She's doing more cantering and trotting around her paddock. Her trot is beautiful, very floaty. She
just glides across the ground with very little effort. She is learning her ground work with no
problems. She now moves away from pressure with very little effort. She backs with only a wiggle of
the my finger. She is able to look at me when we are working, this is something she had a hard time
doing in the beginning. She is currently learning her go forward Que. Now that she is relaxing I will
amp up our training sessions, put a little more pressure on her. Next week we will begin confidence
building exercises.
Connie is now getting an arthritis supplement by Dynamite, called Free & Easy, to help her with her
stiff joints. Its made a huge difference already. She also gaining weight slow but steady.
Connie looking across the way into the vineyards.
just glides across the ground with very little effort. She is learning her ground work with no
problems. She now moves away from pressure with very little effort. She backs with only a wiggle of
the my finger. She is able to look at me when we are working, this is something she had a hard time
doing in the beginning. She is currently learning her go forward Que. Now that she is relaxing I will
amp up our training sessions, put a little more pressure on her. Next week we will begin confidence
building exercises.
Connie is now getting an arthritis supplement by Dynamite, called Free & Easy, to help her with her
stiff joints. Its made a huge difference already. She also gaining weight slow but steady.
Connie looking across the way into the vineyards.
May 24, 2006
So I decided Connie & Sera living together is going to be a short term arrangement after all. Today I
moved Connie into Assurances paddock. Assurance was in great need of some civilized horse
companionship, and Connie was definitely the best choice for the job. I have been thinking of moving
them in together for a while, but today ended up being the right day to do that.
So I decided Connie & Sera living together is going to be a short term arrangement after all. Today I
moved Connie into Assurances paddock. Assurance was in great need of some civilized horse
companionship, and Connie was definitely the best choice for the job. I have been thinking of moving
them in together for a while, but today ended up being the right day to do that.
May 28, 2006
Connie is doing great living with Assurance. I have seen a HUGE change in her personality since moving
them in together. The first morning I went to feed them Connie greeted me. She stuck her head over
the gate and onto my shoulder. At first I thought she was just being impatient and wanting her food but
then I realized that this felt different, she wanted my attention. I was surprised, while Connie is always
cooperative and does her job, shes really never been one for affection or personal attention of any kind.
Later in the day when I went out to check on Assurance she was right there again, standing next to me.
So I started scratching her head, to my surprise she leaned into it, and had me scratch all over her face,
jaws and ears. It was a first. Now each time I go into the paddock or by it Connie is right there asking for
loves. Shes mellowed out so much she seems like a completely different horse. I haven't seen her
spook once. Shes doing allot of resting with her leg cocked, its a great and unexpected change. I am
happy shes so pleased with her residence change.
June 26, 2006
Connie had her first Chiro appt. 2 weeks ago, she has another in a few days. I looks like Connie suffered
some kind of back injury early in her life, her spine is very twisted near the end. The Chiro isn't sure how
much we can help at this point but we will give it a try. Connie seemed to enjoy the adjustment.
August 7, 2006
Heres an updated pic of beautiful old Connie. She has just been hanging out enjoying the retired life.
Connie is doing great living with Assurance. I have seen a HUGE change in her personality since moving
them in together. The first morning I went to feed them Connie greeted me. She stuck her head over
the gate and onto my shoulder. At first I thought she was just being impatient and wanting her food but
then I realized that this felt different, she wanted my attention. I was surprised, while Connie is always
cooperative and does her job, shes really never been one for affection or personal attention of any kind.
Later in the day when I went out to check on Assurance she was right there again, standing next to me.
So I started scratching her head, to my surprise she leaned into it, and had me scratch all over her face,
jaws and ears. It was a first. Now each time I go into the paddock or by it Connie is right there asking for
loves. Shes mellowed out so much she seems like a completely different horse. I haven't seen her
spook once. Shes doing allot of resting with her leg cocked, its a great and unexpected change. I am
happy shes so pleased with her residence change.
June 26, 2006
Connie had her first Chiro appt. 2 weeks ago, she has another in a few days. I looks like Connie suffered
some kind of back injury early in her life, her spine is very twisted near the end. The Chiro isn't sure how
much we can help at this point but we will give it a try. Connie seemed to enjoy the adjustment.
August 7, 2006
Heres an updated pic of beautiful old Connie. She has just been hanging out enjoying the retired life.
April 4th, 2006
The weather has been really bad for many days now. I haven't been able to work with Connie at all.
