Tommy Boy meets Jack

New Friends

We decided to introduce our new horse, Tommy Boy, to Jack. I think it went very well...
They are both OTTB (off the track Thoroughbreds i.e. they were race horses) although Tommy Boy's racing career was more successful than Jack's!
Jack is 3 yrs old and 17 hh
Tommy Boy is 16 yrs old and 16 hh
But I think they are going to be great friends, in spite of their age difference!

Good-bye Oleander! Hello Hawaiian Pizza!

Spent almost the entire day trimming back poisonous Oleander bushes from the perimeter fence in the new turn-out. Husband Bob and daughter Kristin helped, as well as Jessika (who turns out to be quite the little task master!) and Donnie - thank goodness, because it was a tremendous amount of work. We trimmed back about 150 feet of shrub brush over hang; then meticulously raked up every old, dry Oleander leaf that had fallen along the fence line over the last 10 years. (It's extremely toxic - even the dry leaves!) When we thought we had gotten every last leaf, we brought out the leaf blower (and blew any remaining leaves back through the fence into the neighbor's yard - they are his trees, after all!!) I still felt like I should bring out my vacuum cleaner just to be sure.....




We loaded two truckloads of clippings, then order pizza for delivery.



I was happy to find that Jessika and Donnie like Hawaiian Pizza, too, because nobody in my family will eat it, so I can never order it for family pizza dinner.





Dinner a la fresco!!


Tonight, we have Jack, Zim, Flash and Tango in the new turnout.

Max is still very sick - I've called the doctor (well...I texted him!) and he'll be out tomorrow to draw a blood sample. I bet he has hepatitis again!!

Need to ask the doctor tomorrow what he's found out about hyperthyroidism in horses (i.e. Jack)

Suddenly - There's a New Turn-out!

Joanna came over today to work on the horses hooves and announced she'd brought her husband to build a turn-out for the horses because that's what was needed to keep their hooves healthy and strong.

We had talked about putting in a circular turn-out around the perimeter of the property - eventually! and that idea appealed to me, but I don't think I was ready to dismantle half my pipe corral paddocks and re-assemble them into a nifty quarter acre run around for the horses, but that's what happened this evening! Jason (Joanna's Husband) and Bob (my husband) worked until dark to make it happen. (Then we went to J.J. Purty's in Fallbrook for dinner & Drinks)

And so now I'm worrying about how they are going to get along in this turn-out even though I know it's the best and most natural for them - it's that initial pecking order repartee that they go through that I worry about. And the Oleander bushes that are so prevalent along the fence line.

Not Enough Time in the Day

There is so much going on, but not enough hours in the day to write about it all. But here's the summary report:

1. Max has been on antibiotics for the last two days; green snot running out his left nostril and off feed.

2. We picked up Tommy Boy, the beautiful grey gelding in the last post - he's doing well. Got him home Thursday night and Joanna the Holistic Barefoot Trimmer immediately pulled his shoes (Full shoes, pads in the front). He's running around barefoot in the sandy arena and lovin' it!

3. All remaining horses got their teeth done this week (Zim, Flash, Tango, Emmy and Sugar). (Note to self - Timmy Boy has not has his teeth done in years (3 -4 yrs) get doc back ASAP to get his teeth done as they badly need it.)

4. Doc called in says blood work on Jack show hyperthyroidism - google it next time I get a free minute. I know it's rare!

5. Tomorrow - pony party with 10 seven year olds!! Still need to prepare Horse Themed goodie bags!

Phew! And that's just the horses!!

5. Middle son (15 yrs) came home with sore throat today; just got back from emergency doctors and he has strep throat! (First one doc has seen this week)

6. Daughter (10 yrs) is waiting to go see new Disney movie out, "Up" tonight (I can't wait - it looks fun!! That's the great thing about having young children - I get to see all the cool kids' movies!)

So, when I get a free minute, I'll elaborate on all horse happenings....

New Hunter/Jumper Prospect for KHA

Yesterday, Jessika and I drove down to Escondido to look at an older Hunter/Jumper Thoroughbred that was being offered for sale on Craigslist. He's a 16 yr old (16 hh) flea bitten gray OTTB, with a long, successful history of Hunter/Jumper competitions. Because of his past,competitive work, he is now not able to do much jumping (that sport wears horses out fast!), but he appears to have many good years left in him and his temperament was sweet and willing.


He is currently boarded at a facility in a small 12 x 12 paddock, and turned out infrequently; rarely ridden. When we saw him, he had just been turned out and was buckin' up a gleeful storm!! Jessika then lounged him, and he was a dream on the lounge line.

Jesskia then rode him and he was also well behaved, responsive and obedient. (We are considering him for an adult beginner horse).

