September 17, 2007
Dahlia is growing up fast. Shes learning to lead well, tie, pick up her hooves, and be respectful of the
humans in her paddock. She was tired after her lesson today that she passed out on the traffic cone.
Dahlia is growing up fast. Shes learning to lead well, tie, pick up her hooves, and be respectful of the
humans in her paddock. She was tired after her lesson today that she passed out on the traffic cone.
September 27, 2007
Dahlia is doing great. Shes leading with no resistance at this point. She can tolerate being away
from her mom for relatively long periods of time. She's picking up her front hooves beautifully, I
started introducing her to the rasp this week. The vibration of the rasp on her hoof is a bit
unsettling, but she keeps her wits about her. Next we start work with the spray bottle (her mom told
her that spray bottles are the devil)
November 6, 2007
Slight set back last month. Baby Dahlia was wormy and her tummy wasn't feeling to good, so we had
to do the panacur power pac. Well the first day went ok, second, ok, third, she didn't really want the
tube of paste again, fourth and fifth day, NO Paste!! So, needless to say, Dahlia was pretty pissed at
me for about a week, and then my daughter had a baby, so it was another week before I worked with
Dahlia again. We've been back at for several weeks now, and shes at least back to where she was a
month ago. Actually she is further along, I'm just being hard on myself. She graduated to the little
rope halter a couple of weeks ago. Her responsiveness is increasing.
We have also begun to wean Dahlia, well really Betrys began to wean Dahlia and we are just following
her lead. I have been putting Baby D in with Layla & Shadow for increasing amounts of time each day.
Both Dahlia & Betrys have had no problem with the separation. This week I will be increasing the
hours they spend apart, its not impossible that Dahlia will be fully weaned (with out trauma) by mid
month.
November 12, 2007
Today Baby D spent a little over 4 hours with her buddy Shadow. Shes really doing a great job of
weaning herself. Mom, Betrys, was never concerned, she enjoys her time alone.
January 30, 2008
Dahlia moved in with Shadow & Layla permanently. Its going well so far, Dahlia gets a little sad but
she is adjusting. She had her first real nap today, prior to today, she was hesitant to lay down and
get a good nights sleep. Her little legs have been very tired. We added lots of thick bark to their
paddock today to make sure shes got a dry and hopefully somewhat warm area to nap. Also lots of
clean rice straw to the shelter. Her mom, Betrys is still in the paddock next to her. They can touch
each other thur the fence, but Dahlia can't nurse. Another week or so and Betrys should be ready to
move to a paddock across the property. Growing up is hard.
October 13, 2008
Its taken me months to want to update this thread. We lost Betrys in February of this year. Dahlia
has been slowly recovering from that loss. She was grief stricken for months. Anyone who thinks
horses don't feel, should have met Dahlia. Dahlia felt intense sadness at the loss of her mother. For
months she failed to really thrive. She ate enough and drank enough to keep healthy, but she wasn't
exuberant about any of it. She didn't grow allot during the most intense months of grief, and she
certainly didn't play much. But now, shes ok. Shes recovered enough to enjoy her days, savor her
food, and be a healthy little horse. A couple of months ago I began working Dahlia like a regular
weanling. We have been in the round pen for the last few weeks. Shes learning quickly and actually
enjoys coming out for our sessions. Heres a few recent pictures:
Dahlia is doing great. Shes leading with no resistance at this point. She can tolerate being away
from her mom for relatively long periods of time. She's picking up her front hooves beautifully, I
started introducing her to the rasp this week. The vibration of the rasp on her hoof is a bit
unsettling, but she keeps her wits about her. Next we start work with the spray bottle (her mom told
her that spray bottles are the devil)
November 6, 2007
Slight set back last month. Baby Dahlia was wormy and her tummy wasn't feeling to good, so we had
to do the panacur power pac. Well the first day went ok, second, ok, third, she didn't really want the
tube of paste again, fourth and fifth day, NO Paste!! So, needless to say, Dahlia was pretty pissed at
me for about a week, and then my daughter had a baby, so it was another week before I worked with
Dahlia again. We've been back at for several weeks now, and shes at least back to where she was a
month ago. Actually she is further along, I'm just being hard on myself. She graduated to the little
rope halter a couple of weeks ago. Her responsiveness is increasing.
We have also begun to wean Dahlia, well really Betrys began to wean Dahlia and we are just following
her lead. I have been putting Baby D in with Layla & Shadow for increasing amounts of time each day.
Both Dahlia & Betrys have had no problem with the separation. This week I will be increasing the
hours they spend apart, its not impossible that Dahlia will be fully weaned (with out trauma) by mid
month.
November 12, 2007
Today Baby D spent a little over 4 hours with her buddy Shadow. Shes really doing a great job of
weaning herself. Mom, Betrys, was never concerned, she enjoys her time alone.
January 30, 2008
Dahlia moved in with Shadow & Layla permanently. Its going well so far, Dahlia gets a little sad but
she is adjusting. She had her first real nap today, prior to today, she was hesitant to lay down and
get a good nights sleep. Her little legs have been very tired. We added lots of thick bark to their
paddock today to make sure shes got a dry and hopefully somewhat warm area to nap. Also lots of
clean rice straw to the shelter. Her mom, Betrys is still in the paddock next to her. They can touch
each other thur the fence, but Dahlia can't nurse. Another week or so and Betrys should be ready to
move to a paddock across the property. Growing up is hard.
October 13, 2008
Its taken me months to want to update this thread. We lost Betrys in February of this year. Dahlia
has been slowly recovering from that loss. She was grief stricken for months. Anyone who thinks
horses don't feel, should have met Dahlia. Dahlia felt intense sadness at the loss of her mother. For
months she failed to really thrive. She ate enough and drank enough to keep healthy, but she wasn't
exuberant about any of it. She didn't grow allot during the most intense months of grief, and she
certainly didn't play much. But now, shes ok. Shes recovered enough to enjoy her days, savor her
food, and be a healthy little horse. A couple of months ago I began working Dahlia like a regular
weanling. We have been in the round pen for the last few weeks. Shes learning quickly and actually
enjoys coming out for our sessions. Heres a few recent pictures: