (Finn, the big white guy in the pictures farther down the page) we attempted a canter. Aaaand we got a very long, fast trot. We are going to attempt again, this time I'll have someone on the ground with a whip. :)

Andy Jumps!

Ok, so I'm stretching the truth a little. Yesterday a tiny jump was set up for Andy to walk over. There was hardly any jumping and even less concern about the activity set before him. After knocking the pole over several times, he started to pick his feet up a little bit but was still hitting it a bit. It's almost time to try trotting over poles.

Perhaps today we can get some pictures of it so that they can be posted.

Andy Gets Shoes

When I bought Andy I decided to go the barefoot trimming route. I liked the idea of it (no need for shoes and the feet care for themselves) but he has not been sound in months. For a while it didn't really seem to matter because he was on stall rest. It could have been almost anything that was making him lame in the front. He became acutely lame last week and was not weight-baring on the left front and when the hoof was down, he was only allowing the toe to touch the ground. *ding* *ding* *ding* Abscess anyone?? I called my farrier and was told that she will not dig live sole. If I want the abscess to come out the vet was going to have to do it. I called the vet that I wanted to use (I lost my previous one after the move) and was immediately told, "Get a new farrier!" I called the vet that she recommended and was told the same thing. Apparently I should be leaving the abscess and letting it work its way out. Not really what I wanted to be doing with him! The poor guy was in pain and it's been a rough enough year without this too!

Anyways, I just received a call from my barn manager. She was calling because the new farrier has recommended shoes. I'm not totally on board with the shoes but am willing to give it a go. Hopefully they won't be on for too long. In changing farriers, I have to be willing to go ahead with what they plan for my horse. Otherwise what's the point? Right?