In the ring again

Gosh I love being back in the saddle! Now that half marathon training is over, I've been riding both Granite and Jazz on most evenings. Boy it feels good for all three of to be getting back in shape!

Since it looks like Jazz's show ring debut will be the second weekend in June, I figured we'd better enlist some professional assistance. Heather came out and gave us a quick lesson. It was so helpful and even resulted in a great ride with Granite afterward. It's amazing the confidence a lesson gives me and how that translates into what I can get out of my horses.

This show will be MY first time back in the ring since 2004. Lets hope that by putting in some serious time and effort, fools won't be made of us :)

He asked...

And we said.....

Two-A-Days

Have I told you about that little issue I have. The one where I don't own a trailer (or a truck)? Yeah, and that my barn owner has a trailer. But, it wasn't made for 17hand 1300lb beasts like Granite? Well, its  true story.

Also, did I mention that I've always been pretty competitive and I used to adore horse showing. My goal has always been to get back in to it. Yeah, I've realized that the A circuit is probably never going to happen for us. My public servant status and the silly teacher that I fell in love with don't quite come with salaries that add up to weeks away at HITS.

Thus is life. I will settle for getting to ride. That's still pretty awesome and luxurious on my salary. But, my barn owner has a really cute mare that she, like the rest of us, doesn't have the time she'd like to have for riding. So, now that my training for my first 1/2 marathon (yeah, I did that!) has culminated, I figured, I could ride two horses. Stay with me here...

My barn owner's mare, Jazz, fits in her trailer (imagine that). And she said she would love for me to take her to some schooling shows. So... if you can't show your really cute warmblood that you bought with all intentions of taking to the As one day, you could totally still get behind taking your barn owner's paint mare to a schooling show one day!

So.... yesterday was the beginning of a new project. Keep working on improving my, now six year old, boy and try to get to know a new project and get her ready for some flat classes at a local schooling show or two this summer.

Why not?

G is super pumped about our ride.... its beginning to become a trend.

Now, I introduce, Jazz. 9 year old, homebred paint mare.

Yes, I appear to be a little large for her. Or, maybe I'm just used to riding a giant.

My two-a-day set of grey ears. #greylove

Sunday Funday

Or not so much. Someone was unhappy that I woke up from his day napping for a ride.

Happy Sixth Birthday Granite

Six years ago on April 13, little Granite hit the ground. He has been causing trouble ever since. I've been blessed to love him and laugh at him for over 4.5 of his 6 years. 

Here is to many more years of memories. Happy Birthday Handsome Pants, I love you!

Then and Now

Six years old. 17h. 

Happy Holidays

Granite had his third vet visit on Friday. His temperature has stayed normal and he seems to be responding really well to his pain meds (now on once daily previcox). The treatment plan is to keep him in his stall and small paddock for another month when we will ultrasound again and pull more blood work to make sure his spleen has gone back to normal and the ab muscle has repaired. Although I basically called off purchasing any more Christmas gift the bills have set me back so far, but this was the best case diagnosis and the big guy is feeling better now. So, I'm a relatively happy horse mom.

I'm really looking forward to the holidays. After work this week I'll go to my parent's house on the Outer Banks. The best part is that TK will be with me for the first time this year. We'll return to our home for his birthday on the 27th. He will be 29. Where does the time go? The next day, we pack up with his family and head to Asheville, NC to spend 4 days enjoying the family's company and the beautiful mountains. To top off the great vacation, TK and I will spend new years eve with my favorite band: The Avett Brothers. I. Can't. Wait. But, 11 days without my Granite will be tough. I'm just glad he has our amazing Barn Owner to watch after him and that he is feeling better going into the holidays.

I'm sorry I've been absent most of the year. I guess I just didn't have anything moving to write. I'm glad I've been able to follow along with your lives.

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday!

From Me, Granite, Little Daphne Dog, and TK <3

Mystery Solved.... Hopefully: The Diagnosis.

I'm writing this with a (large) glass of Merlot in my hand.... just sayin. 

It was a stressful day, but I think it turned out as best as it possibly could.

I couldn't coerce my horse in the trailer without feeding or working/upsetting him (two things I was instructed not to do). So ,my (amazing) vet already had a back up plan. She, another vet and two vet student interns rolled up to the barn with the ultrasound. The other vet, whom I had never met, we very sweet but I nearly cursed when she said "this is such a fascinating case." I was all "oh no sweetheart, this is scary, not interesting!"

But anyhoo. They gave granite a really cool hair cut (bless his pea pickin heart). And ultrasounded his lower belly (the suspect of much of the pain). After lots of srunched noses and Hmmm and Ummms. The verdict was that there were no foreign bodies in his tummy. But there appears to be a torn abdominal muscle, swollen spleen, hematoma, and a possible bruised rib. She pulled more blood work to be sure that nothing else had come up since monday. She did another rectal exam and the only thing she could feel was the swollen spleen, everything else was normal back there. 

We are guessing he was kicked or wiped out reallly hard playing in the pasture or fell ON something (rock or stump or something). It started fairly mild so perhaps it got worse while he was playing in the pasture. 

Either way we are doing some strong antibiotics to prevent abscess, low-dose ulcerguard and banamine. Oh yeah, and 6 weeks restricted turn out (in a small lot, by himself). He gets more antibiotic shots on Monday and then a re-check with the vet on Friday (assuming the second blood panel comes back normally).

I'm SUPER broke after these two visits and meds and the like but this is basically the best possible scenario. No surgery or lingering/reoccuring issues. Just G being a goof-head and hurting himself.

He was such a champ today for the whole thing. Very patient and tolerant even though he wasn't feeling good. 

I'm just glad that I think (hope) that we have our answer and my boy will start to feel better soon.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and mostly the thoughts and prayers. I think I will actually maybe get some sleep tonight and not have nightmares of waking up to my horse being dead.