Horsemanship
My retirement dream was to teach horseback riding. However I "lost" my lesson horses this past summer. All 3 had to be put down for various reasons. Horses kept me sane during the last 10 years of my career. And losing my horses almost broke me last year. However we now have 2 new wonderful horses in our lives. I am prepping them for their job as lesson horses. But I am finding that my focus is changing. Simply working with children teaching horse communication on the ground has been infinitely rewarding. I found my passion in life- and love to share it with others.
Another long/short week in the life with horses. Flash ended up lame again after a bit more brisk yet short ride up a steeper hill. Fortunately had a new practioner coming and did some structural integration and he is better. Got to ride Gus and pony the other two from the barn to the field. It is always a s... show at some point. Found out my newest horse does have a lot of pain issues, and glad I waited to ride him. Anticipating these treatments will make him more comfortable.
Wow- it has been a while since I posted to this thread. Put the first student on Gus- he did really well. Made me proud and happy to be able to start sharing horses again. And my goddaughter also rode him.
My other horse was verified to be in pain, and needed a new saddle. So glad I didnt ride him anymore until this was resolved. Now just need to adjust the new saddle, find a friend to be around and get on him again.
I really miss riding a safe W-T-C horse. It has been over 2 years since my main riding horse was injured- then put down months later. Still dealing with his loss.
Boy, today is one of those days that make me wonder why I do even have horses. At least this is a safe place to vent my worries. Gus is coughing- is it his hay or an allergy. Flash is chronically lame- on a ton of treatments to keep him comfortable. Often he improves with light riding- sort of like an old man who keeps walking. And today Duke was lame. Really lame. I havent even ridden him in months- waiting to adjust new saddle etc. And now- I hope this is just a transient sore muscle. He has been trotting and galloping around like a youngster- so it was very upsetting to see him not want to bear weight on a back leg. Gave him some bute- and plan to check back on him in a couple of hours.
It hurts my heart to have animals in discomfort. No vet here on the island- so have to depend on stockpile of meds and expertise.
One of my two has an abscess, right now. He is getting better, though, finally. He also colicked several weeks ago, but once again, got through it fine. I have been going over to the barn a lot and spending lots of time with them.
@Breezy2013- oh my, hope they are getting better. This has been a hard year for horses.
One of my horses had an abscess about 6 weeks ago and it healing. Now my other horse has laminitis.
It has been very rough with the laminitic horse- he has chronic arthritis and I actually was riding him almost every day
for a short time. Waiting for the vet to come next week- find out how extensive his changes are on Xray. He is moving around relatively fine- confined to small area. He likes being alone but in view of the other horses.
This is a good news/bad news post. The good news is I met someone who is willing to come and ride Duke with me. Yeah!!
We went out today and she rode him back from the field. The bad news is Flash was better from his laminitis- then ran around and maybe ate some grass. Now he is terribly lame, both front hooves. Despite many measures. I am starting to plan what I should do, if he is not better by next week. Sadly he was the only horse left from my originial herd when I retired.
@barncat Yay for you ans Duke
But Flash 😞 dang that's sucks. I'm so sorry to hear he's hurting so much. I hope he starts to feel better and his pain eases
Sending good thoughts for you and Flash
Crossing my fingers- been able to go out riding alone on Gus. Getting my confidence up again. Also may be part of the mentorship program- with horsemanship as my focus (of course). Hoping the kids back in school doesnt set off a covid spike in our community.
@barncat You can do it! :) The mentorship sounds awesome! I bet that will give your confidence a boost too
Ah the weather has changed quickly. Finally getting the rain we needed all summer. THe kids are back in school and will miss some of my young riders. THe bad news is Flash got out of his paddock and ate grass- and is now on his third laminitis episode. I am heartbroken and wrestling with the possibility that he should be euthanized because he may never be able to romp and eat on the pastures again. That is no life for a horse.
@barncat I am sending you the biggest hug right now ❤️
@mytwistedsoul- I cant tell you how much your responses have meant to me through the years. Vet is coming Wednesday. Right now Flash is terribly lame- despite lots of care and medication.
I wish you a good day- you deserve it. Big hugs back.
@barncat oh man 😞 I am so sorry to hear this. I'm sending you both some strength and good vibes ❤
@barncat I'm very sorry to hear about Flash being ill ❤️.
