First flying lead changes!

Took a short ride on Sunday night. In a grassy field, on a whim, I asked Jester for flying lead changes- I had no idea if he knew them- and he does- and they are beautiful.... right to left is easier for him, and smooth!! left to right was not automatic, but I tried several times and he did one nice one so I quit and walked him home. Good grief, it was over 105F! Total ride: 30 minutes

Amazing! First ride to S. Mtn.

Hey guys, it's me, Jester. Did you hear my news? My feet don't hurt anymore. I love going out for rides and showing off my gilded coat and regal appearance! I even went to South Mountain last Saturday morning with the prettiest little mare in the world... That paint cutie in the opening photo. We passed by a canal, a park, a scary fire hydrant (I'm sure it was going to bite my hind leg off), and lots of cars. Then we got into a wonderful place with soft and hard trails, ups and downs, and even stairs to climb. I hopped up them like a bunny. That was a blast! I felt so good afterwards. I got a shower and a bucket full of delicious feed, and the rest of the day off. What a day! What a life! I get to give kids riding lessons three days a week, have longer workouts once or twice a week, and munch munch munch all the grass I want. Oh, yeah, there's this little pony here keeping me company-her name's Taffy. What a brat... likes to nip at me to make me move. Ah, well, at least I don't get all stiff from standing around too long! Enjoy my photos. Don't I look terrific?!

Still pinching myself

May 26, 2013. Jester is not lame anymore. JESTER IS NOT LAME ANYMORE!!!!!! Woohoo!!!! He does creak in the hocks, needs warming up for at least ten minutes to be able to lope well, but he can do a collected and balanced walk, jog, trot, lope and canter. An old friend of his came to ride him today. He wore fore boots only. We rode about two hours, including half an hour or so of putting him through his paces. What a thrill to see him move so well!! I rode him twice more last week, with no evidence of sore feet. I lowered the RF heel twice more, and refreshed his breakover on the hinds. He grows quickly on the hind toes. The RF is the only foot that is distorted now, and lands flat or slightly toe first. He moves freely and willingly at all times. May 31, 2013 Jester has a new job- he is now teaching kids to ride and handle a horse. He has two students, a ten year old boy and a nine year old girl. He prefers the girl, but he behaves well for both. So now he is earning his keep :) Since his favorite speed is zero mph, he is perfect for beginners. Such a babysitter! June 5, 2013 Appetite is good, he's dealing well with the heat (105+ high temps daily now). He enjoys his twice daily bucket of 3 lb Lakin Lite, 2 lb Integrity Senior non molasses version, once a day Smart Flex Senior (great stuff), a tablespoon of chia seed once a day, and a tablespoon of salt mixed in and all presoaked. He also enjoys bermuda pasture free choice and 2-3 flakes bermuda grass hay per day. Taffy is his only turnout companion now. His favorite buddy the paint mare has gone to her owner's home, along with Honey my QH for company. He loves it when the little paint comes for a visit, though he did whack her with a hind foot once on a trail ride... She was too close for his liking. Taffy tolerates him: he follows her, not the other way around. Are any shows on the horizon for Jester and me? Time and money permitting, September or October may find us strutting our stuff. With more weight and conditioning he'll be ready at the ripe young age of 15. With healthy hooves and a gleaming coat, he is stunning. He lives up to his official name: First Class Contender.

photos

Full of life

Jester is such a character- loves attention and his twice daily bucket of feed! I left his feet alone for 3 weeks, and all I did after that long was toe breakover on the hinds, a little beveling on the lateral quarter on the right hind (his perennial flare) and lowered the heel on the right fore. He seemed tender for a day. Only a day! Now he moves stiffly only if he's been standing for a while or his feet are packed with muck. Once he warms up he moves fluidly. More flat landings with the right fore. Heel first or flat with the left fore consistently. His coat is a stunning gleaming deep golden....but his face is marred by fly bites- he was infected with habromenas again. ugh... So two oral doses of ivermectin 2 weeks apart, NuStock and absorbine liniment topically, and he seems to be beating them. If I forget his fly mask he will nudge me to ask for it. I have ridden him just a couple times in the past month, hoping he would put on some more flesh (he has) and continue healing. He is still turned out on the pasture except to have his bucket or overnight with his bucket and haynet. I haven't put boots on for turnout for over two weeks. I used fore boots just to ride on the property. We played around with walk trot, transitions, pivots, sidepass, and back. What a joy to ride! I asked for a few strides of lope- left he would do. He needs more conditioning to do the right... and maybe other therapy. His sacro-iliac/psoas issue is rarely evident. The only item left seems to be the right hind fetlock joint. Radiographs will be helpful once I save some pennies! Will try to add some photo and video...

8 month report

Jester got a trim last week, and all the old wall is now HISTORY. He has another couple months to grow out the laminitis rings from Sept-Oct, but his front hooves are so much healthier now. He spends at least 12 hrs a day booted on fores, as he is still thin soled (and I'm not cutting that sole away!!!) on the fores. Concavity slight, but he was pretty uncomfortable after the trim (now I know why I have been doing mini tweaks instead of full balances). He isn't a spring chicken anymore, likes little by little changes. He is very happy and mobile with boots, and still mobile without, but not so happy about it. I have only ridden him once since then, and he was definitely "off". He does so much better if he's had several hours in the boots before I ride. Overall health wise, he looks good, I want him to gain more weight, he's still slightly ribby. He's regained muscle most everywhere else. His eyes are doing well- only needed meds once this month. The flies irritate his lower legs- but he rubs his eyes on them so I hesitate to put chemical fly repellent there. He is a happy, friendly guy, only occasionally opinionated or pushy and he responds well to strong leadership and verbal reprimands ;)time for more pics... I know....He's still shedding his winter fur. Walk? check jog? usually. trot? usually. Lope? Eeyore says "if I have to".... and the left hind does its bouncy motion :(

About the same....

Jester is shedding... and shedding... Can't wait to see his deep golden summer coat! He continues to do full body shakes. Still most comfortable in front boots. He does best if I can keep him booted 12-18 hours a day on the fores. This requires monitoring of the heel area- he already abraded one heel slightly :( I tried riding in a plowed field without boots, it went ok. Soles are still thin, but no abscessing, no heat. Right fore and left hind have the shorter strides and left fore right hind reach farther. I'm doing stretches and percussive massage to his hindquarters. I was ill for 10 days so only got out to ride twice, about an hour each. It's fun to ride his big floaty trot in the deep footing. Sweet boy, comes up to me whenever I go out to the pasture, looking for scratches. I don't halter him or tie him for booting, hoof picking, grooming, saddling... He usually stays put... and gets a reminder when he doesn't! I don't know how long it will take to rebuild the muscle in his hindquarters... He needs it! His loins aren't sore anymore, but he raises them when asked to back. Backing up is tough. Flies are out, already had to put one does of eye meds in to ward off inflammation. I'm glad he tries to cooperate.