Shes doing good, happy and gaining weight. Shes spending alot more time hanging out in her
shelter, which is good, I think its helping her to stay warm and put on the weight a little easier.
The weather has been really bad for many days now. I haven't been able to work with Connie at all.
Shes doing good, happy and gaining weight. Shes spending alot more time hanging out in her
shelter, which is good, I think its helping her to stay warm and put on the weight a little easier.
May 12, 2006
Connie is doing really well. Her creaky joints have quieted down completely. She still has some
inflammation in her lower hind legs, but thats going away to, and it doesn't bother her much. She
really moves out in her paddock as well as in the round pen. We have been doing lots of ground
work, all the basics. Shes getting good at all of it. She and Sera are currently living together. It
was going to be a short term arrangement, but I am rethinking that. Connie is a great teacher of
horse manners, and Sera could use some horse manners. While I am sure neither would admit it, I
think they like each other quite allot.
The girls sharing a drink. Just hanging out & bonding.
Connie is doing really well. Her creaky joints have quieted down completely. She still has some
inflammation in her lower hind legs, but thats going away to, and it doesn't bother her much. She
really moves out in her paddock as well as in the round pen. We have been doing lots of ground
work, all the basics. Shes getting good at all of it. She and Sera are currently living together. It
was going to be a short term arrangement, but I am rethinking that. Connie is a great teacher of
horse manners, and Sera could use some horse manners. While I am sure neither would admit it, I
think they like each other quite allot.
The girls sharing a drink. Just hanging out & bonding.
January 4th, 2007
Sometimes the horses here at the ranch aren't interested in moving on to different owners & different
places. They always let me know this in the most interesting ways.
Yesterday I told Connie it was time to begin looking for her forever retirement home. She is in great
physical & mental shape now, and ready for more. I told her what I tell all of the horses who come to
recuperate here, that she will only go to a home that she wants to go to. If she doesn't like the person
then she stays with us until we find a person she likes.
Well this morning my ranch helper came to get me because Connie was Lame. Sure enough she was
dead lame. She couldn't hardly any weight on her front left. I asked her what happened but she refused
to speak to me. In fact she seemed rather irritated with me. After a few minutes of poking around her leg,
shoulder, and hoof I found the culprit, a small piece of hard wire. Who knows where in the world that
came from, but it was poked up into her frog about an inch & a half. I pulled it out, cleaned her hoof up,
soaked and wrapped it. Gave her the usual precautionary meds and something to dull the pain. As we
walked back to her paddock, I heard her say, "well now I will have to stay"
I guess shes not to interested in living anywhere else, at least for the moment.
January 8th, 2007
Well that was a fast injury/recovery period. Connie is feeling 100% better. Shes not lame at all now, in
fact shes feeling pretty good. Two days of hoof packing, wrapping, & reiki and shes all good. She ran
and bucked with whole ranch today, I was really pleased.
I'll give Connie a few more days off, and then we will talk again about the possibility of a new/better home
for her.
Sometimes the horses here at the ranch aren't interested in moving on to different owners & different
places. They always let me know this in the most interesting ways.
Yesterday I told Connie it was time to begin looking for her forever retirement home. She is in great
physical & mental shape now, and ready for more. I told her what I tell all of the horses who come to
recuperate here, that she will only go to a home that she wants to go to. If she doesn't like the person
then she stays with us until we find a person she likes.
Well this morning my ranch helper came to get me because Connie was Lame. Sure enough she was
dead lame. She couldn't hardly any weight on her front left. I asked her what happened but she refused
to speak to me. In fact she seemed rather irritated with me. After a few minutes of poking around her leg,
shoulder, and hoof I found the culprit, a small piece of hard wire. Who knows where in the world that
came from, but it was poked up into her frog about an inch & a half. I pulled it out, cleaned her hoof up,
soaked and wrapped it. Gave her the usual precautionary meds and something to dull the pain. As we
walked back to her paddock, I heard her say, "well now I will have to stay"
I guess shes not to interested in living anywhere else, at least for the moment.
January 8th, 2007
Well that was a fast injury/recovery period. Connie is feeling 100% better. Shes not lame at all now, in
fact shes feeling pretty good. Two days of hoof packing, wrapping, & reiki and shes all good. She ran
and bucked with whole ranch today, I was really pleased.
I'll give Connie a few more days off, and then we will talk again about the possibility of a new/better home
for her.