Just wanted to say you're in my thoughts this morning
@mytwistedsoul- THank you. This morning I was surrounded by some wonderful friends- that gave me strength. Flash passed peacefully over the rainbow bridge at 1000am. My vet was incredibly compassionate- a different experience from the deaths of my other horses in 2019. I feel a big sense of relief that he is out of pain and has been freed to gallop into the fields with his favorite buddies. Again, thank you for your heartfelt messages.
@barncat Oh man 😞 I'm glad he isn't in pain anymore but I know how hard it is to have to let them go. Having a compassionate vet makes all the difference in the world and I am so glad you had that for both you and Flash. They aren't just animals or pets but friends - family ❤
I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye but I also know you did the right thing for him
I'd love to give you a big hug right now ❤ take good care of yourself ok? We're all here for you if you need us
@mytwistedsoul- Thank you for the hug. We get to bury him today. I almost filled a haybag for him this morning. Last night I thought I saw him standing by the gate- but it was a dark blanket hanging on the fence!! I had him for 10+ years. He was the horse who sent me to the hospital at least 3 times. I joke he would have cost me $250,000 if we didnt have insurance!! Didnt want anyone else to get hurt on him to kept him and actually learned a lot more about horsemanship because of him. The end of an era.
I know in my heart that it was the right choice. He LOVED to eat, and run in the field to tease the other horses when let loose. WIth his laminitis he could never eat in the pasture- so he was spared that insult for the rest of his life.
He came to me with arthritis, but it was worse than the xrays showed. So often he was lame. I could have had a wonderful, sound horse 10xs over for what he cost me in vet bills. But they all come into our life for a reason. In retrospect- he bolted probably due to pain. That was a very hard lesson to learn.
I have many great memories riding him on our island, and where I boarded him on the mainland. So of all my horses- those recollections are precious.
Thank you again-
The horse journey continues.....
With Duke and Gus.
@barncat You're welcome ❤️
I'm glad you have many wonderful memories of time spent with him and for 10 years he knew a wonderful life he might not have known otherwise. When other's might have given up on him - you persevered and as a result you learned from him and he learned from you
He sounds like he was quite the character and I can imagine him tearing across the rainbow bridge to tease anyone he can and enjoying grass free from pain
250,000?! Holy cow I'm glad you had insurance! Someone once asked - how do you make a small fortune on horses? You start with a large one! Guess maybe there's some truth in that lol
Tbh - there are times I still catch myself thinking I hear the sounds of big dog feet on the stairs or that I saw her out of the corner of my eye and in Nov. it will have been a year. They become such a big part of our lives
While it might be the end of an era - it can also be the beginning of a new one and I wish you many many safe and happy years of riding and enjoying Gus and Duke ❤️
@mytwistedsoul- Flash was buried next to a stand of alders on Thursday. Today I am cleaning out the barn of a lot of left over garbage. Feels very therapeutic. Have a ton of tack, blankets and various items that belonged to my "original" herd of 2019. Plan to start finding a new home for all the extra stuff.
THank you again for your wonderful replies. Always brighten my day.
@barncat It sounds like a very beautiful place for him ❤
I'm glad cleaning up went good. I think it is therapeutic - things like that keep us occupied and busy but in some ways I think it helps us process things and heal alittle - even if we don't see it at first
Maybe there's some place that you could donate some things? Kind of like in his memory - maybe there's a rescue or a sanctuary that could use some things?
You're welcome 🙂 you're a great person and I respect and admire how you with your furry and hairy kids
Give Gus and Duke a big hug for me please and a big hug for you too ❤
This is so lovely. There's very little as hard as losing animals you love. But there's also very little as heart warming as growing love for other animals after that... I applaud you. Keep at it
@limegreenTown1387- Thank you for your message. My little dog brightens up each of my mornings. And we have two other horses who enrich our lives.
@barncat I am so sorry for your loss. I myself have lost many horses over the years, there is never anything that can be said to ease the pain. I am glad to have been a part of this just by reading. Thank-you for sharing with us,
Listening - One Step At A Time!
Good morning on a soggy Sunday. Really not ready for the winds and rain of the Pacific Northwest fall. But getting prepared. I have shared with a select few about losing Flash. Those here on 7 cups know a lot about my horse/life journey. It is a way I have coped with the stresses of my life- often get another horse. Searching for the perfect riding companion. Often learning the hard way that it is not their job to be my emotional soother.