The only issue was that he began showing some lameness after awhile, which we all assumed was from a combination of not getting out enough, then getting out with uncontrolled exuberance, and old age. We were told he does not have lameness issues, but it is something of a concern and will have to be addressed.

60% of Top Ten Equine Friendly Places to live are in California! See who else made the list!

A little while back ELCR participated in a study (Equestrian Community Zoning, November 6, 2004) of communities considered equestrian-friendly by nature based on zoning provisions, facilities, municipal services, etc. The study went a step further and made recommendations for how to achieve more equestrian friendliness in communities. That study, as well as a couple of articles equine attorney Julie Fershtman wrote about horse-friendly zoning, can be found on ELCR’s Library of Resources pages at the following URL:

http://www.elcr.org/index_resc_B.php

For those who are not already aware, please note that the communities listed below (in no particular order) have been identified as being equestrian-friendly.

1. Tempe/Scottsdale, Arizona
2. Tryon, North Carolina
3. Granby, Connecticut
4. Marin County, California
5. Sweetwater, California
6. Mead Valley, California
7. Jurupa, California
8. Norco, California
9. Rolling Hills Estates, California
10. Bridle Trails Subarea, Bellevue, Washington
11. Putnam Township, Michigan
12. Highland Township, Michigan
13. Cattaraugus County, New York
14. Greenwich, Connecticut
15. Loudoun County, Virginia
16. Wellington, Florida
17. Aiken, South Carolina

We would like to know if anyone has any to add to the list and, if so, would you please offer a comment or two about why they should be considered equestrian-friendly?

Conversely, if you are aware that any of these are struggling to remain equestrian-friendly, we would welcome that information as well. [For example, the following blog entry from 2007 suggests that Scottsdale is losing its unique horsey character: http://blogtheholmgroupaz.com/2007/08/27/az-republic-once-a-horse-friendly-town-scottsdale-loaded-with-ranch-conversions/].

We would also like to know whether you can identify model attributes of equestrian-friendly communities that are not discussed in the 2004 study.

Thank you.

Cynthia Higgs
Equestrian Partners Coordinator
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource
4037 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 120
Lexington KY 40511
(859) 455-8383 -Ph
(859) 455-8381 -Fx
chiggs@elcr.org

Jack - He's Bare Footin'!

We pulled Jack's shoes on Friday. With the busy weekend, he was allowed to just relax "feel the grass between his toes"; today, Monday, was his first day under saddle with no shoes, and what a difference!!! OMG!! He's picking up his feet and moving forward!!



Obviously, low on the training tree; we're just beginning to work on moving forward with steady rhythm, and he looks good. Amanda, who is riding him, noticed the difference immediately. Last week he was sluggish, not moving forward or picking up his feet. And you could hear the "clink" as his back shoes hit against each other with each step forward.

Another variable that could be effecting his performance is, we just started (Saturday, May 23, 2009) supplementing him with Red Cell.

TaDa!! Connor goes for a walk!!

Here's Connor out for a stroll in the arena. You can still see it's painful for him to walk, but I don't think he has one foot in the grave!!



A few weeks earlier, I had reach the point where it was more painful to watch him try to move than to think about having him euthanized. Luckily, the doctor who came that day suggested we give it one more try...

Don't you just love his little duct tape booties...?

Changing dressings on Connor's hooves

Slide show below shows Connor's left hoof, then right hoof. Notice on both, the abscesses (small, nickel sized reddish bulge) are healing; the edges of the abscesses are closing in with healthy hoof material. Side view shows high heel of Connor's right hoof.



For more information on holistic hoof care approach, see Hoof Rehab.

Tango - Here We Go 'Round and 'Round

Four things to note about the video:

1. Turn your volume down!!! - there is something really wrong with the sound pick-up on my little camera.

2. No, he's not sweaty from a long, hard work-out - he just had a bath!

3. This is the first time in recent history that we have been able to get Tango to canter on the lounge line. When we first got him (about a year and a half ago), he was reasonably obliging on the lounge line. Then, one day out of the blue, he decided he'd had enough of going around in circles, and he just stopped and refused to go!! And quite honestly, his attitude towards work has been questionable. Anyhow, we're glad to see that he is finally coming out of his funk, many thanks to Jessika's persistent working with him.

4. We're not just working on hoof care! There's still plenty of daily training going on! (Just not enough hours in the day to write about it all!!)

