Week #5

No photos this week, kept forgetting my camera in the rush to leave the house. Going to have to get some pics tomorrow. Definitely enjoying the routine (both Badger and I are, that is). The turnout pen is instant "fun time," where he immediately dives into the dirt and flops around in it before trotting around to check things out. It's great to see him energetic enough to jog around!

I brought an older family friend out to see Badger this week, and she seemed to really enjoy visiting the ranch and seeing the big guy. He was super sweet too, which was a relief since I had no idea how he would react to a completely unfamiliar face. About the only thing that was different was that his "trouble" front foot wouldn't pick up.

Now he seems very happy about going out, especially since I'll jog with him so he can trot some (if he seems interested, that is). He particularly seems interested whenever there are other horses out...not sure what that means, exactly.

Saturday's visit was actually pretty funny since I put him in the turnout pen like normal (immediately: TWO rolls. Like a big dog.) and then went to clean his pen. I don't know if it took longer than usual or something, but after a while I could see him standing in the near corner of the turnout and looking directly towards where we were. A very clear "...you didn't forget me, did you?"

Moreso since when I got to the turnout area, he walked over to the gate and started nosing at the chain latch holding it shut. Just had to laugh; he's no slouch!

Instead of immediately bringing him out, though, I took him for a little guided jog in the turnout. Now that we've started to notice fat pads building up on him, and he's being perky, I figure small amounts of easy exercise wouldn't hurt. If he wasn't feeling good, he wouldn't trot. It's strange to think that a horse would enjoy being run around with, but he was getting so revved up and eager that I actually had to slow him DOWN a few times. I feel very thankful he keeps his head and actually listens when I tell him to walk or "whoa."

The more I work with this guy, the more I get the feeling that he's got the mind of a racehorse as well as the build; he's over-the-top polite and considerate, but by no means does he think old = sedate. He's still very sharp and smart, and has fun getting out there to DO things. It's very encouraging and I hope this means he'll recover to soundness for light riding. I don't want to get my hopes up too high; I mean, I know he's 25. Realistically speaking, Quarter Horses as a breed aren't known for advancing well beyond this age, and larger horses are tougher to keep sound (larger body mass = more strain on the joints)...so he and I are just going to take things as they come, one week at a time.