Vet Visit Today

During an early morning lesson, Star was not her usual self; she was slower than usual and seemed to be off in her hindquarters, then, all of a sudden, her muscles started twitching (shoulders and hips). A few days ago, she was off her feed - wouldn't touch her pellets or hay. She also has ridges of swelling on her belly, which I assumed were the returning annual allergic reactions to gnat bits. But everything added up to something wrong - so I called Dr. Bender from Creekside Veterinary Services and he came out this afternoon to have a look at her. She checked out ok for all vital signs; he gave her a shot of lasix-type drug to reduce the edema and a steroid to help reduce the allergic reaction.

Star was eating ok this evening.

Connor's Hoof Wraps - Holistic Hoof Care

Holistic Hoof Practitioner, Joanna Schwartzel was back Saturday to work on Connor's hooves.
The first thing we did was bathe Connor; he had laid in urine and actually looked like he might have peed himself while laying down! A good blast of water cleaned out his hooves nicely. Then rotting hoof was trimmed away as much as possible, then the toe was filed. The sole was sprayed with a natural antibiotic, Banixx, then packed with "Q-shot" ointment, covered with gauze and wrapped in blue vet tape. A clothe diaper waterproof cover, that has a wear proof hoof sole made of Vettec Equi-Thane "Adhere" glue-on hoof repair, wraps around the entire hoof and is held in place with...duct tape! (where would we be without duct tape!)

Two things to note:

1. In the slide show above, the roundish, reddish bulge (about 1/2 inch in diameter) is the result of the hoof abscess pushing out of the sole.

2. In the photos below, the picture on the top is Connor's left front hoof; the photo on the bottom was taken off the internet and shows a very healthy, naturally trimmed hoof for comparison. (Beautiful!)

Connor's Week at the Spa

All week, since Holistic Hoof Practitioner Joanna Schwartzel first addressed Connor's major hoof problems, the old grey Thoroughbred has had daily treatments of Calcium Bentonite (Indian Healing Clay - the kind you use as a mud pack at a health spa!) with lavender oil packed into clean hooves; and then hand walked for 5 minutes. He walks slowly, but his mobility is improving!

Joanna was here yesterday and got some great photos and treatments to post after Mother's Day dinner.

PS I get no kickbacks from any of these links - they are just there to inform you!

Star Off Her Feed

This morning, Star was not interested in her feed. Walked away from her Senior Pellets/Biotin Plus/soaked Beet Pulp haute cuisine. Well, I'll keep an eye on her, since this is very unusual behavior for her or any horse. (The dreaded "colic" pops into mind).

At lunch, she had eaten about 3/4 of her pelleted breakfast, and no Bermuda grass. My son had already mucked so don't know if she passing any manure. She looks a little down. If this continues into the evening, will have to call vet.

"Walkin' Wild" - Holistic Approach to Hoof Care

I had the pleasure of meeting up with a horsewoman and hoof trimmer whose holistic approach to horse care in general and hoof care in specific appealed to my intellectual and emotional desire to provide the best possible care for my horses in the rather unnatural environment that most of us must subject our backyard horses to.

Fresh in from Utah, Joanna Schwartzel immediately presents herself in a professional, knowledgeable manner with the horse's whole health and well being foremost in her concerns.

I talked with her over the phone about my concerns for Connor and the hoof problems we've been dealing with over the last few months. Earlier posts include: Rotated Coffin Bone, Connor's Abscess , Initial Diagnosis, From Laminitis to Abscesses, and Radiograph Update.Connor still has a great deal of difficulty moving around in a smaller stall cushioned with wood shavings. He is extremely reluctant to pick-up his hooves for any cleaning and medication (i.e. douse with iodine), and my concern for his prognosis has been bleak.

Joanna came right over and began to work on Connor's hooves with such passion and knowledge I felt hope spring eternal! I think Connor sensed good thinks happening, too! He was cooperative and alert.

First, watch the slide show and you will see how bad his front hooves are. The red on point of frog is blood, and dead, rotting tissue is evident all over the sole.

You will then see Joanna cleaning out the dead tissue and lowering the heel to ease pressure on the coffin bone sole area when he walks.



Right hoof, the worst one, is then soaked in a solution of apple cider vinegar. A poultice of Betadiene, Arrow Root, Golden Seed Powder, Grapefruit Seed extract, Epsom Salts, Apple Cider Vinegar, "Sore No More" (a natural herbal liniment) and "Q-Shot" (a super oxygenated antiseptic spray manufactured by Bio3X,) is pressed into the sole and wrapped in a disposable diaper (actual it's a "pull-up") and fastened with duct tape. This was left on all night.

In the morning, Joanna was over early to remove the poultice, and what a difference in Connor's hoof - you can see for yourself, and he was walking with no signs of lameness!!! Obviously, he's got a ways to go before his hoof is returned to natural state of health, but...WOW!!